An inspiring Labour Weekend at Mangarakau Swamp
Ian Price
View from near the Mangarakau Field Centre
Mangarakau Swamp has been described as “a truly outstanding natural landscape which should be retained as it is”. It is one of the best examples of natural wetland in the top of the South Island. Mangarakau is situated in north-west Golden Bay, adjoining the majestic Whanganui Inlet.
Mangarakau Swamp was bought by the NZ Forest Restoration Trust in 2002. The swamp is managed by the Friends of Mangarakau (FOM), a group of approximately 200 members. An inspirational group of four retirees provide day to day management and look after the infrastructure and trapping lines.
Through my involvement as a FOM, I saw opportunity for groups to spend long weekends helping out the “fab 4”. This is how a group of Nelson-Tasman Forest and Bird and Brook Sanctuary Volunteers came to spend Labour Weekend at Mangarakau Swamp.
Accommodation was in the Swamp Field Centre, a renovated house sleeping up to 16 people, overlooking the swamp and lakes, with majestic forested limestone cliffs as a backdrop. It was my first experience of having people line up insisting on doing the dishes due to the spectacular views from the sink!
Generally the group was privileged to have pleasant weather and people tore into the list of jobs with gusto. There were 200–300 trees to plant — achieved in quick time; releasing of previous plantings; and weed control of a number of nasties from previous inhabitants when Mangarakau once had a thriving community working in the timber, flax and coal industries. The building skills of one of the volunteers was put to good use in making improvements to the Field Centre and Visitor Centre. Future firewood supplies for the coming winter were also taken care of.
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Moving the water tank - many hands make light work
A new 25,000 litre water tank was installed, providing extra water for visitors and as insurance in case of fire. A real team effort was required to roll it up a couple of small hills and place it — a feat remarkably achieved through having 15 Chiefs and not one Indian!
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Success
Bird monitoring was carried out by a group of FOM and Brook Sanctuary volunteers. The number of dawn bird calls was inspiring. For those of us from Nelson, the variety was also captivating e.g. fern bird, red poll, brown creeper, bittern, falcon.
Sunday was taken up with a tramp by some over the Kaituna Track which runs from near the Naked Possum Cafe over to Dry Road on the Whanganui Inlet. It was a great day, sunny with fabulous views of Farewell Spit and Whanganui Inlet from Knuckle Hill. After a six hour trip there was still plenty of energy to take advantage of local hospitality — to watch the All Blacks take the World Cup.
Overall, it was an inspirational weekend enjoyed by all. Much was achieved in assisting this unique project and helping a dedicated and committed group of people. It was the only weekend where I have worked, completed a six hour tramp and due to the delicious pot luck dinners, still put on weight!
If you would like to visit or stay at Mangarakau or become actively involved with this fabulous project contact Jo Anne Vaughan javn@xtra.co.nz or ph 03 525-6031. If you would like to join a team on a long weekend in a working bee then contact Ian Price ian.price@xtra.co.nz or ph 03 545-9018.
