A local non-profit is feeling positive after a conversation with Wānaka Upper Community Board (WUCCB) members on the future of its plant nursery.

The mission of the long-running Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust (TKAT) is to inspire community native habitat restoration through propagation, education and hands-on participation.

Its community native plant nursery specialises in propagating plants of local origin and it has used these plants to undertake dozens of local native habitat restoration projects around the Upper Clutha. 

However, with the nursery site set to be listed for sale, it needs a backup plan for its future, TKAT trust manager Loran Verpillot told the WUCCB at last Thursday’s (April 18) meeting.

“Our ideal plan is to stay on the land but we need to think about a plan B,” she said.

Loren has asked for support in TKAT’s search for a potential new site, querying whether Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) owned land was an option. Elected members were quick to share their support.

“From my perspective I’m very confident there would be somewhere we could accommodate you,” deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.

WUCCB chair Simon Telfer shared the sentiment, saying Te Kākano was a “key part of the community”.

Te Kākano’s current nursery site, established in 2008, is located on private land near Waterfall Creek.

Loran said Te Kākano was open to a range of locations as long as there is water available, but said the ability of volunteers to walk or ride their bikes to the existing nursery is advantageous.

The board discussed a range of options including the newly acquired council land near Wastebusters and the Hāwea Food Forest, among others.

Following the meeting Te Kākano trust manager Carrie Williams told the Wānaka App the trust had started a conversation with QLDC staff on the board’s recommendation.

“I think the signals from the elected members are all pointing in the right direction,” she said.

Carrie said the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust (an initiative similar to Te Kākano in Queenstown) has its nursery on QLDC land “so there is a precedent there”.

“We’ve had a close working relationship with QLDC since Te Kākano started,” she said. “We hope that council will understand and acknowledge that really close relationship.”

Te Kākano’s first planting session of the season will take place this Saturday (April 27) from 10am to 12pm, on the shore of Lake Wānaka below Lakeside Road. All are welcome.

Learn more about Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust here.

PHOTO: Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust