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Shout Out to the “Stone Fairies” of Waiatarua

in Community

During our latest lockdown, Waiatarua resident Catherine Hughes has taken her daily walk around Bush Road, Atarua Gardens and Raroa Terrace. Most mornings she spotted little painted rocks for folk to see placed in areas along the way. Each day a different one would appear. Just recently she had one placed by her letterbox (see photo).

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Renga Renga Lily

in Plant of the Month

The low maintenance Renga Renga Lily, also known as the New Zealand Rock Lily (Arthropodium cirratum), is a great replacement for the invasive agapanthus and an alternative to bromeliads.
Renga Renga lilies are clump forming perennials about 75 cm tall with soft grey green arching strappy leaves. They cope well with dry coastal areas but do best in dappled shade and when mass planted they are an impressive sight in spring and summer when they send up tall spikes that produce clouds of white flowers that are followed by fruits and seeds that are attractive to birds.

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Weed of the Month: Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)

in Weed of the Month

Originally from West China, jasmine may smell and look fantastic, but this is one very nasty weed. As a rapidly growing climber it is able to reach even the highest of established trees, smothering and eventually killing them. This is a great time of year to get into the bush to take out jasmine, before the weather warms and the bees and wasps are out in full force.

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Summer is coming!

in Environment

While last updates were predicting a La Niña summer (wetter conditions than normal), all bets are off this season, given last year’s La Niña summer brought drier conditions than normal. So with that in mind make sure your gutters are clear, your pipes are all working and you have no leaks in your tanks because collecting rain water becomes a priority this time of year. You can also protect any plants you’ve planting by ensure a good layer of mulch or cut grass etc to cover the soil (keeping it wet). Don’t weed mid summer (unless you’re weeding noxious or invasive species like climbing asparagus and jasmine). A layer of chickweed will protect your soil from the harsh sun. 

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Nature is a wonderful thing

Greg Lokes’ latest photos

23 October 2021

3 images

Local photographer Greg Lokes took these beautiful images of a pollen dusted tui feeding on kowhai flowers. His images also appear on the Waiatarua Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/Waiatarua/).

Christmas community get together

Lock-down has been tough! Especially in Waiatarua, the rain, hail and land damage has been extensive leaving many of you to deal with insurance companies and EQC along with the ongoing stresses as COVID-19 creeps it way west. In response the Waiatarua Ratepayer & Residents Association invite you to the Waiatarua Hall for an evening of conversation and refreshment. More

Plant of the Month

  • Renga Renga Lily

    23 October 2021 in Plant of the Month

    The low maintenance Renga Renga Lily, also known as the New Zealand Rock Lily (Arthropodium cirratum), is a great replacement for the invasive agapanthus and an alternative to bromeliads.
    Renga Renga lilies are clump forming perennials about 75 cm tall with soft grey green arching strappy leaves. They cope well with dry coastal areas but do best in dappled shade and when mass planted they are an impressive sight in spring and summer when they send up tall spikes that produce clouds of white flowers that are followed by fruits and seeds that are attractive to birds.

    Read More

History

  • The Nihotupu Timber Mill

    8 September 2021 in History

    Timber milling started in the Waitakeres on the Manukau Harbour edge, but it was only a matter of time before investment and tech-nology enabled access to previously unreachable stands of kauri in the Waitakere Ranges. In the 1890s, the timber millers had their eye on an area of kauri on blocks of land owned by John Hueston and William Wasley and his son, Oliver, at Nihotupu, just west of Waiatarua. Wasley’s Bush, as it was known, was considered to be one of the most outstanding areas of kauri forest in New Zealand, and it contained a particular tree, the Glasgow Tree, that because of its spectacular size had been put aside and named after the then Governor of New Zealand, Lord Glasgow.
    The millers were Francis “Frank” Mander and Samuel Bradley, prin-cipals of the company Mander & Bradley. Mander was Onehunga-born and started his working life at 10 years of age. He was also the father of novelist Jane Mander and later an MP and newspaper pro-prietor. Mander’s partner, Samuel Bradley, was also Onehunga-born and a successful businessman.

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Community patrol

Environment

  • Weed of the Month: Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)

    23 October 2021 in Weed of the Month

    Originally from West China, jasmine may smell and look fantastic, but this is one very nasty weed. As a rapidly growing climber it is able to reach even the highest of established trees, smothering and eventually killing them. This is a great time of year to get into the bush to take out jasmine, before the weather warms and the bees and wasps are out in full force.

    Read More

  • Summer is coming!

    23 October 2021 in Environment

    While last updates were predicting a La Niña summer (wetter conditions than normal), all bets are off this season, given last year’s La Niña summer brought drier conditions than normal. So with that in mind make sure your gutters are clear, your pipes are all working and you have no leaks in your tanks because collecting rain water becomes a priority this time of year. You can also protect any plants you’ve planting by ensure a good layer of mulch or cut grass etc to cover the soil (keeping it wet). Don’t weed mid summer (unless you’re weeding noxious or invasive species like climbing asparagus and jasmine). A layer of chickweed will protect your soil from the harsh sun. 

    Read More

Library

  • Longer Loan Times

    7 September 2021 in Library

    From the beginning of August, we will be extending the time you borrow library books from two weeks to four weeks, the same as other libraries, so you won't have to hurry to finish your books any more.

    We have received some great new books for you to read these cold winter evenings.

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Waiatarua Volunteer Fire Brigade

  • Our volunteers are essential

    1 November 2021 in Waiatarua Volunteer Fire Brigade

    Fire and Emergency NZ relies on volunteers in 600 plus stations nationwide, to help com- munities prevent, prepare, respond and recover from emergencies. As well as firefighting, our volunteers attend medical incidents, motor vehicle accidents, severe weather events and other requests for help. We also install and check smoke alarms and help to improve fire safety in our communities.

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