Supporting Restoration Close to Home

Supporting Restoration Close to Home: Newstead Remnant Bush Block Project.

Toa Civil Construction is proud to be supporting Stage 2 of the Newstead Remnant Bush Block Project, a five-year ecological and cultural restoration initiative focused on protecting one of Hawke’s Bay’s most threatened natural taonga.

The Newstead bush block is the last remaining indigenous forest remnant in the Ahuriri catchment, representing a rare MF1 tōtara-tītoki ecosystem - of which only 5.5% remains across the region. This makes the site not just locally important, but regionally significant.

Led by the Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust (ATCGT) in partnership with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Mana Whenua, local schools, and the landowner, Stage 2 builds on earlier work by expanding restoration efforts and strengthening community connection to the site. Over the next five years, the project will focus on targeted native planting, weed and pest control, and long-term ecological monitoring to support biodiversity recovery.

A key part of the project is creating safe, public access to the bush block. Plans include a walking track, small carpark, and bilingual interpretive signage, helping visitors understand both the ecological value of the forest and its deep cultural significance. These improvements will also lay the groundwork for a future bird corridor linking the bush to Te Whanganui-a-Orotu, strengthening habitat connections across the landscape.

Toa Civil Construction is contributing practical, hands-on support, providing assistance with machinery works to help establish the new carpark. This infrastructure will enable easier access for volunteers, schools, and the wider community to engage with the project.

We are proud to support this local community project, helping accelerate on-the-ground progress, expand community involvement, and ensure this precious ecosystem is protected for generations to come.