In the Whanganui/Taranaki/Tararua Area, CPPS operates community work in New Plymouth, Hawera, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Feilding, Levin, Pahiatua, Woodville and Dannevirke. Find contact details for the Whanganui/Taranaki/Tararua Area.
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Excerpt from Community Works Issue 5, November 2005 |
Wednesdays have become synonymous with gardening work for dozens of offenders serving Community Work sentences in Taranaki.
Each week, CPS sends supervised work parties to the historic Hollard Gardens at Kaponga.
Throughout winter, the crews helped Taranaki Regional Council staff prepare for the regions’ celebrated Rhododendron and Garden Festival.
Now in its eighteenth year, the festival attracts thousands of visitors to public and private gardens around the region – and in particular the council’s Hollard and Tupare Gardens.
Regional Gardens Manager Greg Rine says both gardens benefit from the efforts of offender work parties.
“They’re a pretty important part of my operation, especially with my winter projects, and tasks like metalling paths, helping with stonework, and removing felled trees.”
The Hollard Gardens at Kaponga were established in 1927 and boast a heritage plant collection featuring rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas.
The 4.5ha garden sits 350m above sea level and enjoys a refreshing two metres of rainfall each year.
“It’s such an old garden, there is lots of work to do keeping paths clear. We work really hard to present the gardens at their best for visitors, although most wouldn’t realise the part offenders have played,” says Greg.
Meanwhile, Probation Officer Bob Hikaka says work parties have done a lot of beautification work around the Kaponga township in recent years and take great pride in their contribution.