John Croft and his grandfather, Mr R. Croft, preparing to plant a beech tree. John's father, Mr J. Croft, is chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association which supported the project story and pictures by Patricia and Colin Ward Integration at Ground Roots Tuahiwi straggles along both sides of a country road, about four miles from Kaiapoi. Blackbirds sing to the sun, but the wind blows keenly from the snow-dipped foothills across the plains. This is family tree day at our school. The 25 pupils, Maori and Pakeha, with members of local families, have come to plant almost 200 native trees and shrubs. Our teacher, Mrs J. Goldsbrough, is busy and happy. This traditional planting was her idea. A Woodend resident, Mr K. Gdantz, has given us the trees and shrubs, which our families must care for in the future. Mrs Goldsbrough is going to use them for nature study too. Mr M. Reuben, of the school committee welcomed us, saying, ‘I hope the gods will be good to this area and will stimulate and give growth where, over the years, not Mr J. H. Tirikatene, brother of the late Sir Eruera, planting his family beech, assisted by his son, Mr Hoani Tirikatene