Spark is New Zealand’s leading digital services provider and one of New Zealand’s largest companies.   Since 2013, Spark employees have been coming to CUE Haven for their staff volunteer days and have made major contributions to our walking track network.  Over the years, the team has grown to include Spark alumni, family and friends and it is always great to see old friends and meet new people.

The group arrived first thing in the morning and included Gihal, Ian, Letty,  Philip, Keerthi, Mark, Martin, Milina, Steffen, Stephane, Steve, and Sudanshu.

We spent time catching up and getting acquainted over morning tea.  Almost everyone had volunteered at CUE Haven before, so Mahrukh gave a very quick update of significant recent happenings at CUE Haven and then Thomas gave a safety briefing and a description of the work planned for the day.

The plan for the day was to do a variety of spring cleanup and maintenance tasks, and the group broke into three teams and went to work.

Drain Clearing

During winter and after heavy rains, the drainage ditches along the main race get blocked.  One team took on the challenge of clearing out the blocked drains by digging and raking out any accumulated debris.  They started at the bottom of the race and worked their way up.

They also took care of clearing some vegetation that was growing out over the road.

The team managed to clear a long section of the race and the drains are looking good.

Walking Track Repair

Ever since the major weather events of 2023, we have been having a variety of issues with the intersection of the Taraire, Riroriro and Titoki tracks.  After the bridge connecting the tracks collapsed in 2023, we have twice relocated the crossing further upstream and built new sections of track to access the area. 

Last November, the Spark team worked on relocating the Riroriro track after heavy rains once again damaged that track earlier that year. They also installed fencing to keep visitors away from the slip area. See here.

Unfortunately, two months later, in January 2026 another heavy rain event caused further damage when the ephemeral stream flowing from the neighbouring property once again destroyed that the track.

Although the area seems to have stabilized, we have decided not to further reroute the track because it would compromise plantings which are providing stability to the area.  Sadly, we have retired that section of the Riroriro track and the team took on the challenge of moving the barriers previously installed in order to block off access to the track and slip area.

To guide visitors along the Taraire track, they dug out the security barrier close to the slip area and moved it to the old intersection with the Rioriro track.

Because we don’t want to abandon a very nice section of the Riroriro track on the other side of the slip, the team also installed a barrier to make the track one way.  We explored the area to determine the best place to close off the track.

They then installed the new barrier.

They also moved the benches to the new end of the track where visitors can have a seat and enjoy views of the CUE Haven bush and stream.

And lastly salvaged the concrete mushrooms from the slip area and relocated them.

More recent rain events have saturated the new section of the Taraire Track so that it is always messy and muddy.  The issue is caused by water flowing downhill onto the track and not being able to drain away.

The team tackled the challenge of improving the drainage on the track section.  They studied the area and determined that two issues were involved.  First was that the track was getting soaked by water flowing down the hill adjacent to the track and second, that the ground on the other side of the track was creating a dam to keep the water on the track.   They went to work with spades, clearing the blockage between the track and the stream.

To deal with water flowing down the hill, the team installed two drainage channels under the track. This involved removing the side boards to dig out the channels.

They then dug the channels—a real challenge in the heavy clay.

And lined the channels with timber.

The top boards of the timber boxed channel can be removed to keep the channels clear and the track is already starting to dry out.

It is very disappointing to have to deal with the loss of years of hard work, but thanks to the team’s efforts, we have managed to maintain as much of the track sections as possible.

Boundary Fence

CUE Haven has five neighbours, and four of them are grazing cattle so it’s really important that the fences remain robust and stock proof.  We have been working with our southern neighbour, James, to improve the boundary fence and will now be replacing some of the sections showing most wear. 

A team took on the challenge of removing a large section of the boundary fence by unclipping the wires from the posts and rolling up the old fence.  This summer, we will work with James to install new posts where necessary and install new wires and battens.

The team used special fencing pliers to pull out the staples holding the fence wires.

The next challenge was rolling up the wires and battens.

By doing this preparation work, the new fence section will be installed much more quickly and at less cost.

All the teams accomplished an amazing amount of really challenging work and should be very proud of everything they achieved. Thank you all so very much.

It was great to see everyone working together to develop creative solutions to today’s challenges–everyone had great ideas and showed a lot of dedication to the work and the results are amazing.

A big thank you to Paul for organizing the visit today and for continuing to champion CUE Haven at Spark and with his friends and former colleagues. Paul, sorry you couldn’t join us today but we hope to see you again soon. Many thanks for your most valued friendship and ongoing support.

And thank you to our friend and very long term volunteer and Spark alumni, Steve, for his continued support and bringing several of his new colleagues who all took a leave day to come today to help. Steve we hope you will organise a team building volunteer day with more of your new colleagues next year.

And a huge thank you also to our friend Phil, who has long retired from Spark but continues to support us and CUE Haven.

It was great seeing old friends again and meeting the new people joining us today.  We really enjoyed working with you all and our heartfelt thanks for your effort and hard work.  Your friendship, contribution and ongoing support is most valued.

We hope to see all of you back at CUE Haven both for another fun and productive volunteer day and, also for a relaxing visit with your friends and families to show them your wonderful handiwork as you explore more of CUE Haven.

Thank You!! Thank You!!