Section 2: Nature Friendly Environments — Communities Making it Happen

Developing a greening strategy — a community effort in partnership with a City Council Adrienne (Adie) Leng Environmental Coordinator Environment Network Manawatu Inc c/- City Future Unit, Private Bag 11-034 , Manawatu, New Zealand [email protected]

ABSTRACT Greening Palmerston North, protecting the City’s ecological areas, and improving the associated amenity values and recreational use of these natural areas have been key issues raised by the community of Palmerston North.

The need for a Greening Strategy for the City of Palmerston North emerged from the community network of environmental groups (Environment Network Manawatu or ENM), which identified the lack of an overarching strategy to provide direction, coordination, and support for the range of activities already happening that contribute to greening the City and biodiversity.

The Palmerston North City Council and Environment Network Manawatu agreed to develop the ‘Greening Strategy’ in a partnership approach. It was completed over a time period of two years and involved a broad brush Ecological Assessment, open days and workshops with private landowners of ecological areas, as well as workshops with community groups and individuals interested in ‘greening’ the City.

The Greening Strategy is a non-regulatory approach to addressing biodiversity issues in the Palmerston North City area and while biodiversity is seen as the main focus for the Strategy it also recognizes that recreation and amenity objectives contribute to greening the City and needed to be encompassed in this strategy. Both the City Council and ENM have agreed to a range of actions that they will be responsible for and will report on each year. This partnership will increase capacity and effectiveness. The strategy will be an incentive for the City Council to develop smarter practices for the environment to increase biodiversity and by the community to be more involved in enhancing green spaces.

INTRODUCTION Greening the City, protecting Palmerston North’s The Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) ecological areas, and improving the associated and Environment Network Manawatu agreed amenity values and recreational use of these to develop the ‘Greening Strategy’ in a natural areas have been key issues raised by partnership approach. This strategy is the the community. The unifying theme has been result of combined efforts of the Council and all a desire to see the City improve its biodiversity the member groups of Environment Network and quality of green spaces. This Greening Manawatu. It was completed over a time period Strategy ties together the different issues and of two years and involved the completion of proposes ways of addressing them. a broad-brush Ecological Assessment, open days and workshops with private landowners The need for a Greening Strategy for the City of ecological areas, and workshops with emerged from Environment Network Manawatu community groups and individuals interested in (ENM). ENM is an umbrella organization for the ‘greening’ the City. City’s environmental groups. A key issue identifi ed by ENM members was the lack of an overarching This Strategy is a non-regulatory approach to strategy to provide direction, coordination addressing biodiversity issues in the Palmerston and support for the range of activities already North City area and contributes to the National happening that contribute to greening the City. Biodiversity Strategy and the Regional

102 Greening the City. ISBN 0-959-77566-8 © Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (Inc.) 2005 Section 2: Nature Friendly Environments — Communities Making it Happen

