We have 2500 native trees to plant at the Great Living Legends Muck In in the Manawatu Gorge in 2013. Register now to join us at the event!
Check out who the 17 Rugby Legends are here
Manawatu
Living Legends has been planting in the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve, as part of DOC’s Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity project. This project is a major initiative involving local authorities, transport agencies, Department of Conservation, community organisations, Iwi, and individual land owners. The project has a vision to raise this dramatic landscape to a model of restoration for biodiversity and recreation at a national and international level.
The upgraded Gorge track is already a must do for walkers from across the country, experiencing the outstanding views not seen from the gorge itself and a wonderful piece of hardwood/podocarp forest.
With the help of our volunteers and Rugby Legend Sam Strahan, 7500 additional native trees have now been planted at this site as part of Living Legends project. 5000 trees were planted in 2011 during Rugby World Cup, and a further 2500 at the 2012 muck in.
Plantings at the Woodville end of the Gorge have shown remarkable survival and growth given the difficult growing season while the 2011 plantings high on the ridge have yet to be assessed. Planting this year will extend the 2012 plantings to complete the fenced area of the reserve.
Check out the photos from the 2012 Manawatu Great Living Legends Muck In
Photos from the 2011 Manawatu Great Living Legends Muck In
View the planting location on Google maps in a new window
40°19' 19" S
175°48' 24" E
Events
Registrations for this event close midnight, Wednesday, 21 August, 2013.
Rugby Legend - Sam Strahan
Born in Palmerston North on Christmas Day 1944, Sam Strahan was educated at Apiti School, where he recalls his earliest rugby memory, playing for the Apiti School Midgets. He then went on to Huntley Preparatory School, and Wanganui Collegiate. After only three games for his home club, Oroua, in 1965 he was selected to represent Manawatu, and attracted the attention of national selectors who included him in the Junior All Black team against the 1966 Lions.
In 1967 the All Black selectors were searching for a lock to partner another of Living Legends “Rugby Legends”, Colin Meads. They went to Napier to study Manawatu’s Ranfurly Shield challenge, after which the selector found his lock forward after seeing some outstanding play from Sam. By the end of the 1967 season the 1.95m, 101kg lock was off to Britain with the All Blacks where he partnered Colin Meads in each of the four Internationals. The young farmer had gone away as a relatively junior player but his performance improved with each game on a tour which is regarded as one of the most successful ever, being unbeaten in its 17 matches.
Manawatu Rugby Legend Sam Strahan at the 2011 planting day
After 23 games for the All Blacks he had never been in a losing team, however, in 1969 he lost his Test position to Taranaki’s Alan Smith. Strahan returned to top form in 1970 though, touring South Africa and playing the best rugby of his career, appearing in the first three Tests. After his last All Black game in 1973, Strahan played once for Manawatu then later retired from all first class rugby.
Sam is remembered as one of Manawatu’s finest All Blacks and for six years the best lineout jumper in the country. All up he played for 36 years – with 45 games for the All Blacks, including 17 test matches.
After hanging up his boots Sam Strahan remained involved in rugby, as coach to his club team Oroua, and also within the Club’s administration. In 2002, the Oroua Rugby Football Club made Strahan a life member of the Club, and he has also served as President of the Manawatu Rugby Union, of which he is also a life member. He says the best piece of advice he could give to young players now is to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.
Sam enjoyed New Zealand’s hosting of Rugby World Cup 2011, an opportunity he said that gave New Zealand exposure to the world.
