From left to right: Hannah Harvey, Boglarka Nemeth, Max Saathof, Bert Hughes and Nathan Diamond. PHOTOS/JADE DAVIES
JADE DAVIES
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Forest Enterprises has assisted the Tinui ANZAC Trust by helping to maintain the Tinui ANZAC Walkway.
On Tuesday morning, a team of Forest Enterprises staff led by chief executive officer Bert Hughes headed to the top of the walk with hand tools and got to work removing wilding pines from the area.
The walkway was made by the Tinui ANZAC Trust and locals and is not yet 10 years old.
Tinui ANZAC Trust representative Bill Maunsell estimated that a few thousand visitors walk the track each year and about 300 people on ANZAC day.
New Zealand’s oldest ANZAC cross, first built exactly one year after the Gallipoli landings in 1916, is located at the top of the walk.
“It’s pretty unique this bit of rock,” Maunsell said. “It’s quite fitting that the cross is here. It’s a bit like Gallipoli in a way so there’s a bit of a connection.”
“We want to preserve it and keep the native, which is what it should be so people can come up here and enjoy it.”
The team from Forest Enterprises consisted of forestry and geography experts.
“As foresters, we can help with the labour,” Hughes said.
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“We know about trees, so we’ve taken on that bit. Other people build huts and make signs. People help in a way they can.”
Forest Enterprises had been in Wairarapa for 50 years and Hughes said it “felt like we should contribute something”.
Wilding pine is a pioneering species that grows from seed and is growing through native vegetation in the area.
“Where there’s light and pine seed, it will grow.”
With his own ties to the Anzacs Hughes said, “it’s not very often you can find something this old and relatively special to the rural community. And you can help. It’s easy to help.”
The first ANZAC service was held at Tinui.
