Autumn News – May 2021

The beautiful autumn season is upon us, and the peak is one of Hawke’s Bay’s prime spots to enjoy the cool mornings as they give way to sunshine days. Explore the new trails in Te Kahika (the official name of the new land), walk among the turning maple leaves up the red track, or enjoy the clear views across the Heretaunga Plains from the balcony at Peak House.

If you are visiting the park this time of year, you may have noticed the karamu fruiting with its little orange berries, and the lacebark losing its lovely white flowers and going to seed. Many plants are thriving at the moment, including the trees that were planted last year, and we look forward to adding to our native forests with another 40,000 native plants in 2021 and 2022.

Wishing you a wonderful season,
The Te Mata Park Trust Board

New Directional Signage 

Thanks to Alterno Foundation, our new wayfinding posts are positioned all over thePark.
These posts (designed by Little Red Robot Design and manufactured by Sign Central) should make navigating the park a bit easier. Please let us know if you traverse an area that seems particularly confusing as we are always interested in the feedback of the community.
Additional thanks to our caretakers Alex and Alex for executing the big install.        

 

Fresh Steps

You asked, and we listened! The purple and red track descending toward the Giant Redwoods has a new set of stairs to ensure your safety in all seasons. We are continually working to improve the tracks throughout the park for safety and accessibility, and there are more improvements in the pipeline.

 

 

Upcoming Volunteer Days 

All volunteer days will run from approximately 9am to 12pm, and these dates are subject to change. Refer to our website for updates.

Saturday 22 May – Tauroa Forest (weeding in recently harvested area) Details HERE.

Sunday 30 May – Rongoā Garden – planting day 

Saturday 5th June – Tauroa Forest planting day

Sunday 20th June – Te Kahika planting

Sunday 27th June– Rongoā Garden

Saturday 3rd July – Matting and guarding day with some planting

Sunday 18th July– Te Kahika planting

Sunday 25th July- Rongoā garden 

Sunday 8th August– Planting day

 Please let us know of your attendance by sending a message to sara@tematapark.co.nz
The Park is nothing if not for our volunteers. Thank you to each of you for giving back to our beautiful Park.

WORDS FROM MIKE LUSK (our resident plant expert and caretaker for over 20 years) : 

Autumn 2021
There are many things to notice in the park at the moment- colourful leaves on deciduous trees, fungal fruiting bodies in their many variations of colour and form  and the results of many months of insect damage on palatable species. One of the last is the kowhai tree. Kowhai are semi-deciduous, an unusual feature amongst our natives and the degree of leaf loss is remarkably variable.
But kowhai leaves are also a favourite food of the caterpillar of the native kowhai moth, Uresiphita polygonalis maorica which, while variable in colour is quite distinctive in shape. It can often be seen on windows at night, and in the day will, if disturbed, make a short flight before landing abruptly and relying on camouflage.
Caterpillars can be found at the tips of kowhai branches in association with chewed leaves and some fine webbing. It should be easy to spot some in spite of their excellent camouflage.
They are said to be a favourite food of the shining cuckoo.

I tend not to spray for them as the trees seem to cope pretty well and both tree and moth are natives.

– Mike Lusk

 

THANK YOU TO OUR COUNCILS. It’s the considerable effort and input of Hastings District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council that help keep Te Mata Park operating efficiently and allowing us to work with incredible programmes such as Enviroschools. We are so grateful to these organisations.

 

 

 

 

Park User Reminders: 

• SHEEP:  Sheep are currently grazing in the park. Please mind your dogs.
• DOGS: Please control dogs and clean up after them. If you have a dog that can be unpredictable, please keep them on a lead.
• CAR THEFT: Please don’t leave valuables in your car when visiting the Park to discourage theft from vehicles.
• INCIDENTS: Report any incidents you see by contacting us through Facebook or notifying the police by calling 105.

THANK YOU for your ongoing support of Te Mata Park.
Please do contact us HERE if you have any questions or concerns.