Over the past couple of weeks, our Conservation Team has been busy adding some beautiful new native plantings around Driving Creek.

We were lucky to receive 28 stunning plants donated by the Destination Hauraki Coromandel Kaitiaki Initiative, grown at the Pare Hauraki Nursery in Thames. Among them were some real treasures like puawānanga, tītoki, kōhūhū, kōwhai, and koromiko.

We also cracked open the Driving Creek donation box. Thanks to the generosity of our visitors, we were able to buy over 30 plants from Colville Harbour Care Nursery. Huge thanks to Sassy for showing us around the nursery and helping choose a great mix, including harakeke, koromiko, tarairi, tī kōuka, tānekaha, and akeake.

Both nurseries eco-source their plants, which means all seeds and cuttings are collected locally. This ensures the plants are best adapted to the Coromandel climate and ecosystems, giving them the greatest chance to thrive while helping restore local biodiversity.

These new additions have gone into the Driving Creek entrance and predator-proof sanctuary. Boosting nature’s work by filling in gaps where seedlings haven’t established naturally and bringing special native species into the safe space of our predator-proof fence.

A Team Effort

This mahi wouldn’t have been possible without the hands-on help of so many.

A big thank you to:

  • Richard and Jeremy from Remnant Restoration for preparing the site and setting the stage for successful planting.
  • Destination Hauraki Coromandel for the beautiful plant donations.
  • Pare Hauraki Nursery & Colville Harbour Care Nursery for the great selection of native seedlings
  • Sophie, Jasmine, and Saskia from our conservation team for their mahi on site prep, plant selection, and planting.
  • Resident artists Jenny and Chloe, who generously volunteered half a day to help with site prep and planting. Looking ahead, our future resident artists will also play an important part in caring for these new plantings during their volunteer hours, helping them establish strong roots for the future.

Growing Together

With the support of our community, visitors, and volunteers, these plantings are another step in enriching the unique spaces of Driving Creek. Helping to restore balance, protect biodiversity, and keep this special place thriving for the future.