Mt Aubrey/Reotahi Reserve is one of the four peaks in Whangarei Heads that is recognised as ecologically significant and is a prime example of Northland coastal podocarp broadleaf forest. Unfortunately the forest is becoming increasingly invaded by environmental weeds, with wild ginger, elaeagnus, cotoneaster, wooly nightshade, taiwan cherry amongst some of the worst offenders that are able to out-compete our native vegetation. Over the years there have been hundreds of volunteer hours spent by a small number of people, but in March 2019, Weed Action established a regular monthly weed event to accelerate efforts. Not being able to sit back and watch weeds dominate a taonga of our community, we are taking Reotahi back!
From March until August 2019, we have based ourselves at the Reotahi end of the Coastal Walking Track on the north-western slope of the maunga. In an area of approximately 100m x 100m we have spent 131 person hours targeting species from our Dirtiest Dozen to maintain focus & use resources wisely. We are now looking at moving towards the old freezing works and concentrating our efforts here until we’re satisfied that we’ve achieved a good level of knock-down.
If you walk the Coastal Walkway track you may have noticed a rather large and invasive stand of bamboo. There is a wonderful patch of native bush & interesting rock formation behind the bamboo, but you wouldn’t know it. Thanks to a couple of volunteers this section of the track will change dramatically as we witness the results of their control work. We will soon see it brown & collapse to make room for regeneration of native species. Thanks to Frank Bates & Marc Lawrence for taking on such an daunting undertaking, now our community will see the beauty hidden behind.
Bamboo killed using the ‘drill & fill’ method 
Marc & Jenny Lawrence 
Frank Bates
Keen to get involved? More details here.
