Project Description:

LEWIS ROAD CREAMERY PARTNERSHIP FOR WAIROA RIVER!  

Lewis Road Creamery has joined forces with Million Metres, Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment Inc, Auckland Council and the Franklin Local Board for the Wairoa River in Clevedon.  

Together we’re aiming to plant 2320 native trees and plants along 209 metres of the Wairoa River this winter in order to help restore the river to good health.

Better yet, the team at Lewis Road have pledged to match all donations up to a total of $10,000!

That means, every dollar you donate will result in two dollars to restore the Wairoa River.

The area we are restoring has no native vegetation today, but thanks to your donation it will be transformed into a diverse natural habitat over the coming few years. This will be such a wonderful addition to the natural environment of Clevedon and a great place for this growing community to enjoy.

THE WAIROA RIVER IN CLEVEDON

The Wairoa River is the second largest river in the Auckland region. The headwaters of the Wairoa are tucked away in the Hunua Ranges southeast of Auckland and are a vital source of water for households and businesses in the Auckland region. Beyond the dams, the river flows out of the forests of the ranges, through farmland and the village of Clevedon to emerge in the Hauraki Gulf.

Over the years, the environmental health of the Wairoa has degraded due to many factors such as changing land use patterns, removal of native vegetation, proliferation of plant weed species and increased levels of sedimentation and contamination. All this affects native species, the values of mana whenua and the ability of people to enjoy the river. We’re on a mission to change this and create a better future for the Wairoa.

CONTINUING WITH MILLION METRES

Friends of Te Wairoa Catchment are so excited to be fundraising for the second time with Million Metres. Last year we raised over $22,000 to restore a section of the Wairoa River at Clevedon Wharf. The plants and trees were planted in May this year and we know will be enjoyed by many who stop by for a picnic. We are hugely grateful to everyone who donated, to all the volunteers who came out to help plant and to the Franklin Local Board for their continuous support to achieving a healthy waterway in the Wairoa catchment.

This next section of restoration is a little further upstream with the vision it will eventually link to last year’s Million Metres planting.

This section of riparian planting will become part of the proposed Clevedon trails project – able to be enjoyed by many as they walk the trails.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

We’re now fundraising $37620! This will help pay for 2320 plants and ongoing maintenance for the first two years. We’re stoked that Te Whangai Trust have come on board as the nursery supporting this project.

This is where you can help! Please donate today to help us restore the Wairoa River. Any donation big or small is hugely appreciated – remember, thanks to our friends at Lewis Road Creamery, every dollar donated, up to $10,000, will be matched!

AND THEN COME OUT PLANTING WITH US!

In September, once fundraising is done, we hope you’ll join us for a fantastic day out at the river, hosted by Lewis Road Creamery. It’ll be a planting day of epic proportions! With the help of many pairs of hands we’ll be aiming to get all 2320 plants in the ground, on that day!

And with Lewis Road at the helm, it’s sure to be an event not to be missed. Keep an eye on Million Metres’ or Lewis Road Creamery’s Facebook page for details on how to get involved or sign up to the Million Metres Newsletter.