The Green Network

Introduction

The Green Network is the Waitakere Ecosystem and all of its components that interact together. The piece of pristine native bush in the ranges, with the crystal clear stream are a part of the Green Network, as well as the invasive weeds that sprout from the crack in the footpath beside the stormwater drain.

The Green Network is very broad and all encompassing, but is a key tool to focus our efforts to protect our unique ecology and make sure our city stays healthy.

The Council has a strategic priority for the Green Network, with a vision to connect the ranges with the sea, and bring nature into the every day lives of Waitakere residents.

How can I build the Green Network?

There are a number of things that you can do to build and strengthen the Green Network, protecting nature from degradation:

Use native plants that have been grown from local plants - look for the 'ecosourced' label;
Know your environmental weeds and remove them;
Link your planting with the neighbour's trees, a bush reserve, or stream side. Many native birds and insects need corridors to travel and feed;
Create native animal habitat from weta houses, reptile refuges
Keep your dog on a leash when close to reserves and beaches;
Keep your streams and ponds shaded and don't tip any waste into them; and
Plant trees that provide food for native animals.

Green Network map

The Green Network consists of:

Forest, streams and stream sides, coastlines and other natural areas;
Planned linkage and restoration areas;
Backyards throughout the city;
Revegetation areas that encourage wildlife, areas that join up with neighbouring planted areas particularly around streams, hedge lines, bush, wetlands, and the coast; and
Parks and reserves.

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Community and the Green Network

Beachcare

Beach Care is the concept of a neighbourhood or a community taking an active interest in the protection and/or health of the local coastal environment. This nearly always includes working with and encouraging the wider community to also be involved and care.

In Waitakere, Beach care operates within the concept of the eco city and Green Network - i.e. a direction of working towards sustainability.

Beach Care is a community-oriented approach of supporting Care groups and to lessen the actions that cause a threat to the Green Network; and to manage and/or repair the coastal landscape - all within the interests and capabilities of the group/community.

Parks Planning administers an annual budget of approximately $30,000 to support the activities of the 2 Beach Care groups currently operating within the City, Piha and Bethells Beaches.

Strategic Weed Initiative

The Auckland Regional Council operates a region-wide weed removal initiative, working with community groups to enhance our natural environment. In the west there is the Piha Strategic Weed Initiative and the Lake Wainamu Strategic Weed Initiative.

For more information download these summary reports, or contact the Auckland Regional Council Biosecurity Team on 366 2000.

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Summary Report for Piha Strategic Weed Initiative (Size 26K)

The Auckland Regional Council has a project to eradicate certain weeds from the Lake Wainamu Area, from Bethells Beach up to the Lake.

The project is running for four years and aims to remove weed infestations of pampas and gorse, as well as replanting areas to protect from erosion and re-invasion.

To find out more information view the summary below or call the Auckland Regional Council on (09) 366 2000.

Summary Report for Lake Wainamu Strategic Weed Initiative (Size 1917K)

Community Gardens

Waitakere currently has one community garden project in operation in Ranui. Ranui Community Garden is a place where local people can come together with a common interest in growing their own organic fruit and vegetables, whilst improving their health and enhancing their environment.

The garden promotes sustainable gardening through permaculture and organic principles. It aims to empower the community through skill development, promotion of income generating concepts and to foster community wide inclusiveness and for the garden itself to be sustainable.

Participation in the garden is encouraged from individuals, local schools, disability groups and diabetic groups, refugees and families. Through learning about composting, worm farming and the use of different manures, gardeners are increasing their knowledge about how to reduce waste and recycle.

For more information contact the Ranui Community Garden Coordinator on 021 956 474 or email communitygarden@ranui.org.nz

Cultural Harvesting

There are a number of parks within the city where groups and individuals can harvest plant materials for cultural purposes. There are also a limited number of specific pa harakeke sites within Waitakere with more being planned.

If you would like to harvest cultural plant materials contact us for more information, or email on greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz

Mentoring

From www.Ecomatters.org.nz used with permission

Mentoring neighbourhood groups: Groups of three or more property owners, wishing to work cooperatively on invasive weed control, can approach the WeedFree Trust and receive advice on: setting up meetings, accessing Waitakere City Council (WCC) Green Network subsidies and applying for funding assistance.

Successful outcomes of the mentoring programme for 2007 included: * $10,000 from the Auckland Regional Council's Environmental Initiative Fund (EIF) toward wild ginger and blue morning glory control in South Titirangi * $3,000 from the EIF for invasive weed control in a West Coast Road neighbourhood.

The mentoring programme is funded as part of WeedFree Trust's work with Waitakere City Council.

Planting on Parks

This is a responsive programme to community demand. The community in most cases take ownership of the project, organising and running events while receiving technical guidance, organisational assistance and material support (plants, weed removal off site, contractor assistance where needed) from Council.

The average annual demand is:

• 35 events
• 655 participants
• involving ground preparation (weed and rubbish removal) and planting covering 12,655m2 of ground.

If you would like to undertake planting on your local plant contact us for more information or email greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz.

