Yet another tree was planted at Chrystalls Bend on September 28 when the Friends of the Ōtaki River had their annual walkover.

In a demonstration of the parnership between the Friends and Greater Wellington Regional Council, riverside farmers Barry and Sue Mansell planted a tōtara, along with council chair Daran Ponter. The Mansell family have farmed at Ōtaki Gorge for about 90 years, and Barry was a founding member of the Friends.

 For Daran, it was the first time he had seen the work of the Friends.

“It was a real pleasure,” he said. “[There are] significant areas of planting along the river margins and trails that are going to be an asset to Ōtaki for generations to come.”