Wairaki Stream enjoys some TLC

The volunteers hard at work

Friends of Wairaki Stream (FOWS) have had a busy summer with two very successful events aiding the rejuvenation of the Wairaki Stream and surrounds.

On December 22nd - the weekend before Christmas - the team undertook the retrieval of a very solid trailer chassis and assorted rubbish, including two ancient shopping trolleys. Rubbish they may be, but if they could tell the story of their journey to the stream it would certainly be an interesting tale!  

Removal of these ancient relics was neither swift nor simple and involved angle grinders, chains and strenuous physical effort by the volunteer removal squad of Andrew, Dianne, Jack, Kathy, Paul, Raj and Viva. As the constricting objects were removed the stream could almost be heard to sigh with relief, uttering a quiet gurgle of appreciation as it rippled more easily through the reserve.
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Inspired by the success of the pre-Christmas event, enthusiasm for the project grew with twenty people turning up to continue the clean-up on February 16th. This time the focus was on weed releasing (the more difficult ones were placed on parole, in bags, for later sentencing) and more rubbish removal. With some very diligent effort a vast variety of rubbish was located and removed. One can only be amazed at the creativity displayed by some people in disposing of their unwanted items, disregarding the normally accepted methods of rubbish disposal.

An unbelievable amount of rubbish collected from the stream

With two official and two informal clean-ups now achieved, an excellent spirit is building among the volunteer group of locals, whose numbers include Lynfield College students and Puketapapa local board members. The team have been gratefully fortified by lunches funded by the Board, with special mention to Lynfield’s Chilli Bar and Café for providing lovely club sandwiches and nibbles, and a congenial meeting location.

The Wairaki Stream is an urban waterway flowing for around two kilometres through Lynfield and joining the Manukau Harbour at Lynfield Cove. An abundance of native bush including ancient ferns can be found along its course, providing a habitat for native birds. It is also well known to locals for its eel and Kokupu (a native fish) populations. It is well worth preserving and enhancing.
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If you would like to become involved in this community group, please contact fowairakistream@gmail.com or visit Facebook: Friends of Wairaki Stream