On Sunday 30th July 2006, more than a dozen of teacher and students from Massey University joined the tree planting on Motuora Island.

All of us went headed north early in the morning in 3 cars. We arrived at the Sandspit wharf in Warkworth just in time to board the ferry. The CCET contingent was part of the voluntary force on board the ferry. There were about 100 volunteers going to the planting on that Sunday. We all enjoyed the fresh air on the upper deck.

Motuora Island was first inhibited by Maoris. Then European settlers converted the island to farmland. Now 100 year later, the island is crown owned land, and is managed by the Department of Conservation. A predator eradication program in the past successfully removed all animal pests on the island. The plan is to return the island to its condition before the arrival of human being. There are 40 kiwi birds and many other native birds on the island. Planting native trees is an important part of the ecological restoration process.

There is not a wharf or jetty on the island. When we arrived, we had to roll up our pants and wade through the freezing sea water before landing on the beach. People then gathered at around the nursery to listen to instructions given by the volunteers of the Trust. The planting site was several hundred metres away form the nursery. After watching the demonstration on planting technique, we started our tree planting.

It was the first time some of us actually planted a tree. I thought it is so much simpler planting trees here in NZ. We dug holes using spades instead of hoes which we usually use in China. I found that it was quite easy to dig a hole. At the end of the morning, 4500 plants were planted by all the volunteers. It was not a bad result, indeed.

After the sausage sizzle lunch prepared by their Trust volunteers, we joined a guided tour of the island. The island has an area of around 5 hectares. There is a small reservoir on the island. We checked out the revegetation planting area dated back to 1999. The plants are all growing well. I belief the plants we planted on the day will also do well.

On our return trip, we were lucky that the ferry stopped over at the Kawau Island. We had the chance of visiting the historic building, the Mansion House. Our student volunteers all enjoyed the experience.