An ambitious “Coast to Crest” series of green corridors to run the length of the Kāpiti Expressway, as well as linking beach ecosystems to the Tararua ranges using the Waikanae and Ōtaki Rivers and smaller waterways in New Zealand, is at the heart of the environment and open spaces vision unveiled by Kāpiti Coast mayoral candidate Gwynn Compton to keep the district’s green spaces. Source: Timberbiz
The government’s One Billion Trees program is actively looking for opportunities to support native plantings, and Gwynn Compton’s plan calls for Kāpiti Coast District Council to work with Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand), the New Zealand Transport Agency, other government agencies, Greater Wellington Regional Council, iwi, community groups, and private landowners, to create a series of interconnecting green corridors crisscrossing the district.
The plan is partially based on the successful Green Corridors Range to River program in the Manawatū, which is working to better connect the Manawatū River to the Tararua ranges via its tributary streams through extensive plantings of native trees and bush.
“Kāpiti already has an enviable reputation for its native environment and the Coast to Crest program would further build on this by serving as a bridge for reintroducing native biodiversity back into Kāpiti’s communities,” Mr Compton said.
“Kāpiti Coast District Council is ideally placed to act as the lead agency for the Coast to Crest programme. It can help coordinate across a range of government agencies, regional council, iwi, community groups, and private landowners to bring together central government funding and local community know how to help put native flora and fauna back into the heart of Kāpiti.
“With Kāpiti Island to the west and the Tararuas to the east, the Kāpiti Coast has some of the best and most accessible areas of remaining native forest in the country.”
