20 Oct 2017

A huge effort by Christchurch school children will see 3000 native seedlings growing on the fire-damaged Port Hills.

Since May this year children at 10 local schools, along with Scout and Kea groups, have sowed poroporo seeds and potted them in biodegradable Coffee Culture cups.

Zane Mills, 9, from Lincoln Primary helps plant the poroporo.

Zane Mills, 9, from Lincoln Primary helps plant the poroporo.

In recent weeks Council Regional Parks Ranger Di Carter has organised eight planting days on Mt Ada, near Kennedys Bush, for groups of children to put the mature seedlings into the ground.

About 150 students have helped with the planting as part of the Poroporo for the Port Hills project.

Yesterday, students from Halswell and Lincoln Primary School and Christs College took part. The final planting day will be held on Saturday when University of Canterbury students help out.

The project is a trial aimed at getting more of the native poroporo established on the hills to encourage faster natural regeneration as the area recovers from the devastating February fires. Poroporo has low flammability so it is hoped the plants will create a barrier to reduce the risk of any future fires spreading.

The shrub has a purple flower which becomes a large, fleshy orange fruit full of seeds that birds easily spread.

Ms Carter says the project was a way to give school kids and young people the chance to get involved with regeneration efforts. “The kids have loved it and the teachers have appreciated the opportunity. They’ve all worked on fire-related topics in their classes, like how to reduce the risk of fires and what happens after a fire so it’s been a really valuable process.”

The trial will be evaluated and a decision will be made in February or March next year about whether it should continue. Ms Carter said seeing the plants in the ground had given her confidence the project could be effective.