As you drive  past the Orongo Bay Motorcamp you have probably seen a new pathway emerging. It’s a shared pathway for cyclists and walkers. The project driven by Bay of Islands Walkways and Walking Trust aims to get a safe shared pathway from Russell to Okiato – mainly for cyclists.
 
The first stage has been funded through donations by locals, a grant from Pub Charity and funds from the Trust.
 
The second stage starts soon, thanks to an $8,000 grant from Hato Hone St John in Russell. They recognise the value of the pathway to community health and wellbeing. Thank you all the Op Shop workers!
 
You probably won’t see much of that stage, but we will keep you informed when its ready to be used. It will be rarely visible from the road!!
 
If you wish to donate financially for further stages, the Trust’s bank account is Bay of Islands Walkways Trust, number 03-0394-0129164-000.
 
Thanks to local clubs and businesses who have supported the project in goods and services:

• Northland Ferries provided free transport on the car ferry
• Bonus Contractors donated a number of truck and trailer trips for the metal
• Ventia provided free metal form the Puketona Quarry
• Russell Contractors gave a “local price” for distributing the metal
• The Bay of Islands Rotary Club and the Kerikeri Rotary Club had an action day to help prepare the track.

 
 
We can’t forget the locals who have turned up for working bees to rid the side of the track of ginger, tobacco weed and gorse either! That will be ongoing. As will other working bees.
 
Later in the month the Shackelton Scout Group are staying at the Orongo Bay Motor camp and will be planting along the side of the track as their Community Service project.
 

Join us on our public planting days Sunday 29 May and Saturday 18 June 2016. Tasks for all including digging holes (bring your spade), putting the plants is, removing containers back to the carpark etc. Meet in the Pipiroa carpark.

The tree felling went very well with over 50 pest trees cut down to make way for natives. This means the Pipiroa end of the track is now open again.

Would love to have your help with weed clearing, feeding material into a chipper to make mulch, and planting. And if you can help by paying our tip fees for dumping weed material that would be greatly appreciated. Contact Vicky Froude 021 077 3378.

​During the autumn and winter of 2016 work will begin on our project to restore ecological naturalness to the full sequence of native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Pipiroa and Te Wahapu watersheds on the Russell Peninsula
The sequence of ecosystems we are protecting and restoring is: mature native forest through freshwater wetland to saltmarsh and mangrove forest to sand-shell barrier spits to coastal soft sediment waters ... read more

During April and May 2016 we will be felling weed trees and removing weed species from the Pipiroa access-way that forms the start of the Okiato-Russell walkway. For safety reasons access to the Pipiroa entrance to the Pipiroa Scenic Reserve will be restricted for about one week in early May. If you are able to help (e.g. making sure people don’t use this section of the walkway, helping to remove cut material off the track) contact Vicky Froude 021 077 3378. 

We will be planting cleared and other areas with 2000 native plants in May and June 2016.  Our public planting days are Sunday 29 May and Saturday 18 June 2016.  We will provide further information via the Russell community email and the Russell Landcare and Living Waters email lists.  Please contact us if you would like to be involved  ... read all the details  

• we'll be calling a Board Meeting in Jan.
• further funding support is imminent, from ER and the EPG wind-up funds.
• an action plan with DOC needs finalisation, for work on Hirst Reserve, and the two remaining ASB-funded bridges.

With the very best of wishes for 2009.
Warm regards, Roger Dane

​​​Dear Fellow Trustees
Looking back on 2008, we can reminisce on our achievements:

• completion of the most difficult stage of the Okiato-Russell Track
• attracting substantial funding
• obtaining a resource consent
• growing working bee numbers
• glowing written support from FNDC & ER
• increased local support and awareness
• "paved the way" for final stages with DOC & FNDC Roads Dept.
• lodged an application with Lotteries Grants Board for further substantial funding
• launched an attractive website

A fantastic achievement by a great team - pats-on-backs all round..........................THANKYOU.
(Please also pass on our thanks and appreciation to the stalwarts who have contributed to our success)