With the support of the DCC Biodiversity Fund, a dedicated landowner is making significant progress in restoring and enhancing remnant patches of indigenous coastal forest at Potato Point, which is situated on the headland of Pūrākaunui Inlet.

Potato Point is a large site offering stunning ocean views that stretch beyond Karitane. It boasts several remnant patches of indigenous coastal forest, including mature trees such as ngaio, kōwhai, mataī, tōtara, and the rare fragrant tree daisy (Olearia fragrantissima). Many of these individuals are more than 200 years old. 

Over the past five years, landowner Jon Fergus has worked to connect these remnant forest patches and enhance the site's ecological integrity and create a thriving habitat for biodiversity. In 2019, he planted 1,000 native trees within a 1-hectare covenant. Subsequently, with support from the DCC Biodiversity Fund, the Halo Project, Trees that Count, and a dedicated team of volunteers, he has planted an additional 18 hectares of retired farmland. Only a 7-hectare block remains to be restored to complete the project.

The next round of DCC’s Biodiversity Fund is open for applications from 1 - 31 March 2024. The Biodiversity Fund provides grants to support native planting projects, trapping, weed control, and fencing around regenerating native vegetation. All fund details are available on the Dunedin City Council website. Any landowner or community group working to enhance biodiversity across Dunedin is encouraged to apply. 

Please contact the DCC’s Biodiversity Advisor, Zoe Lunniss, for an informal chat about your project and how the Fund may be able to assist. Email biodiversity@dcc.govt.nz or phone 477-4000.