New growth out of the flood debris

As a previous grant recipient, our parent Trust, Tiaki Taiao was granted $7,000 by the Catholic Caring Foundation to support Flood Relief across the region. As there was a very short time frame for the projects to be completed in our Tai Tokerau Timebank Local Coordinators were approached to see what there might be in their rohe that the Trust's share of the funds could support. The idea being that it would create a connection between Timebank and the funding recipients which could incorporate working bees with members, support existing members, or lay the foundations for future collaborations.

As Timebanking is very much in its infancy in Kaipara still, laying the foundations is very much what was at the heart of the funding portion that went to Dargaville. Foundations literally in terms of kumara beds, and figuratively in terms of what we hope will be an ongoing relationship.

Viv Christensen, Local Coordinator for Kaipara & Whangārei West reports on what was achieved with the funds:

In early 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage throughout the Kaipara region.

Dargaville, the kumara capital of New Zealand, suffered extensive flood damage, much of it to river flats, premium kumara growing areas. The following season several large-scale growers did not plant a crop. The reduction in planted volume has reduced the volume available for purchase and increased the price of what is available to buy.

Greenway Trust

Greenway Trust is a Live / Work Enterprise for adults with intellectual disabilities with 4 residential homes around Dargaville, housing 20 people. Including residential support workers, the Trust feeds around 40 people every week. The young men resident in houses 3 and 4, which are adjacent to each other, wanted to put in a kumara garden to help feed themselves and the other residents in houses 1 and 2.

They were given the calf shed flooring from a local farm (they collected and shovelled this

themselves) for use in the base of the bed and were gifted tupu to plant. The money received from the Catholic Caring Foundation provided the growing media to fill the kumara bed.

With the help of support workers, over the course of a month, the land was rotary hoed, the growing media was spread and the tupu planted.

Arapohue Retreat

Arapohue Retreat is a faith-based residential addiction centre located 40mins out of Dargaville.

During Cyclone Gabrielle the property suffered extensive damage from the effects of wind and water.

A number of trees were brought down, some onto buildings, and the vegetable garden was all but washed away. They feed between 15 and 20 people a week, comprised of clients, support staff and those involved in reconstruction.

Post Cyclone funding received from Council went towards removal of fallen trees, creating drainage and terracing of the vegetable garden. The money received from the Catholic Caring Foundation went towards the planting for the new season and restoration of the vegetable garden. Growing media and seedlings were purchased using the funds