We have 2500 native trees to plant at the Great Living Legends Muck In at Orokonui in 2013. Register now to join us at the event!
Check out who the 17 Rugby Legends are here
Otago/North Otago
Living Legends is planting at the Orokonui Scenic Reserve which is adjacent to the township of Waitati, on the shore of Blueskin Bay, 20 minutes north of Dunedin. The area is enjoyed by the local Waitati community and forms the lower part of the Orokonui catchment. With the help of our volunteers and Rugby Legend Kees Meeuws, we have now planted a total of 7500 native trees at this site, with 5000 planted during Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2500 in 2012. Living Legends will return to continue planting in this area in 2013.
The impact of drought and rabbits has led to some losses on the site but overall success is difficult to gauge until the plants push above the grass. Also the very irregular planting area on this estuarine site makes assessment difficult. Planting in 2013 will focus on the area along side the new footpath, a some what drier site than previously planted.
Volunteers at the 2011 planting day in Orokonui
Orokonui Scenic Reserve is a 28 hectare tidal estuary and an important area for whitebait and wading birds. The site lies within the rohe of Ngāi Tahu Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki. It is envisaged that the Living Legends project will transform the low-lying rank pasture into a thriving natural wetland, resembling what it might have looked like, and sounded like, over 150 years ago.
With the establishment and growth of native plantings, the restored habitat of Orokonui Scenic Reserve will ultimately link Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which is 307 hectares of 100 year old regenerating forest with Blueskin Bay, creating an intact ‘mountains to sea’ altitudinal sequence of indigenous vegetation, and will provide important foraging habitat for the birds of Orokonui.
Check out the photos from the 2012 Otago Great Living Legends Muck In
View the planting location on Google maps in a new window
45°45' 6" S
170°34' 46" E
Events
Registrations for this event close midnight, Wednesday, 21 August, 2013.
Rugby Legend - Kees Meeuws
Kees Meeuws is our Otago Rugby Legend, honoring his 28-year rugby career, which is not over yet. Kees returned to Otago in 2009 to reclaim his starting position as a prop for the Otago team, a position he still holds, and is also the Scrum Coach for The Highlanders.
Rugby has been a lifelong passion for Kees, his earliest memories are of playing in bare feet, with fog and mud squishing between toes. At that early age, Kees wasn’t to know that his greatest dream would come true – to pull on the All Black jersey years later. He gives advice to young rugby players now to “Get active, give every positive thing in life a go. You will never know if you’ll like it if you never give it a try. Experiences create character” he says.
Kees Meeuws at the 2011 Living Legends planting in Otago
Of Maori and Dutch descent Kees was educated at Kelston Boys High where he made the 1st XV in his Year 10 year. He went on to represent New Zealand Under 17 in 1991, under 19 in 1993 and the New Zealand Colts in 1994-95. He also made three appearances for Auckland in the 1994-95 seasons.
A move to Otago saw him appearing in a formidable 1997 Highlanders and Otago front row alongside New Zealand Under 19 team mates Carl Hoeft and Anton Oliver. After a strong season in 1998 he was called into the All Blacks for the final Tri-Nations test, his first All Blacks test.
With such diverse interests as diving, hunting and art (he was a student at the Elam School of Fine Arts intending to major in sculpture) he was a distinctive and valued team member, often highlighted on television for his strong ending to the All Black haka.
In 2002 Kees returned to Auckland, appearing in every Super 12 match for the Blues and each NPC match for Auckland. As an All Black he scored his first test try against Italy that year and followed with two against Fiji and one each against France and Wales. He scored a further four test tries in 2003 and hi 9th try against Tonga at the Rugby World Cup in Australia made him the world’s leading try scoring prop. He pushed the record to 10 in a match against the Pacific Islands in 2004.
When he left New Zealand for a contract in France at the end of the 2004 season Kees had 45 All Black appearances (42 tests), 80 Super 12 matches, 40 matches for Otago and 19 for Auckland to his credit. The totals would have been greater had it not been for a number of leg injuries.
As well as being recognised as a Rugby Legend Kees was excited about Rugby World Cup 2011. “It meant that we were center stage in a world class event, as a small nation of 4 million taking on the world. We got to show the world why New Zealand is regarded as a paradise of land, water and people. Go the All Blacks…”
