Onepū Wetland and Otipa Arboretum Visit

Last Thursday, I linked with Bill Clark a local Eastern Bay of Plenty custodian of the Otipu Arboretum and Onepū wetlands. In 2007, Bill noticed the forestry company was about to plant pine trees in the wetland area of the forest. He suggested that the area was more suited as a wetland than forestry. Fortunately, they agreed and the BOP Regional Council got on board too. Locals got involved with tractors, spades and hard work.

Bill worked on regenerating the area with native flora and also pest control. Now, the area is full of native plants and many animals now call it home. Next to the wetland, Bill set up the Otipa Arboretum. Bill has a license issued by DOC to plant native flora in the arboretum from anywhere in New Zealand. On our tour, Bill claimed that different parts of the area have different micro-climates. One area grows sub-tropical flora from Northland and other parts grow plant and tree species native to the Eastern Bay of Plenty and lower areas have species from the South Island.

It was incredible to see the biodiversity of the area. The area has a huge range of native trees and plants; rimu, kauri, hïnau, Northern Rata, kānuka, mānuka, red beech, katakana to name a few. Bill is a local expert on the area and has an interest in rongoā (Maori traditional medicine). He is interesting in forging long lasting links with Otakiri School and to let students conduct a range of science experiments that could range from tracking individual tree and plant growth, or investigating the birds in the area or the life in the swamp or lake. Meeting with Bill was a great link to make early in the STLP. I look forward to working alongside him in the future.