We were very happy to welcome back the ANZ Retail Business Southwest team.  Almost a year ago today, they were the first volunteer team at CUE Haven after the flood and cyclone and they did an amazing job of helping us clear some of the walking tracks of fallen trees and branches and boosting our confidence that we were going to be able to recover from the damage.

Most of our volunteer groups last year worked on damage repairs so it was very appropriate that this ANZ team would work on improving and beautifying the property to help us get ready for our first community open for 2024, which will be this weekend.

The team arrived first thing in the morning and included Devendra, Fazilat, Jovita, Manny, Min, Murad, Nikhil, Sandy, Susan, Tyerell, Usha and Vincy.

As almost everyone had been to CUE Haven previously, we got reacquainted over morning tea and Mahrukh gave a quick update on our recent activities and upcoming plans.

Thomas then gave a safety briefing and described the plan for the day.

The plan for the day was to put some finishing touches on the tracks in preparation for the open day.  This involved reinstalling some signs which had been damaged by a slip, clearing up the area where a big tree stump had fallen on the track and damaged a bench, replacing mesh on a bridge and clearing the tracks of leaves and vegetation.  Because of the size of the group, we broke into three teams and went to work.

Tyerell’s team started off by reinstalling some signs which were buried by a big slip.  Last year this same team had helped to recover the buried signs.

We have since gotten the area cleared, and have cleaned and repaired the signs.

The team went to work putting the signs back up.  First they dug out holes for the posts, but unlike last year, when the ground was muddy and slippery, this summer the hard ground required a lot of digging.

Once deep enough holes were dug, the sign legs could be pounded in securely.

The soil around the legs was packed down to ensure the signs wouldn’t move.

Thanks to the team’s efforts, Wahi Matauranga is again ready to be a place where community and school groups can meet up for education and socialising. 

The signs at Wahi (space) Matauranga (wisdom) were all made by our wonderful volunteers, Rosemarie and Rita. The sign on the black board is a translation of a Maori proverb (on the red board), and reads “With your contribution and my contribution the community will prosper”.   This proverb captures the spirit of CUE Haven – the community, public and private sectors all working together to create something good for everyone. 

The Ruru track near Otakamaitu had been blocked by a fallen kahikatea until last week when our friend, Paul, cleared away the last of the big stump. 

The area had sustained a quite a bit of damage—earth and sawdust now covered the track, a bench had been pushed out of alignment by the weight of the tree and the mesh covering on the bridge was damaged.

The team totally transformed the area and restored the track, bench and bridge.

The first task was clearing and levelling the track surface.

Once the track was clear and level, they could start to dig out the damaged bench.

The weight of the stump had pushed the bench, which was secured in the ground, forward.  The team decided to carefully remove it and relocate it closer to the bridge.

Once the soil around the bench was dug away it could be lifted out.

They inspected the bench for damage and found that the legs were loose and the center support beam had broken.  They went to work repairing the damage.

They dug new holes for the bench legs and reinstalled it.

And successfully tested it out!

Without the shade from the now fallen trees, the area was very hot, but the hardworking team kept going.

We put a layer of mesh on bridges and boardwalks to make them slip proof and the mesh on the bridge had been badly damaged.  The team replaced it with new rubber mesh. 

They started out by removing the old mesh and clearing off all the debris, branches and mud.

They then test fitted the new mesh.

The mesh was cut to size and stapled down.

Thanks to the team’s efforts, the area is now fully clear and will be enjoyed by visitors this summer.

The last task the team tackled was fixing up some side boards near the start of the walking track.  They dug out the old crooked side boards.

And reinstalled the boards with a better alignment.

Future teams will carry on with improvements on this section of track this summer.

The remaining two teams helped out by trimming overhanging vegetation from the tracks and clearing off fallen branches and leaves.  They started at the top of the property and worked down.

The teams did an amazing job on a hot day and the tracks look so much better. Visitors this Sunday will really appreciate their efforts.

Many thanks Tyerell for organising the day and championing CUE Haven within ANZ.  And thank you too, for all your hard work and great leadership in the field.

A huge THANK YOU to the entire team.  It was great seeing old friends and making new ones.  You have all once again made a wonderful contribution to CUE Haven and all your hard work and efforts are much appreciated.

We look forward to having you back out for a leisurely visit and also returning next year for another fun and productive volunteer day.

Thank You!! Thank You!!