Restoration - The early years
Through a series of gifting by the Northland Harbour Board and Golden Bay Cement, the
island came under the control of the Whangarei District Council. The Whangarei District
Council, after hearing public submissions in 1989 prepared an island Management Plan
which still today, forms the basis of managing and driving the project forward. The
first extensive area of tree planting, also in 1989, was at the far end of the island
(above Edge’s house ruins). The voluntary community group was formally registered
as an incorporated society in 1993, “The Friends of Matakohe-Limestone Island
Society Inc.”
There was planting every winter from 1989, but the Society soon realised that a full
time person (Ranger) was needed as well as the volunteers. In the mid 1990s, Lottery
Board Grants provided enough money to get a small cabin onto the island and pay for
a full-time Ranger. Other sponsors came on board and the project began to gain momentum.
See Donors & Sponsors.
The project took a quantum leap with Golden Bay Cement sponsoring island activities
for a five-year period starting in 1998. Work in earnest began. Tractor, trailer, shed,
other gear, predator and weed control programmes were put in place and a supply of trees
to plant each year was secured. Golden Bay generously sponsored a further five years
starting 2003, at an agreed level, which sees it decrease each year through the term.
The Whangarei District Council provides a great deal of support to the island.
And of course, there is an increasing number of you out there
who go to the island and plant trees each year.
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| As the trees grow, suitable habitat for other
creatures becomes availble ... click
for more |
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| Weeds on the island need control for the
trees to flourish ... click
for more |
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