Biodiversity Strategy. The Strategy seeks to co- There was an urgent need for the different ordinate the diverse range of existing activities, environmental groups in the city to know what which improve biodiversity, beautify the City, or each other were doing, as there had been enhance opportunities to experience the natural cases of duplication, for example when one environment. While biodiversity is seen as the group planted an area on the Saturday and main focus for the Strategy it also recognizes another group arrived to plant the same area on that recreation and amenity objectives the Sunday! Another reason to set up the ENM contribute to greening the City and need to be was the need for some groups to have access encompassed in this strategy. to expertise. And lastly, there was a need to encourage some bigger picture thinking, to This Strategy will be a major mechanism for minimise ad hoc activity and to override being Palmerston North City Council in achieving at the mercy of each newly appointed set of sustainable development for the city. The Councillors, especially when the Council’s principle of Sustainable Development, which three-yearly environmental direction was so encompasses economic, environmental, social uncertain at that time. and cultural spheres, highlights the importance of integration between the plans and policies of These Chairpersons of the ENM initially got Council (e.g., PNCC 2004a). together with three other environmental groups to set up the collective with an enthusiastic This paper provides an outline of the basic post-graduate student, who became employed process followed in developing this Greening as the fi rst part-time Coordinator in 2001. The Strategy for Palmerston North City. Included collective and the strategy planners saw a need is an understanding of why the community for a Greening Strategy, which they immediately environmental groups started to drive this initiated. The inspiration for this originated from development and how its partnership with the national and international efforts to improve City Council developed. urban greening. The collective became an Incorporated Society and also decided to ENVIRONMENT NETWORK MANAWATU INC improve communication and continuity by The Environment Network Manawatu (ENM) developing a website that went on-line in 2003 consists of a representative from each of the (http://www.environmentnetwork.org.nz/). local environmental member groups. However, in contrast to most other cities, I joined the ENM as the Coordinator in 2003 there remains no Environmental Centre or and this Network is the community partner to Environmental Education Offi cer employed by the Palmerston North City Council. My main the city. experiences came from teaching, sociology and as a Royal Society Teacher Fellow assessing BACKGROUND wetlands. When I moved to Palmerston North in 1990 from Dunedin, I thought the Manawatu lacked natural A City Councillor and a Strategic Planning beauty like I had been used to, and there wasn’t Manager in council were instrumental in setting an obvious feel of the environmental character. up the ENM in 2001. They were also both Visitors to the Manawatu have often also shared chairs of local environmental groups and in a this perception with me. There are hills, not too position to see issues that had been developing distant, but they looked bare, except for a few over the years, including the need for: smallish dark patches of bush. There is the , strong-fl owing and in places • An umbrella organisation for Palmerston swimmable, but unattractive willows and weeds North’s voluntary environmental groups bordered it. You could walk beside the river • An overarching strategy and vision for a short distance on a bridle track but the • Direction, coordination and support for only direct access I found at fi rst was through Greening. industrial shingle mining areas.

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So for my mental health I walked each weekend The offi cers are supportive of Environmental in the small Domain forest area or the Network Manawatu, hosting the Coordinator walk, where I could enjoy the and contributing towards the salary. They have wonderful feel of these ‘real’ natural environments. also fully supported the actions in developing the Greening Strategy — providing facilities, After I discovered more of the history of the fi nancial support and expertise. Manawatu region and of the past efforts to clear the swamp forests and to drain the wetlands, Whilst you may have heard of ‘Easy Living’ and I started to understand why I had those fi rst ‘Easy Green’ promotions of the region, past impressions. greening of the city has really been through the achievements of particular individuals (the right The Manawatu Plains are one of the most heavily person in the right place for a certain time). The modifi ed ecosystems in New Zealand (like most last 20 years has seen most streets tree-lined other lowland ecosystems in this country), with and some bush areas planted-up and attracting only 2–4% of fragmented, indigenous remnants native birds back into the city, judging by the left. When you know the history of the Manawatu number of bellbirds (or korimako; Anthornis region you can understand that most of it is rural melanura), kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae farmland using the once rich, silted fl oodplain novaeseelandiae), New Zealand falcon (Falco soils now cleared and drained. novaeseelandiae), silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis lateralis), tūī (Prosthemadera Furthermore, many of the past leaders that have novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae), and even been on Boards and Councils have also been kākā (Nestor meridionalis) seen in recent times. landowners, farmers and businessmen who appreciated the economic values of this rural It was always stated at the outset that any landscape and encouraged further clearing. A environmental strategy would have to take similar situation occurred in Christchurch City. a non-regulatory approach in dealing with biodiversity issues for the area, similar to what As a consequence of this legacy, there are is happening in other regions of New Zealand. now no remaining native bush corridors It is ironic that the groups in the ENM prefer within or around the city, nor leading from the to avoid the use of the word ‘biodiversity’ neighbouring native bush area of the Tararua when making fi rst contact with the public. Ranges into the city area. ‘Biodiversity’ is a term poorly-understood by some members of the general public and may This greatly reduces the potential for any foster negative connotations. present-day terrestrial indigenous biodiversity and makes it diffi cult for residents to experience COMMUNITY CONSULTATION and actually value it. The few bush areas After much discussion, the concept of a Greening that have been retained are either public Strategy was launched in July 2001 at the fi rst esplanades, now with both native and exotic workshop, where the public gave their views on plants, or are on private land. the general areas of environmental concern, enhancement, values and future desires. Two For me, this is the missing feeling in the further workshops followed during 2002, from Manawatu. I have come to appreciate that this which the ideas that emerged gave the direction area is also a place that has many other great for the Greening Strategy. The themes that benefi ts and is well worth the efforts to achieve arose from the three workshops were: an improved environmental native base. • Restoration and enhancement PARTNERSHIP APPROACH • Corridor development The main partner is of course the Palmerston • Amenity and beautifi cation North City Council that will be responsible for • Opportunities to experience the natural the Greening Strategy as an offi cial document. environment

