Owned by an American billionaire, the exclusive Tara Iti course south of Mangawhai, is subsidising tree-planting efforts across Northland to protect rivers.
The links course was built by Californian golf course designer Rik Kayne and New Zealand developer John Darby, who bought the land from the local iwi Te Uri o Hau, and are sourcing all the trees needed to landscape the estate, from Te Uri o Hau’s native plant nursery.
According to project Manager Peter Wilson, the luxury development bought up half a million plants this year, which covered production cost and allowed the iwi to give away 300,000 plants to conservation groups to protect waterways running into the Kaipara harbour.
“Te Uri o Hau is close to the Kaipara Harbour and that’s why we’ve gone down that track, and that’s been embraced by John Darby and Rik Kayne, the principals here at the golf course. And that’s been very beneficial for us,” Mr Wilson said.
The iwi has hopes of expanding its nursery.
With a bit more capital funding, Te Uri o Hau could crank up production to two million plants a year, Mr Wilson added.
“If we can get up to two million plants a year, and get those planted, and have a workforce employed 12 months of the year, we’d be looking at 115 to 120 full-time jobs for our people.”
