Northern Coastal Forest Protected Near Firth of Thames

Forest and Bird, Issue 300, 1 May 2001, Page 7

Northern Coastal Forest Protected Near Firth of Thames

Nature Heritage Fund has helped with the protection of three blocks of kauri and other native trees near the Firth of Thames. The three blocks totalling just over 350 hectares include the Boulder Brae kauri, which has a circumference of about seven metres, as well as other kauribeech, taraire-tawa forest with scattered puriri, and tanekaha and kanuka vegetation. ‘We are indebted to Glenis and Duncan Munro, to Jennifer and Keith Kelly, and to Ann and George Richardson for each allowing a block with high conservation values, which their families have cared for over the years, to be taken into public ownership for the benefit of all New Zealanders, says the Minister of Conservation, Hon Sandra Lee. The Kelly block of 108 hectares and the Munro block of 227 hectares adjoin the E n South Auckland, the

Mataitai Forest Stewardship Area in the Ness Valley near Clevedon, resulting in a total protected area of about 700 hectares. The Munro block is known locally as Whakatiri and contains two large kauri, one of which is to be named the Luke Kauri and the other the Munro Kauri, in recognition of the former owners. The Richardson family has gifted land, at Kawakawa Bay on the Firth of Thames. The 16.5 hectares will be known as the Richardson Scenic Reserve. It is adjacent to the 52-hectare Te Morehu Scenic Reserve. Sandra Lee thanked the Manukau City Council for helping the Crown acquire the land, and the Nature Heritage Fund which contributed more than $300,000 to make the transfers to public ownership a reality. The blocks will be administered as conservation land by the Department of Conservation.