ANZ—1 November 2019

Every year since 2013, professionals from ANZ Auckland office Agri and Commercial Business have come out to CUE Haven to help with planting and maintenance work.

Today’s group included old friends as well as some new faces and joining us were Chin Aun, Fiona, Gordon, Jason, Jay, Logan, Luke, Phil G., Phil W., Rama, Rory, Sam and Sean. Also helping out for the day was our good friend and regular volunteer, Alan.

We spent some time chatting over morning tea and Mahrukh then gave an overview of the CUE Haven project and our current activities and plans.

Thomas gave a safety briefing and overview of the work plan for the day.

The plan for the day was to work on improvements to the oldest walking track on the property that we first built in 2012.   We wanted to widen and level the track and install some side boards to improve the appearance.

Because of the size of the group, we drove up in two different groups.  The first group went to work trimming vegetation that had grown over the track so that we would have more room to work.

Once we were all on site, we broke the group into three teams and each team tackled a different section of track, but over the course of the day, because we were working close together, people moved between teams to help out.

First we brought down all the gear.

We then went to work.  One team worked on improving a long section of track that had become hard to find!

The plan was to reorient the track through the bush and install side boards to clearly define the track edges to make it easier for visitors to stay on the track.  The first task was to measure and dig out channels for the boards.

The job required a lot of digging.

Once the channels were dug, the side boards were installed and pegged and nailed into place.

It was a lot of work, but the improvement in the track is amazing!

The second team worked on another section of track that runs along the edge of a gully.  We wanted to widen the track and install more retaining boards to improve the appearance the track and make it easier to maintain.

The first step was widening the track and that took a lot of digging.

As the track was widened, we also needed to ensure that the surface stayed level.

Once the digging out was finished, the team could install the side boards.  The boards were cut to size.

And then pegged and nailed into place.

The result is a huge improvement in the track.

The third team worked on clearing up a section of track between a bridge and some steps.  The track runs alongside the stream and we wanted to install a side board to make the edge of the track clear and to prevent erosion into the stream.

The first task was to rake and level the track.  They then determined the exact route the track should take and where to place the side board.

They then dug out a channel for the side boards.

They installed a post along the edge of the bridge railing to improve the appearance of the railing and also better define the line of the track.

Once the post was in place, they could position the side boards.

And peg and nail them in place.

The end result is a great improvement.  Future teams will finish off the other side of the track and lay down some gravel.

In just a few hours the team gave the track an amazing makeover that will make the track more enjoyable for visitors for years to come.  Thank you for all your hard work!

The teams then packed up all the gear and took a leisurely walk back to the cottage for a relaxing and well deserved lunch.

A big thank you to our dear friend Alan for once again helping out today.  Alan – we really appreciate your time, expertise, hard work and your continued support.

Many thanks too to Logan for organizing the day.  And a special thank you to Phil W who has been out to CUE Haven annually since ANZ started volunteering with us in 2013. Phil, it’s been great getting to know you and we really appreciate your many contributions to CUE Haven.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone in the hard working group for all their hard work and efforts today. You have all made a major contribution to the CUE Haven project and your efforts will be greatly appreciated by visitors as they comfortably walk the tracks to explore the growing native forest.

We thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and we hope that you will come back to CUE Haven soon to explore more of the property with your family and friends. And back again next year for another productive volunteer day!

Thanks again!