On 31 July 2026 at 33 Kawakawa Orere Road, Kawakawa Bay, a group of 29 students returned to the Grey family land with the hope of planting 1000 seedlings.
After a frosty morning, the sun quickly warmed the area. Three teachers and 29 students were welcomed by the landowners and the Mastercraft sponsors. Following a quick snack, the group made their way up the hill, where they learned how to climb fences and safely navigate the steep terrain.
Once they had a lesson on planting a tree, everyone worked in teams, cleared thick grass, digging holes, and planted trees—proving that many hands make light work. This year, the group planted 660 native trees below last year’s site, making it easy to observe the growth and success of previous efforts.
They planted:
- 331 x Mānuka
- 134 x Karamū
- 198 x Tī Kōuka
- 78 x Hebe
- 79 x Harakeke
After a couple of hours of dedicated mahi, everyone returned to the shed for a well-deserved feast of warm pizza, baked treats and homegrown mandarins. Before heading back to school, the students learned about their positive impact on the land, wetland and Hauraki Gulf.
Thank you to this wonderful group of Year 8 and 11 students who generously gave their time to plant seedlings for the Trees for Survival programme. We also extend our thanks to Auckland Council for their ongoing support.
