A Wairarapa family have set a new milestone for the QEII National Trust, with their 8.9-hectare forest, known as The Gorge, becoming the 5000th area in New Zealand to be protected with an Open Space Covenant (OSC).
Toby and Charlotte McDonald hosted other local QEII covenantors and local community members at their farm on Wednesday to celebrate the milestone. The newly registered OSC protects modified primary forest and a stream system that feeds into Wainuioru River. The forest also contains rare and threatened species, including Olearia gardneri. It also contains one of the few rimu remaining in the district and is home to pōpokotea (whitehead).
The newest covenant adds to the growing network of legally protected, privately owned land in Aotearoa, with the total area of land protected by a QEII OSC now close to 200,000 hectares – about the same area as the North Island’s three remaining National Parks combined.
Speaking at the event, the McDonalds said that they were honoured to be the 5000th covenant, which also happens to be their fifth covenant protected in partnership.
“This is a huge honour. This area is special to us and being the 5000th QEII covenant makes it even more special,” Toby said.
“My dad started it all by protecting the first piece of bush in the 80s and we’ve worked with QEII several times since then to protect more places on the farm. Our local rep [QEII regional representative Trevor Thompson] knows his stuff and when he tells us about the things we’re protecting, it feels like we’re doing the right thing.”
QEII chair Bruce Wills said protecting private land with a QEII National Trust covenant benefits everyone and is the most efficient and effective way to help protect the habitats of threatened animals and species.
“Open space covenants are vital to protecting our natural taonga, 70% of New Zealand is privately owned and every time landowners choose to do this, it is a generous gift to the whole of New Zealand,” Wills.
“The land is protected forever, for future generations to enjoy, and will continue to provide a refuge for native species.”
“This amazing milestone is made possible by all landowners who have made the commitment to protect these sorts of special pieces of land.”
