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A Rocha volunteers work to restore at Te Auaunga Awa Oakley Creek

By Beulah Wood
4 September 2024

The creek bears the signs of the ravages of 2023 violent storms with bridges still missing, but on 11 August, parents and children came with enthusiasm to the last planting day for winter. Their work will help stabilise the banks for future storms.

Stream custodian Wendy John from the Friends of Oakley Creek already had the bank cleared and assigned places for native trees – kōwhai and tītoki, nīkau palms and tī kōuka (cabbage tree), flaxes and sedges.

Adults and children played their part for conservation augmented this time by a caring group from ‘Sunday at Four’, a family-oriented church in Glen Eden.

Here are some photos and quotes from the volunteers.

Peter Alexander: “We have been talking about investing in projects. This is right for us. We are keen to give back to the community and this will prevent erosion.”
Adults and children busy planting and learning.
Grant balances to avoid rolling into the stream while dealing to a virulent tree privet.
Brook with daughter Willow.
Kathy with another of Brook’s family, Starling, has opinions on the value of environment work: “If we look after nature, it will look after us. We want to help our kids get the message to look after nature, so children joining us at work is vital. You see the beauty of something you invest in and learn to love it, or the obverse for the future, you look after what you have come to love.”
The team of volunteers

A quite different angle came from Simon Haines: “I’m here as an antidote. I do a 9-5 job as a fund manager for a bank. I want to connect with nature and people in the outdoors. That makes me keen to do this voluntary work in nature.”

Beulah’s creation care interest developed with birding in India, followed by tramping and gardening in New Zealand. A farm background, secondary and tertiary teaching, writing, parenting and grandkids all contribute to her life experience. Currently attending Mt Albert Baptist Church in Auckland and on the planning team of the Auckland local group, Beulah is a trained preacher, who inspires through story and metaphor.