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• Lack of information about ecological This assessment process took six months processes and areas in the City. and provided the Council with the data that emphasised a need for the Greening Strategy. Restoration and enhancement includes The main fi ndings of this assessment are: restoring new areas and enhancing existing native bush. Developing healthy corridors • A total of 80 ecological areas are identifi ed encompasses bush, aquatic, riparian, bird and — representing between 12–15% of the total wildlife corridors, both out of and in the city, also area of the City through amenity and beautifi cation, accepting • The total ecological area is heavily dominated the plethora of exotics and encouraging natives. by large areas in the northern Tararua Ranges and without these high country areas As there were interest groups involved in the City would have less than 1% of its total walking, fi shing, cycling, horse riding and of area or 300 ha as ecological area course, tree planting, it was very important to • The majority of ecological areas are forest include the outdoor experiences and activities (44%) followed by scrub and shrubland (27%) that can assist greening in the city. These groups and wetland (12%) recognised that parks have been set-aside in • The number and size of remaining ecological new subdivisions for sports and recreation and areas shows clearly the pattern and extent of that native planted corridor walkways continue to habitat loss in the City be developed. However, it was hoped that the • The parks and reserves network is of key Greening Strategy would eventually assist the importance to ecological restoration in the City. development of areas just for conservation. The Ecological Assessment identifi ed 80 These workshops also highlighted the lack of ecological areas and the importance of the any localised ecological database that could be catchment area of the Turitea Dam of some 3500 used to order priorities. ha. The Turitea Dam catchment is mostly native bush and helps produce ‘Palmy Pure’ water to ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT drink in Palmerston North (judged the best in the The Council prepared the brief and financed country by the New Zealand Water & Wastewater a broad-brush Ecological Assessment in Association in 2003), and lies in the northern November 2001. An ecologist from Boffa Tararua Ranges. This area is included within Miskell (a New Zealand-based consultancy the city boundary but is mostly inaccessible specialising in environmental planning, to the public and therefore its value is largely landscape and urban design, and ecology) unappreciated, except for those who have undertook the rapid assessment of the walked the Sledge Track opened by the Prime Palmerston North area (Boffa Miskell Minister early in 2003, as well as hunters, who 2002). Ecological areas were identified probably do not want it to be more accessible. in the assessment using a methodology of aerial photograph analysis and field The reserves, of which only a few contain native reconnaissance using roadside and riverside plants, and parks, that are mostly for recreation, views and high vantage points. Private land are managed by the City Council and provide was not entered. the green areas in and around the city and are appreciated by the general public. Letters were sent to all landowners of ecological areas advising them of the study and general Several ecological weaknesses were also fi ndings. The letter outlined the Ecological identifi ed. What stood out clearly was that the Assessment and invited landowners to be Tararua Ranges holds some 93% of the ecological involved in future workshops on how the City area of the Palmerston North City Council — and should be greened and to indicate if they were the 300 ha of indigenous areas remaining are interested in participating in any programmes mostly small and narrow areas with full exotic edge that emerged from the strategy. effects, reducing any chances of sustainability.

105 Section 2: Nature Friendly Environments — Communities Making it Happen

The remaining wetlands are mostly cut off developed some residential management from their natural infl ow by large stop-banks or guidelines to assist with developing local engineering efforts and do not benefi t the land landscapes, there is a need for a bigger picture, or river in times of fl oods. to protect both urban and rural distinctive values.

