Project Tohu update: 80,000 natives planted on Coronet mauka!

The ambitious Council-led project is a key initiative in the draft Climate & Biodiversity Plan 2025-2028. It aims to cloak 170 hectares on Coronet Peak’s southern slopes with more than half a million native grasses, shrubs and trees over the next three years.

Queenstown Lakes District Council are excited to play a major role in the new direction of Coronet mauka as an established, self-sustaining indigenous forest. Ultimately this project is about helping to restore and protect our natural environment for generations to come.

The delivery of this project is a collaborative effort with Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku owned charitable company Te Tapu o Tāne, social infrastructure organisation Citycare Property, and environmental science consultancy e3Scientific. The joint mahi is creating a true taoka (treasure) for the community.

The Project’s site was previously the location of a Douglas fir plantation that was harvested between 2020 and 2023. This removed 90,000 tonnes of commercial timber which was also a major source of wilding conifers.

By reintroducing native vegetation to the slopes of Coronet mauka and indigenising the whenua, Project Tohu actively works to safeguard the health of our Waiwhakaata waterways in the Crown basin. 

Project Tohu also provides a unique opportunity to be a leading example of how large-scale ecological restoration can be successfully achieved within the Otago region and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

There will be opportunities for the community to get involved with Project Tohu this spring with planting days. Keep an eye on QLDC Facebook and QLDC’s Project Tohu webpage for more details later in the year. 

In the future there are plans for an awesome trails network for mountain biking, horse riding and walking, along with picnic areas for everyone to enjoy.

For further information and updates, check out QLDC’s Project Tohu webpage and Te Tapu o Tāne’s website.  

Meaning of Project Tohu
Our ‘Project Tohu’ illustration represents our three Ngāi Tahu tīpuna ancestors and our commitment to supporting Mana Whenua as kaitiaki guardians, in safeguarding their taonga and the treasures of Papatūānuku, the earth mother, for future generations.
A ‘Tohu’ is a guide, a sign, a marker that signifies a truth.