Kaikōura District Council to replant 5.37ha forest reserve

The Kaikōura District Council has committed to replanting 5.37 hectares of the former South Bay Forest Reserve with native trees by February 2029. This decision follows a ruling by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) after the reserve was harvested last year. The council had previously sought an exemption from the replanting requirement, but MPI determined that the legislation did not apply.

The area has been renamed Pōhowera Park, after the banded dotterel seabirds that nest there. The replanting project will be carried out in blocks of at least 1 hectare, with the goal of achieving a canopy cover of more than 30 percent within 10 years.

Community involvement is central to the restoration effort. The ‘Friends of Pōhowera’ group has been formed to facilitate community planting days and establish maintenance plans, such as summer watering schedules. Local schools and businesses are also expected to participate in the ongoing restoration of the site.