FAQs
What does the name Te Kākahu Kahukura mean?
Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke and Te Taumutu Rūnanga provided the name for the project and support its use.
What is the project wanting to achieve
The vision is that by 2050 the Southern Port Hills has a thriving and resilient indigenous forest supporting an abundance of native birds and invertebrates. The area will be a taonga for the Ōtautahi / greater Christchurch and adjoining communities to value, protect and engage with. The project will help to facilitate and co-ordinate native forest revegetation and restoration on the Southern Port Hills. Around the core area of regenerating forest, landowners will be encouraged to plant trees and do pest and weed control in a way which supports a thriving indigenous forest plant community and allows native birds and other native fauna to move through the landscape.
As part of the Banks Peninsula and Port Hills/ Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Ecological Vision 2050, Te Kākahu Kahukura will contribute to the social, cultural and economic, as well as environmental wellbeing of the community of greater Christchurch - a community that is connected, resilient and healthy. Te Kākahu Kahukura therefore aligns with national and local government outcomes of ‘liveable cities’, ‘strong communities’, and a ‘healthy environment’.
Who is promoting the idea?
This is a landowner and community driven initiative. It includes a range of private landowners, agencies, councils and organisations, and is facilitated by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT). The project Working Group comprises members from Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, Brailsfords Ltd, Christchurch City Council, Living Springs, Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust, Selwyn District Council, Summit Road Society, Te Ara Kakariki, Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Healthy Harbour and various landowners.
What is the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT)?
It is a non-profit charitable organisation that works with landowners, agencies, Rūnanga, funders, and the wider community to promote the conservation and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management on Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills. BPCT’s role is to support the Working Group and to help agencies, organisations and landowners take an aligned and collaborative approach to this initiative, and to 2050 Ecological Vision for Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū generally.
What’s in it for me?
You can be part of this legacy project for greater Christchurch and the extent to which you wish to participate is up to you. Benefits include helping to bring the Tui and other native birds back to your property whether you are in the rural or an urban area; enabling native biodiversity to thrive by reducing pests; contributing to hillside stabilisation and reducing sedimentation so the quality of our streams and the harbour is improved; and helping restore an area for both passive and active recreation. There are various options for possible funding to help you to participate in the project.
Why does the project not include all the Port Hills?
The focus of Te Kākahu Kahukura is the part of the Port Hills south of Victoria Park/ Rāpaki, extending towards Gebbies Pass, from the plains to Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour, including Ōtamahua/Quail Island.
The Southern Port Hills and Ōtamahua/Quail Island provide a unique opportunity for a large forested area on the doorstep of metropolitan Christchurch and its surrounding townships. While a substantial area on the Port Hills was affected by catastrophic fires in February 2017, the development of Te Kākahu Kahukura allows us to build on the collaborative projects that developed after the fire, as well as the substantial biodiversity work that was already underway, to plan for the regeneration and revegetation of the fire affected areas.
The project area already contains significant areas of existing and regenerating native forest and shrublands within reserves administered under the Reserves Act and private land under Covenants. In addition to the reserves and other protected areas on the hills, Ōtamahua/Quail Island also has a critical role to play in Te Kākahu Kahukura.
There are no hard and fast boundaries to the project – anyone is invited to participate, but the core area has been chosen as a matter of practicality and because it already contains significant areas of existing and regenerating native forest.
Why is the project called Te Kākahu Kahukura?
Kākahu means to dress or cloth as well as being a generic name for clothing and garments. It also references the actions of Tāne Mahuta in clothing his mother Papatūānuku following the separation from his father Ranginui.
Kahukura is a significant atua known in Ngāi Tahu traditions as being responsible for cloaking the wreckage of Te Waka o Aoraki with plants, forests and swamps, and populating these places with all the varieties of indigenous birds that dwell there.
Kahukura is particularly important to the creation of the forests of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula and is remembered through the naming of a number of prominent peaks of the Port Hills including Te Tihi o Kahukura (Castle Rock) and Te Heru o Kahukura (Sugarloaf).
Kahukura is also known to take the celestial form of a rainbow and was central in local rituals and karakia. Kahukura is also a name for the native red admiral butterfly and literally means a cloak coloured with red ochre – another connection to the volcanic nature of the Port Hills.
Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke and Te Taumutu Rūnanga provided the name for the project and support its use.
Do landowners have to be involved?