Waitakere Community Groups

There are a number of Community Groups within Waitakere City that are undertaking restoration work Waitakere City Council provides assistance to these groups, from technical advice, through to proving weed control and planting assistance.

To find out more information about a community group near you, or assistance that Council can provide contact the Call Centre or email greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz

Ranges Project

The Ranges Neighbourhood Restoration Initiative is a pilot project that aims to work with neighbourhoods to develop and implement an ecological restoration vision for their area.

The project is based around weed eradication and restoration on both private property and public land including road berms and reserves. It is currently being trialled in 2 neighbourhoods in Waitakere, Henderson Valley and Piha. A series of educational workshops, weeding and planting days are planned for residents in the upcoming months.

For information about the project or how to become involved, please contact us or email greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz.

Parks and Open Space Strategic Plan

Waitakere City Council is currently updating our Parks and Open Space Strategic Plan and this will be available soon for public consultation.

The Strategy will address how we manage all of our land, from sports fields and play grounds to bush reserves and stream sides. Waitakere City Council is looking to incorporate sustainable thinking into the way we manage our parks, improve our facilities and return nature to people's every day lives.

For more information on the draft Parks and Open Space Strategic Plan contact us.

Green Network Strategy

Waitakere City Council is developing two environmental strategies, one of these focuses on the Green Network. This strategy is being developed as part of the Council's overall strategic planning process, and forms one of many Strategies that will set the direction for the Council in the coming years.

For more information on the draft Green Network Strategy contact us.

Green Network Publications

Living in Waitakere's Green Network

Living in different suburbs in Waitakere brings with it special characteristics and responsibilities to protect these places. Check out our range of small brochures describing what is special about each area and what you can do to improve the Green Network in your area.

Flyers that are available are:

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Building the Green Network

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

What a Stream Needs to be Healthy (Size 476K)	A quick guide on how to make sure streams, plants, animals and humans are healthy in their environment
Streamside Planting (Size 174K)	A small guide on how to plant a stream edge and stop erosion
Revegetation Timeline and Flowchart (Size 98K)	A step by step guide to revegetation
Ecosourcing (Size 173K)	What is Ecosourcing and why is it important? Find out with this guide
Defining Biodiversity (Size 2027K)	Biodiversity is a broad term, this defines different types of biodiversity and other key environmental terms
Planting Guidelines - Reserve Boundaries (Size 8199K)	A guide to designing your landscape plans if your property borders a Waitakere reserve
Nature's Colour Wheel (Size 359K)	A colourful, easy to follow guide to planting trees to attract birds at different times of the year
Observation Chart (Size 99K)	A simple tool to allow you to monitor weed and native plant changes on your property
Native to the West - planting guide (Size 1680K)	An easy to follow guide of Waitakere's different ecosystems and the plants that are naturally found there - as well as how to restore your natural areas
Amenity Planting Guidance for Biodiversity Protection in Waitakere City (Size 186K)	Assistance to developers, community groups and individuals on how to plant to achieve amenity outcomes and protect biodiversity
	Native Forest and Wetlands - Contact us to receive a copy. A booklet produced by the Auckland Regional Council on our native forests and wetlands
	Carex in Auckland - Contact us to receive a copy. A field guide to identify in Carex species in Auckland
Kumarahou (Size 619K)	Kumarahou is a rare plant in Waitakere, and this describes how special this "bushman's soap" plant is
Welcoming Wildlife (Size 658K)	A guide produced by the Auckland Regional Council that shows how to plant your property to welcome wildlife
	Plant me Instead Booklet - Contact us to receive a copy. A booklet produced by the Auckland Regional Council that describes the most common weeds and suggests non-weedy alternatives for your garden

Community Group Publications

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Private Land and Community Assistance

Waitakere City Council offers technical advice and financial subsidies to help you build the Green Network.

There are a number of flyers detailing the particular assistance provided with application forms attached to send in to Council.

Assistance that is available to every Waitakere resident is:

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Please note: Community Assistance is not available to people fulfilling regulatory requirements i.e. undertaking work as part of a consent condition or notice.

Nature in your neighbourhood

Introduction

Enrolments are now open for 'Nature in your Neighbourhood', a series of workshops to help you as landowners and homeowners take care of the stream that runs through or beside your property. The programme draws on a variety of experts and will allow you to meet other like-minded "stream neighbours".

You will learn how to develop native plantings for shade and to improve in-stream habitat for our native fish, such as eels, bullies and banded kökopu. The native plantings and other stream bank improvements that you make encourage native birds onto your property and make it a nicer space to relax.

Many who have attended previous programmes return to boost their knowledge as well as engaging with others in their community to pass on what they have learnt.

Taking part

People can attend all or just one of the four parts which make up this year's programme. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Event information

See the events calendar for further information or download the flyer below.

Download the flyer

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Nature in your neighbourhood event info and enrolment details (Size 352K)

Contacts

To enrol:
Phone Rutherford College Community Education on (09) 834 4099

For more information:
Contact Customer Services.

Related Information

Find out more about:

• What people have said about the course
• The stream life possible in Waitakere streams
• Riparian (stream bank) planting
• Waitakere News May 09 - Nature in your neighbourhood article