Mangroves at Matua are going to be the first to get the chop when mechanical mangrove removal begins on January 14.
The public are invited to join EBOP staff, estuary care groups and invited guests to celebrate the start of the programme.
The mangroves at Bay Street Matua are the first to get the mechanical chop in a programme Environment BOP chairman John Cronin says is a result of the hard work and determination of community groups.

The mechanical mangrove mulcher during trials.

EBOP has resource consent to remove up to 92 hectares of mangroves from Tauranga Harbour over two years from January 1.
The mechanical mangrove remover will work in areas already consented for removal by 10 Estuary Care groups across Tauranga Harbour.
The Matua site is expected to take no more than two days, with Omokoroa and Athenree next on the list. Environment Bay of Plenty anticipates it will take four to five months to complete all 11 sites.
The low ground pressure machine has a mulching unit attached and will exert approximately 2psi ground pressure – significantly less than a human footprint.
Waiotahi Contracting Director Graham Mills says his company is looking forward to the challenging project.
'A lot of time has gone into establishing the methodology for this innovative approach to the problem and we are looking forward to putting it into action on the harbour,” says Graham.
EBOP chairman John Cronin says mechanically removing the mangroves is a helping hand for community groups that have put in a lot of hard physical work to remove mangroves.
'The onus remains on the community and Estuary Care groups to maintain the areas in the long term,” says John.
'It will allow the Estuary Care groups more time and energy to focus on other aspects of estuary restoration and maintaining areas free of mangroves.”