Image: Bruce Stanger (President) and Bruce Lochore (CEO) helping out at the tree planting.

With a proud history of caring for the environment, the NZMCA launched its Greenfund initiative by partnering with Greenfleet to plant native trees at the Auckland Council’s new Te Muri Regional Park.

In 2017, the Association donated $10,000 to plant some 2,500 native trees – including pohutukawa, karaka, rewarewa, puriri, tanekaha and kahikatea – in a 2.5ha area of the park. Around 25 local NZMCA members, Board members and national office staff assisted with the tree planting. 

Greenfleet is an environmental not-for-profit organisation with a 20-year plus track record in connecting people with real climate action. Overtime, their biodiverse native forests grow into resilient ecosystems and help restore habitat for native wildlife. As they grow, the trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere which help reduce theconcentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, responsible for climate change. Greenfleet protects its forests for up to 100 years.

The benefits to the community and the environment of Greenfleet’s good work includes:

• Addressing deforestation;
• Sequestering carbon and providing climate change resilience;
• Improving water and soil quality – reducing salinity and soil erosion;
• Providing a habitat for native wildlife; and
• Leaving a legacy by protecting our environment for the next generation.

Te Muri Regional Park – which is about 45 minutes drive north of central Auckland – was purchased by the Auckland Council in 2010 and is a beautiful spot overlooking Mahurangi Harbour. There are future plans to improve access into the park to eventually accommodate motorhomes and caravans overnight.

Click here for photos of Te Muri and the native tree planting efforts.

Image: project plans include clearing of pest weeds and ongoing animal pest control.

This community-led project includes the clearing of invasive weeds, mass native tree planting, and ongoing animal pest control to help restore a natural wetland located adjacent to the Plimmerton NZMCA Park. 

Formed in 2018 by a group of Porirua residents, Friends of Taupo Swamp & Catchment (FOTSC) has grown out of concern for the protection and enhancement of the Taupo Swamp and catchment and its functioning and vibrant ecosystems – they are a community-led group of volunteers.

FOTSC work with national bodies, local authorities and landowners to protect and enhance the unique ecological values of the Taupo Stream catchment in Plimmerton, Porirua. FOTSC promotes and coordinates community discussion, involvement and support for the protection and restoration of the area. To do this, they engage with a wide range of stakeholders who share similar values.

The NZMCA has contributed $2,000 towards the Taupo Swamp wetlands restoration project. “FOTSC is very grateful for the inaugural grant of $2,000 from NZMCA’s Greenfund – this will pay for some 400 native trees which will grow to enhance the area NZMCA members look out onto on the south side of the Plimmerton Park. Members will have the opportunity to become involved in clearing, weeding and planting over the next months and years – the Local Area Committee will keep members up to date with any planned work days", says Judy McKoy, of FOTSC.

Click here for drone footage of the wetlands project area.

Click here to read a copy of a related article printed in The Motor Caravanner issue 340 (August/September 2019).

Click here for the latest news from the FOTSC

Update March 2021: 

The Plimmerton Farm Plan Change is going ahead despite 90%+ of submissions being against it.... most submitters wanted more environmental protection for the Taupo Swamp catchment.

Yes - we are extremely disappointed with the outcome and our concerns that we voiced at every stage of the Hearing Process have not diminished.

However, we remain committed to the five year restoration plan that we laid out in 2019 to restore that part of Taupo Swamp in the vicinity of Ulric St that is owned by PCC. So we have another three years of planting and weed removal to get done.

In 2024 we will review progress and determine our future steps.

Update July 2021

The NZMCA has donated another $2,500 to the Taupo swamp for planting this year.

This project was established by ‘Love the Lyell Group’ – an organisation run by the Kaikoura community, with support from the Kaikoura District Council, Environment Canterbury and a host of other local business and community groups.

The project aims to clean up and remove rubbish from Lyell Creek and surrounding beaches to improve freshwater and local marine areas. It also aims to improve water quality of Lyell Creek through native riparian planting. Local children who participate in community-run events learn how to respect and protect our local environment. Read here for information on a event held 3 October 2019. 

Kaikoura is a special place for many NZMCA members. Not only is it an official Motorhome Friendly Town, members have exclusive access to two NZMCA Parks at both ends of town – one at the Racecourse and another on Old Beach Road.  The NZMCA has contributed $3,000 towards the Lyell Creek project, which will provide opportunities for NZMCA members visiting the area to participate in future restoration and clean up events.

Our contribution includes $1,500 that was donated to the NZMCA in 2016 by thl, on behalf of all the rental companies involved, in recognition of the many NZMCA Canterbury and North Canterbury members who helped relocate stranded rental vehicles after the Kaikoura earthquake.

