Project
Karamu Trap Library
Helping native plants survive a dry summer
At a glance
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Havelock North Streams
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Karamū Collective
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In development
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Advance Landscape Systems & Plant Hawkes Bay.
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MPI, Rotary Stortford Lodge, Arataki Road and Summerset neighbours, Hastings District Council, & Woodford and Hereworth Schools.
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Planting natives is only the beginning. Keeping them alive through dry summers can be a challenge, particularly when weeds compete for water and young plants need additional care. We want to understand which practical measures can improve plant survival while making it easier for the community to help.
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Every plant that survives becomes part of a growing network of native habitat across the catchment. Understanding how to improve survival in dry years means we can make better use of restoration investment, while creating simple opportunities for our community to care for the plants growing in their neighbourhood.
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We are testing different approaches to improve native plant survival at Arataki Link Lane, including:
• Plant guards and weed mats
• Dry tolerant plant species
• A communal water tank and watering cans
• A volunteer portal encouraging walkers to help water plants
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We are trialling different combinations of plant protection, species selection and watering at Arataki Link Lane, while inviting the people who use the park to become part of its care.
A communal water tank and watering cans will make it easy for walkers to give young natives a drink, with a sign providing a simple way to volunteer and stay connected to the project.
We will monitor plant survival to understand which factors best help natives establish through dry conditions.
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Success looks like more young natives making it through dry summers, with clear evidence about which measures give them the best chance of survival. It also looks like people walking through Arataki Link Lane stopping to give a plant a drink, noticing what is growing around them and feeling a sense of ownership for this shared space. By combining hands on learning with everyday community action, we hope to show how caring for native plants can become part of the rhythm of a neighbourhood.
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This project has been brought to life by Woodford House volunteers and local neighbours, who planted the natives, with Hereworth student volunteers helping to install plant guards and wool mats. Plant Hawke’s Bay has also supported the project with growing us drought tolerant plant species. We are still working to establish a communal watering system, with a local water supplier supporting the project by topping up the shared tank.