Involvement in Te Kākahu Kahukura is entirely voluntary. Participants can participate and contribute at their own time and pace.
Is this just for farmers or people with large landholdings?
No, participation can be by all landowners irrespective of the size of your property.
Is there regulation involved?
No. Landowners’ involvement in Te Kākahu Kahukura is entirely voluntary.
What funding is necessary to achieve this?
Substantial and sustained funding is required to achieve the vision. Identification of the sources of this funding is a priority of the participants. However, the work has already begun by collaboration between private landowners, agencies and organisations and natural regeneration.
The agencies and organisations involved are supporting private landowners and assisting with coordination of sustainable land management and conservation activities on private land. This support includes advice on and support to encourage participation in pest control activities (as part of Goal 8 of the Ecological Vision – Pest Free Banks Peninsula project), advice on and assistance with regeneration, revegetation and planting methods to support indigenous species, and monitoring actions. There are be opportunities for direct financial assistance to private landowners.
Some funding may be available via carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme, the 1 Billion Trees Project, and from private funders. For more information on funding options for larger scale revegetation (1 ha or more) see Funding Options on this website. For revegetation of areas of 1 ha or more, these types of funding may require some form of property Planting Plan to enable and guide what planting and revegetation is to occur.
For more information on a property planting plan see Outline of preparing a plan.
Is this just about planting trees?
No. There are eight key parts of the project.
- Protecting and enhancing existing native biodiversity on your land.
- Encouraging natural regeneration of native trees and plants.
- Baseline monitoring of birds and plants focussing on both existing areas of native vegetation (forest remnants and regenerating forest) and new areas that are being planted.
- Pest control, as part of the Pest Free Banks Peninsula initiative.
- Weed control within remaining remnants of native habitat as these sites are key sources for native seed dispersal into surrounding areas.
- Targeted native tree and vegetation restoration planting to enhance connectivity between key areas of existing native habitat.
- Targeted ‘enrichment planting’ of native regenerating forests with original podocarp tree species that are now rare in the area (such as tōtara, mataī, kahikatea, and tītoki).
- Management of public access points to regenerating areas to reduce the chances of fire ignition (including through the use of low-flammability species such as five-finger and broadleaf).
Can I still plant exotics on my land if I want to participate?
Involvement in Te Kākahu Kahukura is entirely voluntary. Respect is given to landowners’ different needs, while encouraging all landowners to work together toward the long-term vision. Exotic trees can be important as an income source for some landowners and when planted in the right place and involving the right species can also contribute to the conservation of native biodiversity. Likewise, domestic gardens in the area will continue to have a mix of native and exotic trees and shrubs, although it is important not to plant weed species that can spread into the surrounding area. For more information on appropriate tree and shrub species for this area, see How you can be involved.
How does this relate to other biodiversity management work being done by Christchurch City Council, Summit Road Society, Selwyn District Council and others?
Te Kākahu Kahukura is a continuation of the valuable work that has already been, and is being, undertaken by many individuals and groups. Work is undertaken collaboratively, including free sharing of information, advice and mutual support. Te Kākahu Kahukura is part of the Banks Peninsula / Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Ecological Vision 2050, which is a collaborative initiative of a range of agencies and organisations, launched in 2016.
Why not just let the native vegetation come back naturally?
Natural revegetation is the best option and is encouraged in those places where that is practical. Revegetation of the area will include both active and passive restoration, but to achieve a thriving forest filled with birds by 2050, nature will need a helping hand.
Planting of native trees and shrubs in domestic gardens and around farmhouses is encouraged. Where more targeted larger scale planting is desirable, there are 2 forms of planting:
(a) Targeted ‘broad-acre’ restoration to enhance connectivity between key areas of existing native habitat focusing on grassland areas; and
(b) Targeted ‘enrichment planting’ of native regenerating forests with old-growth tree species that are now rare in the area.
How does this relate to the 2050 Banks Peninsula Ecological Vision?
Te Kākahu Kahukura is part of the overarching 2050 Ecological Vision for Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū – see http://www.bpct.org.nz/bpct-2050-ecologicial-vision While all 8 Goals of the Vision are relevant and interrelated, Te Kākahu Kahukura particularly supports Goal 4 which is to protect four core areas of indigenous forest of more than 1000 ha each.
Te Kākahu Kahukura builds on what we have learned through the successful Wildside project which is the first ‘core area’ supporting Goal 4 of the Ecological Vision. For more information on the Wildside Project see http://www.bpct.org.nz/our-projects?id=30
How does this relate to the 2050 Banks Peninsula Ecological Vision?
