October 2025 Newsletter

Kia ora koutou! I hope your spring has begun well. The green is certainly returning, and at our place everything is perking up and getting going again. Sadly, the weeds are too … but more on that later.

Thanks to …

Moanataiari Lookout update

Earlier this month, some less-than-helpful folks decided to remodel the lovely picnic table at the Moanataiari Lookout. Big thanks to TEAm member Daniel for his work to lug the new supplies up the hill to fix it, and to the anonymous community member who funded them. The table is looking great! If you haven’t already explored the track, head up to the end of Moanataiari Creek Rd where the trail begins, follow the signs, and enjoy the view.

Seagull Centre

Big thanks also to the Seagull Centre for their support of our Privet Project. Their funds will help our efforts to enable the community to deal with the weeds on their own properties. More about that below … or check out this article in the Valley Profile about all the great projects the Seagull Centre has funded.

Photo credit: Alice Parminter, Valley Profile

Stihl Shop, Thames

We’re grateful to the STIHL SHOP Thames for their support of a battery powered chainsaw to tackle tree privet, woolly nightshade and other nasties, and a line trimmer to prep planting areas, maintain tracks and deal with unruly weeds.

These will help us get in there and do it ourselves, without the huge effort needed to hand-saw thousands of privet stumps.

For all your landscaping or maintenance needs – head on down to 317 Pollen St, Thames and chat to Nic, Jill or any of the helpful Stihl staff!

Nic from Stihl and TEAm member Brent

Privet Project: the big stuff

Our landscape-scale privet project is moving forward. Earlier this month ecologist Hamish Kendall, local expert Chub, and TEA member Keri trekked into the hills behind town to select four sites where we’ll trial privet removal. Each site is different, so we can be sure that the method we choose will be applicable to as many different places as possible. This – like so much around weed control – is a really long game, but hopefully we’ll have some more news to share with you in the coming year. Once Hamish’s ecology report is finalised, our next step will be to find funds to cover the work, so if anyone happens to win Lotto, do feel free to get in touch!

Upcoming: Two events this month!

15th/16th November Privet Blitz at your place

First up, we want to help you deal with those close-to-home privet trees! Thanks to the Seagull Centre grant, we can supply a limited amount of herbicide to help stop them coming back. We’ve also got weed information, and can show you how best to deal with your situation. There’s more info on the November Privet Blitz page.

30th November Karaka Track working bee

The end of the month sees another session to continue to tidy up the entrance to the Karaka Track. Head over to the working bee page for details.

Thanks, and happy weeding!