Hokonui Rūnanga plant trees to honour kaumātua Rewi Anglem
Tuesday, 20 October 2020
A Kaumātua who dedicated his life to conservation will be remembered for future generations after 800 trees were planted on the reserve he helped to build.
Schools and kōhanga reo in Southland gathered to plant the trees on the Hokonui Rūnanga site in remembrance of Rewi Anglem, who had worked in conservation all his life, up until he died last year.
Hokonui Rūnanga environmental scientist Riki Parata said it was Anglem who had encouraged him to study conservation, and was a great mentor and friend.
The work that Anglem was involved with was so tremendous it was hard to name it all, and he led the conservation space for the rūnanga for many years, Parata said.
**READ MORE:
* Southland couple's efforts praised at Ballance Farm Environment Awards
* Forestry authority reduces fines for Kaikōura farmer who cut down trees
**
Anglem was involved in establishing the Mataura Te Awa Mātaitai, New Zealand’s first fresh water reserve, along with being involved in conservation boards, the Department of Conservation, Fish and game, and other groups working in conservation.
When the Hokonui Rūnanga received funding from Te Uru Rākau Matariki Tu Rākau, they couldn’t think of anyone better to commemorate than Anglem, Parata said.
Anglem started the reserve and planted many of the trees.
He used to live on the site of the rūnanga and also died there too, Parata said.
The Hokonui Rūnanga is also involved in Environment Southland’s Enviroschools educational field trip project, where 300 school children of all ages will plant native trees, learn the history of the area, river health and predator control on farmland property.
Hokonui Rūnanga member and nephew to Anglem, Rodney Trainor, said if it wasn’t for Anglem they wouldn’t be able to what they were doing with Enviroschools.
All the trees that had been planted at Enviroschools came from Otago Corrections Facility at Milton, who Anglem started the partnership with to supply trees for restoration projects.
Chris and Desiree Giles were the farmers who let Enviroschools use their land for the project.
After two years of talking about the project, they located a wet spot that they could retire from farm land regenerate, Giles said.
He wanted to teach the adults about sustainable farm systems and hoped he would be able to do that through the children.
The Enviroschools Waimumu Downs project will continue throughout the week.