The pay it forward project

Hamish Alexander wants to leave his Te Arai property as an enduring environmental legacy based on plant diversification for others to enjoy.

With the help of Kaipara Moana Remediation, he has overseen the planting of 70,000 native trees and 30,000 redwoods on his 125-hectare block near Kaiwaka.

There were established stands on natives on the land but Hamish’s efforts have doubled that area and he is passionate about stopping silt running off his land, where tree stands have been fenced off to keep cattle out.

Hamish has been working with KMR for a few years and he says having them contribute 6,500 trees which have been planted on hillsides and riparian strips has been a boost to his project.

KMR funds assist native regeneration and afforestation with natives and a selection of exotic trees, while the support of Kaiwaka nursery Rural Design in the project has been immensely helpful.

Once the project is complete, Hamish says approximately 110-hectares will be covered in native and redwoods – a holding that was previously used for grazing beef. Around 10ha will be left in pasture for a mix of grazing and easy access around the property through stands of trees.

Importantly, Hamish and his team have constructed tracks that he hopes will be used by people with disabilities. Hamish will provide 4WD wheelchairs to allow for this – for current and future generations, creating an even greater legacy beyond the KMR kaupapa.

Every project completed is another step in that journey, observes Hamish.

“We have planted all the wettest land and stream edges that were grazed with natives, significantly reducing silt runoff,” says Hamish.

Approximately 10ha of very wet land was always pugged with stock every winter but this is now all in very established native bush.

The high (and vastly improved) quality of runoff water measured in rainfall events is now equal to that coming out of our original native plantation.

Hamish says a further 700 metres of stream edge will be planted in natives in the winter of 2026 to keep the environmental progress moving.

“On our own account we have planted the balance of the property in coastal redwood trees and are looking to protect these in perpetuity as a property for future recreation. We are looking to have the property available to those with disabilities to access in the future and enjoy.”

Hamish wants to protect all the trees planted on the property – natives and redwoods – in perpetuity, acknowledging this is not practical for most landowners. Though he recognises most farmers have areas of farmland that could benefit from some additional planting.

“Being from a farming family, I want to acknowledge how much the primary sector has boosted New Zealand over the decades and continues to.

“However, I am fully aware of the damage agriculture has done to the Kaipara in the form of silt build up. So, for us this is a pay it forward project for past damage.”

Hamish believes the key to collaborating and problem-solving with KMR to restore the health and mauri of the Kaipara Moana, is for people to agree as New Zealanders that what we’ve done in the past is damaging to the environment and it is time to repair it together.

“We have always had a strong environmental commitment in the way we have grown our businesses in the past. So, it is very natural for us to be involved with KMR and believe this programme is long overdue.

“We have all benefitted as landowners on the land that drains to the Kaipara. At some stage we all have to acknowledge that and be prepared to put back into the land and protect the future of the Kaipara Harbour. Anything that creates a healthier environment is positive.

“I guess I am trying to create an example of what can be done by those who can afford it, simply to pay back what we have benefitted in life from this land because there is limited financial benefit for a landowner like me in taking on a project like this. But it is important to me and my focus is on the benefit to the future generations who will probably look at the land totally differently from how we have in the past.”

Hamish encourages other landowners reach out to KMR if they are thinking of planting this winter and to get fencing and site preparation underway.