The Ōmarunui Landfill, to the west of Taradale, opened in 1988 as the sole dedicated and controlled landfill facility in Hawke’s Bay. In 2021, Wayfinder was asked to assist with obtaining resource consent to continue the landfill operation, including extending it within the designated site. 

 

Our approach was focused on the end-game. We explored with the Council team how the site would be rehabilitated and what uses it could provide for once the landfill was capped. Key to this was understanding that planting was needed around the margins of the site, but that in reality the site couldn’t be used for anything but landfill for the next 50 years. 

 

This lead us to exploring productive totara forestry. Commercial native forestry is still new to Aotearoa New Zealand, but our research indicated that quality totara timber could potentially be grown successfully on a 50-60 year rotation – perfectly aligning with our timeframes. This vision set the method for planting the perimeter of the site, firstly with an establishment (or ‘nurse’) crop and then to be followed (soon) with commercially grown totara seedlings. A silviculture plan is being established, and it is envisaged that the first harvest of totara will be available around 2075. 

 

To establish the planting, we are working closely with Te Wai Muri, based at Waiohiki Marae, for the supply of plants and planting (https://tewaimauri.nz/) .