Northern Diversion
Small but perfectly formed ecosystem
We want to see every stream, river, estuary, and piece of marginal land in the country planted, enabling native flora and fauna to thrive.
Quite simply, we are ecovitalists. But we are also eco-realists and know that nature and humanity must work in harmony, believing that progress and development can go hand in hand with environmental enhancements. The Northern Diversion project was a juxtaposition of a man-made quarry, and Mother Nature – the adjacent estuary. Our task was to create a self-sufficient ecosystem in between them, seamlessly blending the two worlds and providing enjoyment to those passing through.
Ecosystem – Nature working alongside humanity
While the area provided the perfect conditions for a successful ecosystem to grow, a lot of careful planning and preparation was needed. As well as diverting a nearby stream along the edge of the property touching existing native vegetated corridors, it was necessary to remove areas of woody weeds, implement rigorous pest control and manage the project post completion.
The success of this project will help connect the Manukau Harbour and the Pahurehure Inlet via the Hingaea Stream with the native forest ecosystem of the Hunua Ranges Regional Park which touches the Firth of Thames. It might be a small project in size, but it plays an important role in the east to west ecosystem that connects two oceans, and incorporates seven unique ecosystems: coastal, urban, freshwater riparian, rural, regenerating forest, wetland and forest.
Ecovitalism: Restoring our country to connect nature, people and their environments
It’s only when a project is established and self-sufficient that we consider our work done, and throughout the course of our projects we apply resourcefulness and remain sympathetic to nature - the Northern Division was no exception.
The woody weeds we cleared were mulched back into the soil to provide carbon and food for microbes and fungi, and bark was laid to prevent future weeds and retain moisture. This groundwork paid dividends, allowing the plant to get to canopy quicker, while the additional moisture provides the perfect habitat for insects, birds and reptiles.
Our botanists scoured the region for the seeds that would naturally thrive in the area, nurturing them until they were ready to be planted and at this stage our pest control team took over to protect them until they were strong enough to survive.
It was important to utilise the newly diverted stream, and rock rapid systems using locally sourced rock were installed at regular intervals to provide habitat of depth and oxygenation. Some of the logs and branches already removed from old pine trees were set in the stream edges as ecosystem habitats for eels, koura and mudfish.
We are proud to have planned, planted and maintained this project to practical completion in just under two years, restoring a part of our country for future generations to enjoy.
