Pruning Fruit trees – a demonstration led by arborist and climber of trees, Billy Paul: Te Kura o Ōtaki and a property in Ōtaki

About this event

Last year we supported Te Kura o Ōtaki with restoring their fruit trees in their maara kai (garden) so that the fruit is more accessible to the tamariki. Te Kura o Ōtaki is a bilingual school in the heart of Ōtaki where tamariki learn in an immersion or a bilingual pathway. They are guided by Raukawatanga, the tikanga of Ngāti Raukawa. 

Their vision is to educate, challenge and inspire their children to be the best that they can be, for they are the leaders of tomorrow. Ko ā tātou tamariki ngā rangatira ō āpōpō.

Their maara kai, was established in 2009 by a dedicated team of teachers, tamariki and whānau on a bare part of their playing field. Fruit trees and native trees were planted and garden beds were established. Since then it has gone through many iterations and periods of action and resting. 

In the last couple of years it has been brought back to life and they are in the process of turning the original garden into a food forest and are creating more garden beds up amongst the classrooms. This last season, they had a bumper crop of feijoas much to the delight of the
tamariki. 

The pip and stone fruit were definitely much improved but codling moth was a problem. The trees we gifted them have all survived the very dry summer and perked up again once the rain came. They hope that having a food forest will encourage more tamariki to connect with the natural environment, learn how to grow food and share it with their whānau and community.

Second location (address to be sent to registered attendees)

Victor Kuipers has 6 acres in a mix of paddocks and native bush. One of three paddocks is in the process of being filled with a variety of fruit and nut trees. We will see a winter pruning demonstration on five apple trees and two pear trees. Victor can also point out the different way that the stone fruits were pruned after the summer harvest plus how he's used an established plum tree to temporarily host other plum varieties pending final grafting onto rootstock.

Other trees on site include bananas (one just flowering), citrus (including oranges), casimiroa (sub-tropical), hazelnut, pine nut, avocado and loquat (both yet to fruit), feijoas, figs, and young olives. Four alpacas keep an eye on things.

Programme (approx timing):
10.30 – 10.45pm: Arrival and check-in. Coffee and tea provided on arrival
10.45 – 11.00am: Welcome and introduction (Karen Adams and Billy Paul).
11.00am – 12pm: Reviewing the trees and the pruning approach.
Lunch will be at the second location
1pm – 2.15pm: Pruning demonstration

What to bring:
Bring your own lunch as well as a mug for tea/coffee on arrival. There will be some seating available when having lunch, but to be sure, you may like to bring your own, or picnic blanket.

Locations:

Otaki Primary School
123 Mill Rd, Otaki

Victor Kuipers

Address to be sent to registered attendees

Postponement date - Sunday 23rd June if it rains