About 70 people of all ages turned up at the opening of the Fiordland Community Garden in Te Anau’s Memorial Park on a sunny, but windy evening on Friday (November 27).

The event was a culmination of many months of work by members and supporters of Fiordland Community Garden Charitable Trust. In the short time since the trust was established in March 2020 they erected a tunnel house, built raised beds, a sandpit for children and a fence. The garden is intended as a social learning space.

In the build-up to the opening day volunteers and trust members were busy building several more raised beds and filling them up with fruit and vegetable plants. 

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At the opening ceremony participants were treated to a complimentary barbecue and delicious, healthy home-made drinks.

Dale Wairau gifted a large pounamu (greenstone) to the garden and performed a Maori blessing. The trust president Andrea Staben officially opened the garden, inviting everyone to come along, socialise and volunteer their labour to enjoy the produce grown.

"We are incredibly grateful for the blessing from Dale Wairau and the support shown from all who attended the opening and those who were unable to attend but sent their best wishes. We hope the community enjoys the new space and we look forward to forming new friendships, learning new skills and sharing the rewards that will come out of this exciting garden," she said.

“Aroha!” - participants cheer the opening of the Fiordland Community Garden. PHOTO: Alina Suchanski