On 4, 5 and 6 March over one hundred T&T staff assisted the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) upgrade part of the Kohukohunui Track.
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Pictured: T&T and ARC staff take a well deserved break from carrying material along the Kohukohuni Track in the Hunua Ranges, South Auckland.
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The track upgrade in the Hunua Ranges was organised as a memorial project for a former T&T staff member, Kevin Butler, who passed away on 21 December 2007 following a year-long battle with lung cancer.
The track is used by numerous volunteers, Department of Conservation and ARC staff to support the Kokako native bird recovery programme and the upgrade was seen as a priority by the ARC.
T&T assisted by donating time and money to ensure the upgrade was finished before the 2009 winter season. T&T staff contributed by carrying timber and metal material along the track and collecting and cleaning fenn traps. Te Ngahere Contractors will now build the track and it is hoped the upgrade will be complete and ready to use by the end of April.
T&T’s Managing Director, Peter Millar, commented that the project was an ideal memorial for Kevin! “Kevin’s love of the Hunua Ranges and the outdoors in general, along with his passion for New Zealand wildlife and bush, has made the project very special. Feedback from T&T staff has been excellent and it was a pleasure to work together with the ARC, local iwi and wider stakeholders to help complete this long awaited track upgrade.”
Very special thanks to Trent Taylor, Hugh Downham and Rosemary Gatland from the ARC for their outstanding efforts leading up to the project and over the three days.
For more information about T&T's involvement contact Pip Hair.
For more information about the ARC’s Kokako breeding programme contact Trent Taylor, Auckland Regional Council.
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