I have been told that 20% is the habitat area Most of these recommendations are also required to sustain any indigenous biodiversity included in the Greening Strategy, still in draft in a given area (Helmut Janssen pers. comm. form1. 2003; referred to by Boffa Miskell 2002, p. 37 as ‘current New Zealand ecological thought’). DEVELOPING THE GREENING STRATEGY So having only a 2–4% base in the Manawatu Timeline: Plains where most people live, is a big ask of any endeavour (this fi gure excludes the Tararua • 2001: Community direction workshops Ranges, which is outside of the Manawatu Plains • 2002 August: The Ecological Assessment Ecological District). The Regional Council has report presented to PNCC prioritised some signifi cant indigenous remnants, • 2002 September: PNCC endorsed the as High Value Conservation Areas but given development of the Greening Strategy the low overall percentage, every little bit in the • 2002 November: Community and landowners Manawatu is signifi cant. workshops • 2003: ENM group representatives workshop. The Ecological Assessment Report also makes a range of recommendations in relation to The more recent workshops developed the Council’s land and management techniques. themes from the earlier workshops and asked These include: for direction and priorities for the next few years for Palmerston North City. The main concern to • Develop a priority list for corridor restoration protect biodiversity was to have both plant and and depleted eco-domains animal pest control. • Policy development and guidelines to protect against further fragmentation and work The community advanced the ‘Mountains to the towards a desired vision Sea’ concept (not original but apt) for corridors • That a generic Ecological Management to be developed from the areas of bush in Plan for the City’s parks and reserves be the ranges through the plains to connect the developed small-scattered remaining remnants of bush. • Systematic monitoring to provide an accurate Although these are outside of the urban area, database. it was considered that Palmerston North could be the key to this corridor development and The recommendations included support for restoration (Fig. 1). developing a Greening Strategy. The report also identifi ed a need for more planning and guidelines The information from the workshops was to connect remnants and to develop management developed, in 2003, by the ENM members and plans for retaining remaining remnants. Council offi cers to prepare goals, objectives and possible actions to include in the draft Strategy. A Turitea Reserve draft management plan was approved late in 2003, but it was recommended What stood out for me from the workshops that that the northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) sites I was involved in, has been the commitment also need protecting from plant and animal pests. shown by the groups and the desire to move on from the frustrations with the City and Regional Whilst the Palmerston North City Council has Councils’ past environmental attitudes.

1 Editor’s note: since the time of writing, the draft Greening Strategy has been replaced (January 2005) by an interim Greening Strategy, available at http://www.environmentnetwork.org.nz/91.html.

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The ENM member groups have acted in be improvements in the local environment; it a collaborative way and focussed their specifi cally lists more than 75 actions that are communication to work on developing the intended to be achieved, or furthered, in the Greening Strategy and putting the past, next fi ve years. These have been itemised personalities and differences aside. In other as having joint ownership between the City words, looking ahead and working on what can Council and members the ENM groups. It be done with what is available. is exciting to read and is giving an incentive for new developments as well, both in the OBJECTIVES AND SCHEDULE OF ACTIONS Council and with the groups. In other words, Four Greening Strategy Goals were developed: it has already gained momentum and other organisations such as Horizons Regional 1. Restoration and enhancement — ‘To Council (Manawatu-Wanganui Regional increase the health and extent of native Council) are coming on board along with DOC, biodiversity.’ Wellington Fish and Game and the local Crown 2. Corridor development — ‘To develop an Research Institutes. interlinking network of corridors throughout the city area that connect key places and ENVIRONMENT NETWORK MANAWATU spaces.’ RESTORATION GROUPS 3. Experiencing the Natural Environment To promote and acknowledge all of the — ‘Improve the range of opportunities for voluntary effort (e.g., Fig. 3), the ENM groups people to experience the natural environment and the theme areas they are working on are while minimising impacts.’ outlined (Table 1), although there is at times 4. Amenity and beautifi cation — “To enhance more overlap in some of their activities than the amenity of the city by increasing planting indicated. in order to create ‘green’ cityscapes.” Twenty-two groups are current members of The fi rst goal, restoration and enhancement, ENM, and there are many other non-ENM and remains the main goal and over-rides all service groups involved in the activity areas. of the others. The second goal of corridor All of the groups encourage other community development has needed a bit of explaining groups and neighbourhood input, increasing the to fully show the potential of combining some environmental stakeholder base. ecological and recreational goals. Experiencing the natural environment includes being a All of the ENM groups are separate volunteer conservationist. In relation to the fi nal stakeholders in the city and have their own goal, amenity and beautifi cation, if you look at voice. They are also well supported through the Palmerston North from the 5th fl oor of a building network, which encourages collaboration. where I took this photo recently (Fig. 2), you can appreciate how green the city is, even if it COMPLETING THE PROCESS is dominated by exotics. The native wildlife has The draft Greening Strategy document went adapted to some of these exotics judging by the out for consultation in July 20032. Although number and variety of native birds making use the Community-Council process and the of the gardens and street trees. This data on Greening Strategy are not fi nalised, the bird sightings was gathered from a 2003 Forest strategy goals are spoken about by some and Bird survey, and certainly demonstrates Councillors and groups as an already local improvements in biodiversity. agreed upon direction for the future of the environment in Palmerston North. Activity is A major strength of the Greening Strategy is continuing to occur with more enthusiasm and that it is not just a document stating there will new projects being developed.

