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Aramoho School
Aramoho Shrubbery
The Shrubbery - Kotahi Rau Tau
ARAMOHO SCHOOL'S KOTAHI RAU TAU
The shrubbery was originally called Kotahi Rau Tau. The Centennial Committee gave the money for this project. They thought it would be a good way to involve past, present and future pupils and help them find out about conservation. Mr Neil Simpson, a local conservationist, gave advice about trees to plant. A lot of different kinds of plants were chosen that were suitable for the area. The trees were planted close together with some shelter trees around the outside. A clearing was left so teachers could take classes outside for lessons in the summer time.
It was decided to plant the shrubbery on the sloping ground by the soccer field. Trees were given their Maori, Common and Botanical names. Some plants came from nurseries and some plants were donated by Lands and Surveys and Friends of the School. Some were grown from seeds by the school committee members. It was hoped that the shrubbery would be used for flax weaving, art, history and appreciation of taha Maori. It would also provide a shady place in the playground. It took two years to plant the 300 trees and shrubs. There were about 50 large trees and about 15 different species of smaller trees and shrubs. As the trees grew bigger there would be less work keeping the area tidy because it would become shadier and there would be more leaf litter. Hopefully the school children would continue to be interested in the shrubbery.
INTERVIEWS
