Gecko NZ Trust

Living Neighbourhoods

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Ella shnapp

Bayview Living Neighbourhood

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Bayview is blessed with many lovely bush reserves, which over time have become increasingly infested by invasive weeds like ginger, tradescantia, ivy and jasmine. In Lynn Reserve, one area in particular (now known as Tui Glade) had been infested by ginger and tradescantia for decades, evidenced by the large gap in the bush canopy. Many neighbours of the reserve would throw weeds and rubbish over their fence into the bush. The degeneration process was accelerating.

In 2013 Gecko was invited by some residents of Bayview to assist them with ecological restoration projects in their community. Prior to this Bayview had been part of a Placemaking project (a community-led project sponsored by Kaipātiki Local Board and Auckland Council) which created a huge sense of pride and connection. Their next step was to find out more about the environment (Bayview is surrounded by mature and regenerating native bush) and how to improve its health – and that was how the Bayview/ Gecko Trust partnership was born, in the form of a Living Neighbourhood.

With Gecko’s support the Bayview Living Neighbourhood has been busy educating their community about caring for the bush, removing litter and invasive weeds, replanting with native trees and shrubs to restore ecological balance, and the health and natural beauty of their local reserves. Their key value is caring for our native taonga (treasure) and building a “thriving, caring and connected neighbourhood that models people and nature living together harmoniously” (the Bayview Living Neighbourhood motto).

After doing an ecological survey of Bayview, Gecko’s ecologist wrote a comprehensive Bayview Planting Guide that was distributed to 70+ residents and is now available to download.

Springboarding off the Living Neighbourhood Programme, the Bayview community now has a wider focus on the overall health and wellbeing of local families. This involves a number of community initiatives and activities that have often been suggested and carried out by individuals. Some, for example a children’s clothing pool, have arisen in order to support families feeling financial strain. Art is a strong focus, with a craft group often active with fun and engaging activities such as yarn bombing. This enlivens the village and also enhances the natural beauty of the area.

Dozens of residents have attended many activities facilitated by Gecko such as:

  • community weeding and native planting bees
  • litter clean up events in local reserves
  • native bush, bird and insect education walks
  • tours of local gardens bordering native bush
  • glowworm walks, eel feeding sessions and more!

Bayview Living Neighbourhood Has:

  • provided a common point interest to unite residents with a common vision
  • become a platform for several organisations to work together (e.g. Bayview Placemaking Project, Bayview Community Centre, Bayview Primary School, Mahurangi Scouts)
  • given neighbours an “icebreaker” to meet and talk with each other about their common problems e.g. weeds and rats
  • unearthed a handful of local “experts” on all things native who are now their go-to people for information and advice
  • resulted in children taking a leadership role in showing others how to care for the bush

For more info or to join them in their efforts visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayviewcommunity, call Shelley Pilkington (Chairperson of Bayview Community Centre) on (09) 443 0231 or email bayviewcc@xtra.co.nz

With support from Auckland Council

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Sustainable Neighbourhoods

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From 2011-2016 Gecko worked on the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Programme. We were funded by Auckland Council to work with 22 neighbourhoods in the Waitākere Ranges area (including Titirangi and Piha) and support them with ecological restoration projects that involved many tonnes of weeds being removed and thousands of native trees planted. We focused on building local leadership and knowledge, and improving ecological systems in people’s back yards, local reserves, stream and road sides.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Successes:

Beach Valley Neighborhood

One of the most successful sites is Beach Valley Rd in Piha where 99% of households in the street and surrounding area are involved in this neighbourhood-led initiative.

The Beach Valley Road Project Piha Group rapidly learned strategic planning, and very successfully adopted restoration/self-regeneration practices. Because of this weed habitat has been limited and controlled, while habitat for natives has been maximised. This resulted in significant native regeneration from natural seed fall and the seed bank, and minimised cost/effort for planting. These techniques, as well as weed control methodologies, also enabled maximum herbicide reduction and inspired many households to join the effort. It is now well on the way to being an entirely weed-free neighbourhood.

The group also worked together with the police and justice, so that people doing community service have contributed, and consequently developed local pride. This led to a happier neighbourhood with people meeting and getting to know each other more and new residents buying into the neighbourhood on the basis of the project. Some residents have used their new technical skills in restoration and knowledge of native plants to set up their own gardening business and small nursery.

Titirangi Primary School

Titirangi Primary School strategically targeted their grounds for restoration as part of a wider collaboration of neighbourhoods taking part in the the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Programme.  An ecological report of the site that was provided by Auckland Council found that the main restoration site was a sensitive Swamp Maire Forest. This report was followed by a three year Ecological Management Plan. Funding from Council’s Environmental Initiatives Fund allowed skilled contractors to carry out extensive weed control throughout the site. School classrooms were engaged in planting exposed bush sites and some hand weeding. Several planting events occurred where older students are paired up with younger ones. Hands and feet got very muddy! All the children were exposed to the environment around them and were proud to contribute.

Hibiscus and Bays Local Board North-West Wildlink Assistance Programme

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Funded by the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, this programme ran during the first half of 2016. Its purpose was to raise awareness about the North-West Wildlink and educate residents about how what they do individually on their own properties can help the NWW reach its potential.

Gecko hosted a series of community events and workshops. Some of these were more informative such as pest and weed workshops, while others were aimed at creating positive assocations through fun events such as the Nightwalk held in conjunction with the Eaves Bush Appreciation Group. This guided Nightwalk attracted over 100 people and was a family event enjoyed by many children.

The final workshop of the series was working with the Enviro Group at Silverdale Primary School to make their school pest free. There was great enthusiasm for this project at the school from the students right through to their Principal.

One fantastic result of the project is two fledgling community groups in the Redvale area who began engaging in pest control on their collective properties. This was the result of individuals meeting at a Gecko-led pest control workshop and deciding they could achieve more together.

With support from Hibiscus and Bays Local Board