Work is underway on Motuihe Island to upgrade kitchen facilities following a donation from the Howick University for the Third Age (U3A).
The donation was gifted to the Motuihe Island Restoration Trust after various members visited the island to see the work that takes place.
Volunteers co-ordinator of the Motuihe Island Restoration Trust, Fiona Alexander, said the money is being used to purchase a cupboard for storage, painting the kitchen in the woolshed and installing a new stainless steel sink bench, where volunteers have their coffee and tea.
She hopes to have a new bench top stove and cabinets under it soon, and confirmed the work is due to be completed by autumn, when the main planting season begins.
“Our volunteers will really appreciate this upgrade as the kitchen area has been in a very poor state for a long time,” said Mrs Alexander, who is a member of Pakuranga U3A.
She visited the Howick branch of U3A in July last year and spoke about the work she does with the trust, inspiring Immediate Past President of Howick U3A, Tim Pearson, to organise a trip for members.
The Motuihe Restoration Trust was formed in 2000, and since then has carried out significant works on the island, removing pests, planting trees and releasing endangered species into a safe habitat.
This includes kiwi, saddlebacks, bell birds, kakareke and tuataras.
President of Howick U3A Marian Heywood said the donation was given in the spirit of U3A, an international not-for-profit organisation that began in France with the goal of encouraging further learning for retired and semi-retired people.
Meetings take place every second Monday in the month in the Nixon Hall on Sale St, Howick, beginning at 9:30am.
