Rotary Club of PlimmertonBy Jenny Lucas
Posted: 21 November 2014
A collaborative effort between members of the Rotary Club of Plimmerton, Periodic Detention workers and Traffic Management achieved a successful planting day on the north side of Pauatahanui Inlet on Tuesday 18 November.
Aiming for low tide about 1.30pm the planting crew had to load hundreds of sea rush plants from the Restoration Nursery onto trailers and transport them along to the boardwalk part of Te Ara Piko (the Meandering Path) between
Ration Point and Ration Creek. The group of strong young men and the slightly older group of Rotarians had that part of the project completed before noon, at which time they returned to the nursery area to enjoy lunch together.
The lunch crew had a hot plate going cooking toasted sandwiches and sausages, and with a cuppa in the sunshine the planters restored their energy levels before heading back to the planting zone.
With the tide well out the hardy members ventured onto the tidal mudflates, slipping and sliding and losing gumboots in the squelchy mud. 
A system emerged and the potting bags were cut off while holes were dug and plants handed over to be planted. Big pieces of plywood with a rope handle were stood on to avoid the sinking problem and several hundred sea rush were planted alongside the pathway to fill gaps created during the construction of the boardwalk.