Ducks Unlimited NZ
Friday, 09 March 2018 21:41

Kahutara School’s Ambitious Wetlands project

Kahutara project: Ross Cottle (DUNZ chair) left, presents a cheque to Hamish McRae on behalf of Ducks Unlimited NZ to assist in developing the Kahutara School Wetlands project. Ross and Hamish are accompanied by senior pupils from Kahutara School. Kahutara project: Ross Cottle (DUNZ chair) left, presents a cheque to Hamish McRae on behalf of Ducks Unlimited NZ to assist in developing the Kahutara School Wetlands project. Ross and Hamish are accompanied by senior pupils from Kahutara School. Jim Law
Featherston farmers Fraser and Margaret Donald have set aside an area of their property and made it available to Kahutara School to use for developing a wetland.

This initiative will give students the opportunity to watch first hand, as their efforts turn a swampy piece of paddock next to their school, into a thriving habitat for wetland flora and fauna.

Ducks Unlimited NZ, South Wairarapa Rotary, and Featherston’s Own Charity are all generously supporting the project.

Don Bell provided advice on conservation wetland design and methodology. He and members of South Wairarapa Rotary and Ducks Unlimited oversaw the students’ initial planting of over 700 important trees of various species.

Throughout out his tenure, Hamish McCrae, a teacher at Kahutara School, has encouraged students to help Ducks Unlimited NZ with tree planting at the very successful Wairio Wetland development. The 150 Ha wetland project is beginning to attract many of the country’s endangered species and provide them a safe haven. This initiative, coupled with Whio breeding and bittern studies is making a positive impact on endangered waterfowl species.
Read 2314 times Last modified on Friday, 13 April 2018 10:35