Project Tongariro Community Group Award Winner 2022

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network’s ‘Community Plant Conservation Project’ award has gone to Project Tongariro for their outstanding work done to protect the native biodiversity of the Tongariro National Park and its World Heritage sites. Originally named the Tongariro Natural History Society, it was founded in memory of four people who were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1984, and was initially made up of friends and colleagues of those killed. From its modest beginnings, assisting with the running of summer programmes and taking visitors on field trips to the unique corners of Tongariro National Park (TNP), Project Tongariro has grown over the following decades and now has a much bigger impact on conservation work in the Region, including the restoration of the Alpine Garden at Whakapapa.

Project Tongariro took on the prime responsibility for the ongoing restoration of Rotopounamu-Pihanga, an important podocarp forest in Tongariro National Park. Their work has had a significant impact and involved surveys, monitoring, and possum control. A trapping network was established and extended over Mt Pihanga as well as a three-year aerial poisoning programme. All this work has taken them closer to their goal of reintroducing endangered species. Project Tongariro have also worked at the large 1,500 hectare Te Mātāpuna Wetlands, adjacent to Lake Taupō, forming important partnerships with DOC and local iwi. Funding from DOC, Waikato Regional Council, and Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust enabled them to carry out willow control and restoration planting of a variety of native species. Other projects Project Tongariro have been involved in include the revegetation of the Lord of the Rings film sites on Mt Ruapehu; a weed project at the site of the old Whanganui Bridge SH47; ongoing flora monitoring and propagation; and the coordination of all volunteers in TNP.

Project Tongariro has also been able to support the work of others with funding applications, financial management and administration support, including staffing. This has led to the establishment of community projects such as Kids Greening Taupō and Predator Free Taupō. Project Tongariro is a hugely successful environment/conservation group that has had an extraordinary and positive impact.

To see the full list of winners, visit: www.nzpcn.org.nz/nzpcn/awards/nzpcn-awards/2022/