Te Kākahu Kahukura is part of the overarching 2050 Ecological Vision for Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū – see http://www.bpct.org.nz/bpct-2050-ecologicial-vision While all 8 Goals of the Vision are relevant and interrelated, Te Kākahu Kahukura particularly supports Goal 4 which is to protect four core areas of indigenous forest of more than 1000 ha each.
Te Kākahu Kahukura builds on what we have learned through the successful Wildside project which is the first ‘core area’ supporting Goal 4 of the Ecological Vision. For more information on the Wildside Project see http://www.bpct.org.nz/our-projects?id=30.
How does this relate to the Pest Free Banks Peninsula project?
Te Kākahu Kahukura includes the aim of reducing animal pests to low levels by 2050 by implementing the Pest Free Banks Peninsula initiative in this area. For more information on the Pest Free Banks Peninsula initiative see bpct.org.nz
How does this relate to the Lyttelton/Whakaraupō Healthy Harbour plan?
Part of Te Kākahu Kahukura are is within the Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Healthy Harbour Plan area. In this area, Te Kākahu Kahukura will support and contribute to the actions in the Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour Healthy Harbour Plan initiative.
What are you doing about feral goats, pigs and deer?
Wild grazing animals are a major obstacle to realising the Te Kākahu Kahukura vision. The project parties are working with landowners to identify effective strategies for controlling browsing wild animals such as deer and pigs.
Will my domestic cat be at risk?
We encourage responsible cat ownership. There are a number of methods for minimising the effect domestic cats can have on native wildlife such as keeping your cat inside at night and times of low light, spaying and collars. Predator control methods in urban areas are specifically chosen to be low risk to pets.
Can businesses get involved?
There are a number of opportunities for businesses to support Te Kākahu Kahukura. For further information please contact bpct.org.nz
Does this link with other conservation work being done in greater Christchurch and the surrounding areas?
Yes. Te Kākahu Kahukura is the centre of a network of conservation sites and projects radiating eastwards out across Banks Peninsula, northwards through metropolitan Christchurch to Tūhaitara Coastal Park, Tiromoana Bush and wider North Canterbury, and westwards through the Te Ara Kākāriki greenway across the plains to the mountains of inland Canterbury. Te Kākahu Kahukura is part of a wider vision to allow birds to fly from Banks Peninsula into the urban part of the city, local townships and more widely across the Plains. It aligns with work being done on erosion control, riparian planting and native vegetation linkages across greater Christchurch.
If I plant or allow natural regeneration will I have to covenant my land?
Not necessarily. However, the objective is to have the core areas of indigenous forest thriving in perpetuity and covenants are an excellent way to achieve this. If you wish to obtain significant finding for larger areas of planting, the funder may wish to ensure the trees are protected in some way. This will be a matter of discussion and negotiation depending on the amount of planting done on your land and where the funding for that is sourced.
How can I be involved if I have a suburban property in a place like Cashmere, Westmorland, Tai Tapu or Governors Bay?
The success of Te Kākahu Kahukura depends on the support of the local community at all levels. Community involvement can take many forms, ranging from participation in the Predator Free Port Hills initiative led by the Summit Road Society, weed control, planting of trees and shrubs which provide food sources for native birds, volunteering, financial support, Citizen Science (monitoring and recording change) and offsetting individual and household carbon footprints by supporting planting of native trees within the project area. A range of information is available to help you with each of these options. See How you can be involved.
What about weeds/plant pests?
Weeds or plant pests are also a threat to our thriving native biodiversity. Te Kākahu Kahukura includes the identification, management and control of high priority weeds. Landowners will be encouraged to manage their own land, but the collaboration of agencies and organisations will also look for ways that landowners can be supported to manage key weed species. See How you can be involved.
If I participate will I have to allow public access to my land?
No. Private property rights will be respected. Any access to private land will be at the discretion of each landowner.
Are recreational opportunities part of Te Kākahu Kahukura?
Yes, there are opportunities for both passive and active recreation throughout the project area. See for example Governors Bay Walks and the Explore Christchurch Parks and walking tracks interactive map.
How does this relates to the work of the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River Network?
Part of Te Kākahu Kahukura is within the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River catchment. Te Kākahu Kahukura supports and contributes to the actions in the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote River Network’s Action Plan.