Hikuai Kids Make History

A group of 18 Hikuai School junior pupils made history on Tuesday, June 9.

The children, helped by their parents, planted 18 Kauri trees alongside in Tairua River on the edges of the Pauanui to Tairua Trail.

Local historians says there has been no Kauri planted in the area since Kauri milling began around 200 years ago.

The planting is the idea of Anne Fowler, wife of Trail Boss Gary Fowler. Anne is a former long term Hikuai School teacher.

"I talked with the children's teacher, Anne Hunter, and we decided that planting would be a good way to mark Arbor Day and to make a start on the Memorial Forest project for the area."

Mrs Fowler provided the trees from a small nursery she has at her home. She has propagated a number of Kauri from seed.

Mrs Hunter said the children  found a Kauri cone that they nurtured as a classroom project.

"The cone opened and dropped seed which we planted and some grew," she said.

The children's verdict: "This is a great place to plant these trees which people will be able to see because the trees will be alongside the Trail."

Pictures show Hikuai School junior children and their parents busy planting the historic Kauri.