Congratulations to everyone (170 riders!) who took part in the first round of the PNP MTB series last Sunday and thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make the day a success. To assist the Supporters' efforts in improving the Park, PNP have donated $835 from the race day - thanks again PNP!

 

Due to ongoing work by PD workers, the plan is to head up the switchbacks on North Face, improving drainage, armouring any soft bits, making berms and other work that's needed.

 

The work will probably start from the bottom end, keep an eye on the workparties details (right hand side of the page).

 

Work parties will be alternate Saturdays and Sundays, details of each work party as plans are made are posted on the Supporters' website (and often on our Facebook page and/or twitter and/or vorb!). The build of JFK will start on Sunday October 3rd and then evening work parties will start every Tuesday from October 6th.

 

There will also be releasing parties to give our valuable trees a chance to outpace the weeds, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings once daylight savings starts. More details of these evenings to come.

 

Any questions about work parties, please drop an e-mail to supporters@makarapeak.org

 

WCC update 

The Corrections Department have helped us lay down almost 14 cubic metres of clay gravel on North Face over the last month or so.

We now have a fortified contact surface of 200 metres from the top of North Face and we hope to power-barrow more in. Clay gravel has also been laid out on Aratihi.  Look out for more clay gravel around the Park, as we get finer weather we will be ordering and laying more, it's doing a good job to look after our track surfaces. 

 

Look out too for some new directional signs on South Karori Road and please be considerate of landowners adjacent to the Park and where tracks traverse private land.

 

There are plans to get the Wright's Hill tracks sprayed to follow up on this season's cutting jobs, which should make the ride more pleasant for those Supporters heading over that way.

 

The possums are making themselves known with several trapped along the NW boundary recently and two to three each fortnight trapped down Leaping Lizard and Possum Bait Line Track.

 

The mustelid trapping with the new and extended trap lines in the Park is going well with stoats and weasels being trapped at a steady rate - a little disconcerting while satisfying at the same time.

 

There are growing numbers of kaka being seen in the Park as well as karearea (NZ falcon), kereru and ruru (morepork). With breeding season underway for many birds, it's good to know efforts from Supporters' are giving them a bit more of a chance for success.

 

If you do see a banded bird in the Park, our neighbours at Karori Sanctuary are keen to hear about it (kaka have been sighted mating in Wadestown!), they have a report a bird page on their website at www.sanctuary.org.nz

 

Sports watch found

If you lost a watch on Rimu around the time of the PNP race last weekend, we may have it.

Drop us an e-mail to supporters@makarapeak.org with a description so we can get it back to you.
And it wasn't a diamond encrusted Rolex...

 

If you like telling others about the great times you have in the Park, we need you on the Supporters Committee. Help is needed in the promotions and sponsorship areas. If you're interested to help or would like to know more, drop us an e-mail. Thanks.

 

Thanks to everyone who updated their membership at the AGM. If you weren't there, now is a great time to join or renew your membership to the Makara Peak Supporters to enable us to keep improving the tracks and the conservation efforts out in the Park. Each new or renewing membership will be sent a unique Supporters' banner sticker for your car, your office window or any other place else where you'd like to show your support. Click to join or renew your membership or make a donation.