Pūnui bunawe translocation to Bluff Hill Motupōhue
1st May 2021 was a historic occasion. Bluff Hill Motupōhue Trust volunteers, under Chair Estelle Leask, and Southland Community Nursery volunteers translocated 45 Punui (Stilbocarpa lyallii) plants back onto the NZ mainland! Pūnui/bunawe is a taonga species to local iwi and has many traditional uses. It grows on southern offshore muttonbird islands associated with seabird colonies, but gets eaten by introduced animals and so declined early on the mainland of NZ. With extensive predator control being undertaken over many years Bluff Hill Motupōhue is a perfect place for its reintroduction. Saturday 1st May was a joint affair with plants being grown by Southland Community Nursery from seed collected by the Davis Family from their island and passed to the Community Nursery by Estelle to grow for this project. The groups of plants were planted in favourable locations in light gaps under forest under guidance of Brian Rance DOC botanist and Community Nursery trustee. It is hoped that the plants thrive and seed and are then distributed by birds. Estelle had arranged a 10 year permit for translocations to continue and we at Southland Community Nursery were privileged to be involved and support the great work that the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust are doing. Thanks to Jeanette for article in the ODT - with Ray starring! https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/megaherb-punui-replanted
Chris
Posted: 3 May 2021