2013 Activities
Large trees
Newmont Waihi Gold donated 300 large trees for specimen planting alongside the Rail Trail. During 2013 some of these were planted by volunteers on Tuesday mornings. In most cases the plantings were linked to existing planting areas.

The Mound
An area members call the Mound had been sprayed by WRC. A planting of 200 mixed natives was carried out, including some of the large Newmont plants. Nearly all have survived some dry periods during the summer and members carried out some release work in late summer. During late 2013 HELP acquired a grant from LINZ to undertake weed removal on an adjoining block of land and this will be prepared for planting in the future. Associated with this is work to remove eleagnous - which has formed a huge mass across an area up to 50 metres by 50 metres. This is being funded by WRC and could be on-going as it is going to take some time to remove all of the eleagnous and liberate some of the kahikatea and other wetland plants being swamped the creeper. Once work has progressed far enough, more planting below the mound will be carried out.

The Flat
A large flat area oppposite Te Rahu saddle has been planted over a number of years. Members returned to release areas during summer and will thicken with some more large Newmont plants this winter.