“Maa pango, maa whero, ka oti te mahi” – “Working together to achieve”
The Fairfield Project is an urban biodiversity and gully restoration project centered in the diverse community of Fairfield in Hamilton. Our ongoing kaupapa is to provide educational opportunities for all ages alongside the restoration of the culturally and ecologically significant Kukutaaruhe Gully. Since 2016, we have planted over 31,000 trees, involved over 2000 people, created a community garden with over 100 community gardeners, worked with schools and run workshops for a variety of groups in the community.
The Kukutaaruhe Gully - the site of The Fairfield Project - lies in the heart of Hamilton/Kirikiriroa – 12 hectares of green space currently leased from the Ministry of Education.
At the head of the gully is the Aratiatia Community Marae and its magnificent wharenui, Te Ihorangi. This is the formal gateway to The Fairfield Project and the Kukutaaruhe Gully.
Here is the link to the marae website https://www.aratiatiamarae.com
2024 AGM of Kukutaaruhe Education Trust
At the AGM, Vic Arcus (founding chair) and Reece Hill stepped down. Lillian Pompey became the new chair and Marina Hape and Andrea Soanes were welcomed as new trustees.
A video highlighting the activities of the previous 12 months was shown at the AGM and can be viewed here
10th birthday celebration
On the 25th March 2024 the Kukutaaruhe Education Trust, the working group and some of our key sponsors and volunteers gathered to celebrate ten years of the Fairfield Project. It was the perfect opportunity to celebrate all that we’ve achieved in that time, and to acknowledge the considerable efforts of the team.
We also celebrated the vision of our founding Chair, Vic Arcus, who planted the seed for the project back in 2014. Vic’s leadership and passion helped establish and grow the project into the taonga we have today.
The gathering was also an opportunity to acknowledge former trustee, Reece Hill, who is stepping down from his role due to work commitments, and to welcome our new trustees, Marina Hape and Andrea Soanes.
The evening was held at The Watershed, in full view of Kukutaaruhe Gully where we could clearly see the fruits of our labours. We’re excited for the next ten years!
