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Saving Auckland’s Heritage Fruit Trees: Healthy Soil, Healthy Trees
Cost: $18
Location
About this Event
Learn practical ways you can support food trees and resilient green spaces in your own neighbourhood.
Join Savannah Carter-Green (Kai Rākau Project),
Matthew Priestley (Brotherwood),
and David Stejskal (Auckland Council Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology team)
for a session exploring two connected streams of their work:
- the ‘Kai Rākau Food Tree Project’ a living library of heritage fruit trees, sub-tropical food trees and rongoā species, and…
- the collaborative programme protecting historic orchard remnants across the Upper Harbour
Hear how these significant trees have been located, rescued and cared for; why they matter culturally, historically and environmentally; and how community partnerships are helping them thrive.
Learn how soil structure, compaction and low carbon levels affect fruit-tree health.
Discover practical solutions with simple indicators to assess soil improvement over time.
Proceeds from this workshop will help support the Kai Rākau Food Tree Project
ABOUT
Savannah Carter-Green is the founder of the Kai Rākau Project (est. 2010) under the umbrella of the Sustainable Paremoremo Charitable Trust. She leads the creation of a living library of heritage food trees, rare subtropicals, and rongoā rākau across 3.5 acres within the 100-acre Sanders Reserve.
Matthew Priestley is the director of Brotherwood Ltd and leads the soil-health and orchard-restoration work for Auckland Council’s heritage fruit-tree programme.
David Stejskal Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology Manager, Auckland Council
David leads Auckland Council’s Urban Forest, Arboriculture and Ecology team, a group of specialists focused on caring for the region’s trees, green spaces and ecological systems.
This event is part of EcoFest 2026 — a month-long, community-powered festival celebrating nature, sustainable living and everyday climate action across Tāmaki Makaurau. Discover practical ideas, inspiring events and ways to deepen your learning at ecofest.org.nz.