This project was established by the Manawatu District Council in Motorhome Friendly Feilding. Timona Park is located on the southeast side of Feilding on the north bank of the Oroua River. It is a popular recreational facility for members of the public. It's uses include the availability of the Timona Park for overnight parking for self-contained recreational vehicles and further facilities have been provided for that purpose.

The project aims improve the cycle/walking pathway, clear exotic vegetation and undertake strategic native planting at Timona Park. The pathway will be extended for approximately 2.5kms along the bank of the river, through Timona Park, to the bridge under State Highway 54 from where walking access to the town centre is available.

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The NZMCA has contributed $3,000 towards this goal, approximately 35 members of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) participated in planting over 1500 native plants at Timona Park on the banks of the Ōroua River

Over the most recent years The ‘Western Bay Wildlife Trust’ have already assisted in planting 1,500 native plants on Moturiki island, improving the natural habitat for local penguins and other native species, along with recent clean up events they have removed hundreds of bags filled with rubbish.

The NZMCA has contributed $3,000 towards the ‘Western Bay Wildlife Trust’ to protect, restore & enhance native populations and ecosystems around the Western Bay of Plenty. This opens opportunities for NZMCA members to participate in Planting days and rubbish clean ups.

Check out their Summer Newsletter

Update March 2022: 

They have made lots of progress since first receiving funding from the Greenfund. Moturiki Island is looking spectacular with all the planting they have done and they have had council erect fences to protect the vegetation and sensitive nesting habitat for lots of native species.

They are continuing their seabird monitoring and research with penguins and petrels, have expanded their volunteer pest control team and have also set up a shorebird monitoring group to protect and educate the community about NZ Dotterels and Oyster Catchers.

They are beginning mortality research to try and identify "at sea" issues our local birds are facing, like starvation and plastic ingestion, they have also started a team to go and patrol beaches looking for dead birds to report sightings. They have increased their sea bird rescue capacity and started with some basic rehabilitation.

Last year they also submitted a proposal to regional authorities for pest pigeon control, as they are having a significant impact on our penguins, diving petrels and red-billed gulls. They have also managed to deliver educational talks and workshops to the community and school groups to help raise awareness and inspire connection with our wildlife.

Check out their Summer Newsletter

Check out their Autumn Newsletter

‘The Waitekuri Wetland Project’ was established by the Denize family. The Denize Family are 4th generation family farmers whose land is on the steep foothills of the Waitekuri Catchment at the gateway to the Whangapoua Harbour. Working with Waikato Regional Council, the landowners want to re-establish 13,600 m2 of wetland plants to provide habitat for native birds, fish and insects. The Waitekuri Wetland Project aims to demonstrate how to successfully turn wet areas of unproductive farmland into healthy wetland habitat.

The NZMCA has contributed $3,000 to support the planting and wetland restoration project, NZMCA members will have the opportunity to assist with a coordinated planting day(s) in 2020. Wetlands are habitat for birds to live, feed and breed. Wetlands at the bottom of a catchment and close to natural harbours, like this one, are the last stop in helping keep harbours from silting up and ensuring kai moana such as scallop beds remain healthy.

For more information, check out this flyer - or visit their website

The National Wetland Trust have been running a community-led restoration project at Lake Rotopiko involving hundreds of volunteers since 2011. Over the years they have converted a little-known rundown reserve into a fantastic new visitor destination.

They have planted thousands of native plants, eradicated pests & re-introduced two threatened species. There has been self-introduction/discovery of others including long-tailed bats, falcon and puweto (spotless crakes). They have also installed new walkways, picnic areas & toilet, all-weather easy access parking and an interactive family activity trail.

The NZMCA has contributed $2,000 towards the Rotopiko Restoration to support ongoing restoration for plants, pest detection materials. There will be an opportunity for a working bee including planting, releasing, minor construction along with pest fence maintenance, discovery trail maintenance.

This is an awesome spot to take a break while traveling south from Auckland to make a cuppa, enjoy the lake views and stretch the legs with a short easy stroll around the lake and through the giant kahikatea trees.

NZMCA members are welcome to attend any of our fortnightly working bees (from 31 July onwards). These are Friday afternoons, 1-3 pm

Find out more about our Wetlands by clicking here

Bruce Pulman Park is 64 hectares of park including Sports Facilities and a Motorhome Park for self-contained campers located in Takanini. This project aims to help rejuvenate the ponds and surrounding areas by carrying out an extensive planting initiative.

This project will enhance the quality of the ponds and re-introduce fresh water species and bird life to the area. The planting will see flaxes and grasses planted to build up the banks and native trees across Bruce Pulman Park. 

The NZMCA has contributed $2,000 to the project at Bruce Pulman Park to support ongoing restoration for the pond and surrounding areas. There will be an opportunity for our members to participate in a planting day.