Thames Environmental Alliance - TEA

05/05/2026

We have an expert Privet Trial Plan. Now we need funding to make it happen, and we need your help.

This work isn’t just about restoring native biodiversity. It’s about the community wellbeing too. Many of you have told us about the intensity of privet flowering and the impact it’s having on your health. We’ve listened.

Community support is essential. It’s a prerequisite for securing co-funding. Funders want to see that this matters locally.

Every dollar raised shows that support. It strengthens our case and helps unlock larger funding.

So if you can give a little or a lot, now is the time.

Head over to Givealittle and donate today.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/thames-privet-trials #!

A community-led trial to restore the Thames hills from invasive privet back to native forest.

19/03/2026

What a lovely short film from Destination Hauraki Coromandel that makes us feel proud to live on the Coromandel Peninsula!

Featuring TEA's very own Aaron Pullford from Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust

The quote "Selflessness if planting a tree, you'll never feel the shade of" really moved us!

Tourism in Hauraki Coromandel is built on nature.Our forests, wildlife, beaches and landscapes are what bring people here in the first place. GOOD FOR YOUR S...

19/03/2026

Thames Privet Trials

After years of talk, we now have a clear next step to tackle privet in the Thames hills.

Privet has taken over large areas behind our town, blocking native forest from growing. The big question has never been how to kill it, but what happens after we do, and how much human input and follow up is needed.

We’ve commissioned a highly respected ecologist to design us a 5-year research trial across Karaka South and Hape South Blocks to find the answer. The landowners have kindly given TEA permission to conduct trials on their whenua.

This is about doing it properly. Testing what works. Then scaling it up.

If you want some light reading, you can view the plan here.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oq9tbBB0FZr4izADWYHXs9hC6nz1QHx5/view?usp=sharing

Potential funders love to see community support, please help us help you by contributing here:
💵 https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/thames-privet-trials

29/12/2025

Some amazing mahi going on in Thames to ensure pests are kept at bay, and native wildlife can flourish up the Karaka and Waiotahi tracks. Well done to all at Thames Mountain Bike Club and TEA board member Ric Balfour.

12/12/2025

It's been just over a year since a group of like-minded Thames locals formed TEA with a vision is to enhance biodiversity and restore the Thames environment.

A wise person once said to make sure you stop and reflect on your achievements, so it's cool to take 5, and see what we've done over the last little bit.

This year we got stuck into a few local projects including the Moanataiari Track Entrance and Lookout enhancements, Karaka Trailhead restoration, Sir John William Hall Arboretum maintenance, a community privet eradication week and we've started on our Large Scale Privet Trial project.

But it's not without help, and we'd like to thank TEA members past and present including Brent Courtney Ric Balfour, Aaron Pulford, Russell S***t, Daniel Millar, Eric Zwaan and Keri Moyle, and all the amazing community members, elected representatives, staff and organisations who have lent a hand including Thames-Coromandel District Council, The Seagull Centre, STIHL SHOP Thames, Smart Environmental Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust, Department of Conservation - Hauraki-Coromandel.

To achieve the huge goals we have set ourselves, we'll need alot of hands - so if you are interested in helping TEA, and your local environment in anyway - behind the scenes, or on the ground - give us a DM or drop us an email at [email protected]

25/11/2025

A friendly reminder that TEA and team have a working bee this coming Sunday 30th November 10am-12 noon at the Karaka Trailhead. We'll be continuing our cleanup of the entrance before summer and would love the community to come and help!!!. Bring yourselves, gloves if needed, water and a w**d bag (no not one of those ones).

30th November 2025 Karaka Trailhead Working Bee 10am – 12 noon, Sunday 30th November Come and help us at the Karaka Track restoration site. We’ll continue cleaning the site of w**ds and…

20/11/2025

You may not be a numbers geek, but here are some to make you smile:
🏡 20 properties were visited as part of Privet Week
🫱🏽‍🫲🏻 (including 4 households who met their neighbours for the first time!)
🌳 1-200+ trees per property
🌳🌳🌳 totalling approx 400 mature privet trees
🌱 approx 2500 seeds this season per tree
= a grand total of 1,000,000 ONE MILLION PRIVET TREES that Thames and our ngahere won’t have to deal with!
Massive thanks to everyone involved, but especially the Seagull Centre for the grant to fund herbicide, to Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust and Tree Shapes for volunteering chainsaw time, and of course all the willing residents who are putting in the work themselves to make Thames better for everyone 🫶🏼

10/11/2025

It's Privet Week and there are still a few spaces left!
If you haven't signed up already and have some problem trees at your place, do get in touch with us 👋
TEA can visit, supply advice, herbicide, and chainsaw time as needed. Just register using the link below 👇

November 2025 Privet Blitz There are beautiful flowers at this time of year: kānuka, native clematis, hangehange, kōwhai, and more. But spring brings w**d growth and flowers as well, and soon the s…

05/11/2025

Sir John William Hall Arboretum Update
Parawai, Thames

We’ve been continuing our restoration mahi at the Sir John William Hall Arboretum on Mount Sea Road in Parawai. With temperatures high, today was the perfect excuse to enjoy the shade beneath the canopy, bring the pup along for a wander, and take a closer look at a curious, batty looking tree we spotted on our last visit.

Over the past few months our community efforts have focused on protecting young natives from strangling w**ds and removing invasive seed sources to tip the balance bank in the favour of the natives. Recent work includes:

• Running a community working bee to remove invasive w**ds and plant natives at the track entrance
• Clearing climbing asparagus along the steep bank at the request of the Thames Arboretum Care Group
• Removing a heavy canopy vine weighing down three young kauri rickers — originally planted by the former Mayor and also the current Community Board member, Adrian Catran
• Felling two large wattles and a mature privet at the entrance
• Assisting TCDC with a fallen pine limb that had come down in the storm and landed on the track seating area
• Cutting and pasting emerging wattle and privet around the viewing area
• Opening up a natural view shaft overlooking the winding Kauaeranga River and beyond

Each visit reveals more about this unique arboretum - its plant diversity, its river outlooks, and its potential as a peaceful community space. We’ll continue working alongside TCDC, the Arboretum Care Group, and locals to support the long-term health of this treasured reserve.

The work would not be possible without the help of Aaron Pullford and team at Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust.

And if you enjoy the trail and want to give back, make you follow the Thames Arboretum Care Group who hold monthly w**ding days on the second Sunday of each month.

28/10/2025

Hey Thames! It's Sneezy Season again🤧 ... but this spring we want to help you do something about it. Our November Privet Blitz targets the tree privet at your place. Get in touch through the form on our website to find out how we can help!
👉🏼Details here:

November 2025 Privet Blitz There are beautiful flowers at this time of year: kānuka, native clematis, hangehange, kōwhai, and more. But spring brings w**d growth and flowers as well, and soon the s…