2 The interim strategy that was subsequently produced is supportive of the fact that the Greening Strategy process is already being actioned but it is going to be a part of the 2006 review of the LTCCP by the Council.

107 Section 2: Nature Friendly Environments — Communities Making it Happen

To achieve the goals of the Greening Strategy, The next step of ENM is to encourage the the ENM member groups need the support neighbouring District Councils and Regional and funding from the Palmerston North City Council to have more active partnerships and Council and in return, the City Council benefi ts Community-Council environmental efforts. from the voluntary seed capital and drive from the community. The effort made in developing Whilst the need for an increase in indigenous the Greening Strategy has anticipated the biodiversity is the uppermost goal, most process being invited by the Long Term Council Palmerston North residents have had more Community Plan (LTCCP; PNCC 2004b) and exposure to exotic species (as have the residents though Councillors may be concerned about of many other cities in New Zealand). This is the potential cost, any work requiring funding will starting point any ENM project development has still have to go through the normal annual to consider when inviting the public to realise the processes of local government. value of increasing our own indigenous species.

Table 1 Environment Network Manawatu groups and their activities. Activity Restoration ENM Group Outdoor Restoration with PNCC Amenity Advocacy experiences support Ashhurst Action Group +++++ CityScapes -++-- Cycle Aware Palmerston North ---++ Green Corridors ++++- Trust +--++ Manawatu Forest and Bird +++++ Manawatu Tree Trust +++++ Open Space Action Group - -+++ Palmerston North City Environmental Trust ----+ Pit Park People +++++ Te Ao Turoa ----+ Te Ngahere Environmental Education Trust +-+++ Urban Care +-+++ Walkways Advisory Group -++++ Kahuterawa Back Track ++-++ Massey Environmental Group ---++ Kiwi Conservation Club +-++- Keebles Bush Memorial Trust +--+- Conservation Corps ++++- Ashhurst Domain Wetland care group ++-++ Running on Empty ----+ Green Bike Trust +--++

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The Greening Strategy will hopefully lead the City TE AO HURIHURI in the right direction and ENM is confi dent that the value and long-term benefi ts will be appreciated in I am your river, Ko au tō awatapu the future, if not now. Time will tell. fl owing through your Kei te hotu te land and feeling manawa I would like to fi nish with words from a song changes that honours the physical features of the Do you better Mārama āna Manawatu and asking what our direction understand the ngā tūmanako o will achieve. It is a song that I wrote for the balance of your needs Papatūānuku? Ashhurst School and I think it sums up all that with Mother Nature? is really needed to do. These are the Me rongo taku REFERENCES changes that I want ngākau ki tōna Boffa Miskell 2002: Ecological processes to feel whakaora in Palmerston North City — report for I am your hills, Ko au ngā pūtake Palmerston North City Council. Boffa Miskell looking down at you maunga Ltd. May 2002. and seeing changes E tiro iho i te Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) 2004a: whakaora o te ao Palmerston North City District Plan. April 2004. Available at http://www.pncc.govt.nz/ Are you more caring, Kia pupuri te aroha Council/Plans/DistrictPlan.htm. more giving and more me te manaaki Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) loving with each 2004b: Long-Term Council Community other? Plan (LTCCP). July 2004. 320 p. Available These are the Ko ēnei āku at http://www.pncc.govt.nz/Council/Plans/ changes that I want to moemoeā mō te ao LTCCP.htm. see. hurihuri.

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Fig. 1 Treed cityscape taken from the Central Fig. 2 The diversity of trees seen growing in the City Business District, Palmerston North City. looking towards the Tararua Ranges. (Photo: A. Leng). (Photo: A. Leng).

Fig. 3 Forest and Bird conservationists ranging in ages from 20 to 92 about to plant in the Keebles Bush link corridor. (Photo: A. Leng).

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