30 | Arowhenua Native Nursery & Restoration T T Rosa Watson Native restoration work a win-win The nursery grows eco-sourced seedlings and provides full restoration support, from project planning to planting, predator control and longterm care. “We collect from a wide variety of plants within the same species to protect genetic diversity. We never strip plants completely of seed, leaving plenty for manu (birds), insects, and natural regeneration.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Temuka’s Arowhenua Native Nursery & Restoration has been recognised for its contribution to the local environment in delivering end-to-end native plant restoration to farms and organisations across the South Canterbury region. The Maori-owned nursery won the recognition award in the Excellence in Primary Industry category and recognition award for Excellence in Workplace Safety at the South Canterbury Business Excellence Awards held in August. The nursery grows eco-sourced seedlings and provides full restoration support, from project planning to planting, predator control and long-term care. Receiving the awards was incredibly meaningful, general manager Felicity McMillan says. “It affirms that the effort we’ve put into strengthening our organisation has been noticed and valued. For the team, it’s a boost of pride – a public acknowledgement of the dedication, adaptability, and hard mahi (work) that everyone has contributed. “For the business, it builds credibility and mana in our industry and community. It shows partners, customers, and whānau that we are not only passionate about our kaupapa, but also capable of delivering at a high standard.” The organisation has a diverse range of clients, reflecting the wide community that benefits from native restoration, Felicity says. They include local farmers and landowners seeking to enhance biodiversity and waterway health, irrigation companies investing in environmental responsibility, local businesses wanting to strengthen sustainability practices, schools and community groups engaged in hands-on restoration and education, and regional and central government agencies including Environment Canterbury (ECAN) and the Department of Conservation. All natives are eco-sourced locally, Felicity says. “We carefully collect seeds from remnant native forests and mature plantings – 30 years or older – to ensure the plants we grow are true to place and adapted to local conditions.” She says seed collection practices are grounded in kaitiakitanga and sustainability. “We collect from a wide variety of plants within the same species to protect genetic diversity. We never strip plants completely of seed, leaving plenty for manu (birds), insects, and natural regeneration.” The nursery is located on 3.6 hectares, purpose-developed for large-scale native plant propagation and restoration support. The nursery currently grows 77 different native species. Each year, the team produces around 250,000 native plants, many of which are planted back into the landscape through restoration contracts. The organisation was established four years ago through Jobs for Nature and One Billion Trees funding, part of the Government’s Covid-19 recovery response. The nursery has since expanded into a full-service restoration provider, employing a dedicated team of 29 kaimahi (staff), each contributing their skills and passion to protecting biodiversity and restoring te taiao (natural world). It is committed to building capability and leadership within its people, Felicity says. “Staff are supported to develop botanical and ecological expertise, empowering the next generation of environmental leaders from Te Rūnaka o Arowhenua.” She says the projects deliver lasting benefits across the region, with biodiversity gains in increasing native habitat, improving waterway health, and protecting taonga (precious) species. The organisation also provides employment and training opportunities, resilience and sustainability to manage ecological challenges into the future, and supports farmers, councils, schools and businesses to meet environmental goals. Felicity says entering the awards was an opportunity to showcase what the organisation does. “We felt it was time to share our journey with the wider community. For too long we have flown under the radar, quietly doing the work, but not always telling our story. “The awards provided an opportunity to showcase our progress, highlight the value of our work in the primary industries sector, and celebrate the commitment of our team. Entering the South Canterbury Business Excellence Awards was about taking a moment to step back and reflect on how far we’ve come.” The process of entering the awards itself was hugely beneficial, Felicity says. “It pushed us to document, reflect, and evaluate our journey – clarifying where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re heading.” Over the past 18 months, the organisation has undertaken a huge amount of mahi to strengthen its systems, processes, and people, she says. With the organisation transitioning away from Jobs for Nature funding, the focus is on building a sustainable business model that will carry the organisation forward for years to come. Port Blakely are proud to have Arowhenua Native Nursery and Restoration as a partner on our native planting projects NZ Forest Owner PO Box 13-980, Christchurch | Ph: 03 338 6741 | Fax: 03 339 1689 info-NZF@portblakely.com | www.portblakely.com
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