An innovative, iwi-led scheme aims to reduce the impact of future storms in Northland while creating jobs and keeping families warm at the same time.
A record 64,000 Northlanders were left without power during Cyclone Gabrielle – some for as long as three weeks – after the February storm brought countless trees crashing down onto powerlines.
Now a project called Ngā Manga Atawhai will see the fallen trees removed from roadsides and streams, and turned into firewood for low-income households.
Trees that are still standing but threaten to bring down powerlines in the next big storm will also be removed.
In total the volunteers spent 13 hours using chainsaws to clear a 10km stretch of highway.
The damage was so severe some areas were without power for three weeks.
Removing fallen trees from the region’s steams would also reduce the risks of flooding.
The project builds on the success of cyclone recovery work already being carried out by Northland iwi Te Roroa.
Through the Ministry of Social Development-funded Enhanced Taskforce Green, the iwi has been clearing downed trees on farmland from Auckland all the way up to Houhora, north of Kaitāia.
Ngā Manga Atawhai (“The Caring Branches”) will be launched on Friday 8 September with an initial focus on processing trees the Northland Regional Council has already removed from 25 rivers around the region.
Credit: radionz.co.nz
