Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust is a public charitable trust made up of people who care deeply about the preservation of this internationally significant native botanic garden and forest reserve. Members include families, retirees, keen gardeners, walkers, photographers, botanists and conservationists. Many are active volunteers – brought together by the common purpose of sustaining Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush for future generations. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages and the News section for news and updates
- Botanists, ecologists, home gardeners, families, neighbours
- Passionate about Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
- More than 100 volunteers
- Guided tours and seminars: meet the glow worms, find our fungi…
- Building awareness of our unique native plant collections
- Helping conservation science
What we do
- Support Wellington City Council in its management of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
- Build public awareness and appreciation of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, native plants and their conservation through talks, guided tours, seminars, weekend hosting, native plant sales, open days, newsletters and social media engagement
- Assist the restoration and enhancement of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush through weeding, revegetation, seed collection and predator control
- Advocate for Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush and native plant conservation nationwide
- Encourage scientific research relating to native plants and the collections at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
- Foster understanding of the history of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, and of the visionaries who created and nurtured this unique native botanic garden and forest reserve.
- Manage the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Fund, an endowment fund established with the Nikau Foundation to help ensure the long term conservation of our native flora.
- Our elected Board of Trustees manages programmes of volunteer activities, seminars, guided walks and events. The Trust belongs to the NZ Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN).
Photo: © Kathy Ombler
Photo: © Kathy Ombler
Our Trustees
Kevin O’ConnorChair
Worked for the Department of Conservation for decades in a range of operational, leadership and governance roles around the country, including close liaison with iwi and communities. For the last six years of his working career helped create the new Fire and Emergency NZ. Recently retired, has a keen interest in New Zealand’s biodiversity and backcountry and is a Backcountry Trust (BCT) Trustee.
Maggie BayfieldSecretary
Background in ecological surveys, assessments and funding. Past experience in governance in both the government and voluntary sectors. As well as her secretarial duties at Ōtari Maggie also coordinates our Forest Weeding volunteers.
Ivan JakichTreasurer
A part-time accountant, with more than 40 years of finance experience across a range of organisations, including not-for-profit. Ivan has long been a frequent visitor to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush and is keen to make a contribution from his accounting skill set.
Justin Nacey
Project manager for over 15 years in the banking, insurance, IT and government sectors. Justin is experienced in delivering large scale and complex projects with skills in planning, financial management, risk management, stakeholder engagement and general communications. At Ōtari, Justin coodinates and supports the Weekend Host volunteers.
Kathy Ombler
Freelance writer focusing on conservation and outdoor recreation. Past author of walking, birding and national park guidebooks. Part time English teacher for immigrant community. An Ōtari RAMBO volunteer and helps on other traplines around the Wellington region. Kathy also looks after the Trust’s newsletters, website and social media.
Susan Timmins
An ecologist who has worked for 40 years as a weed ecologist and science manager for the Department of Conservation. Having lived in Wadestown all this time, Susan has been a frequent visitor to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, loving the bush, also enjoying all the places for picnics and rambles when her children were young. She is recently retired and enjoys having the time to help at Ōtari. Susan co-manages the Trust’s huge guided tour programme, which involves the training and coordination of many volunteer guides.
Annie Yeates
Chair of the Southern Environmental Association that oversees the ecological restoration of Tawatawa Reserve, on the Komiti of the Manawa Karioi Society at Tapu Te Ranga Marae and coordinates numerous predator pest trapping lines. Annie also helps with penguin protection on Wellington’s south coast and Matiu | Somes Island. Annie’s working life was in adult education and stakeholder management. Her most recent qualification is in Environmental Management. At Ōtari, Annie co-manages the Trust’s huge guided tour programme, which involves the training and coordination of many volunteer guides.
Geoff Ridley
Has a distinguished background in forest mycology and pathology. Geoff currently leads the national biological research collections (fungi and bacteria, plants, and arthropods) held by Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research), and previously worked at the NZ Forest Research Institute (now Scion). Geoff was involved in the 2007 Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Bioblitz, and hosts the Trust’s popular, annual guided fungi walks. Since becoming a Trustee, Geoff has also taken on the organisation of the annual Seminar Series and Autumn Guided Walks.
Other roles
Wilbur Dovey
Leader of the volunteer Kaiwharawhara revegetation project (since 2005).
Jane Humble
Coordinates the team of volunteer gardeners who help council staff care for the garden collections, also manages the Trust’s plant propagation project and plant sales.
Our Plant Sales
In 2023, the Trust established its own propagation nursery and now raises plants from the Ōtari native collections. Sales of these plants are held monthly (on the second Saturday of the month, starting at 10am) at Tāne Whakapiripiri, the visitor centre. Our specialist gardeners will be in attendance to guide and advise you. The plants on offer have been deliberately selected as suitable for domestic gardens, for Wellington conditions in particular. The project fits well with the Trust’s aims to promote awareness of our native flora.
Our Fund
Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Fund
The Otari-Wilton’s Bush Fund has been established with the Nikau Foundation for the future of native plant conservation at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. It aims to build a reliable funding stream, in perpetuity, to support the long-term vision of the Trust. Through the Fund, the Trust will support Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush across several aspects: building public awareness and appreciation of its special collection of native plants, assisting in conservation, developing educational opportunities and funding scientific research into native flora. You are welcome to contribute. Your donation will help to ensure that Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush continues to play an innovative, forward-thinking role in the conservation of New Zealand’s native flora, as it has for almost 100 years. You can donate to the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Fund in several ways.
Internet Banking: Westpac - Lambton Quay - 03 0502 0163248 001
Once you have donated, please let the Nikau Foundation team know by emailing with your name, address and noting that you would like to support the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Fund.
Donate online: You can make a donation online on Nikau Foundation’s website by visiting the page below: https://donorbox.org/otari-wiltons-bush-fund
Leave a gift in your will: Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way to ensure that Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush continues to be enjoyed for generations to come.
To leave a bequest, please contact Nikau Foundation via .
Our Book
Ōtari: Two hundred years of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
The Trust commissioned social historian, Bee Dawson, to write a history of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, and photographer, Chris Coad, to illustrate the tome. The result is a lively, informative and beautifully produced 226-page account of the history of our special place. The story begins with iwi involvement then early farming in the area. It moves on to describe the development of the native botanic garden and preservation of 100 hectares of forest - and the people involved - to become the Garden of International Significance we know today. Archival research, anecdotal evidence, and personal, first hand stories, along with historic illustrations and stunning colour images from Chris Coad all feature. Ōtari was officially launched on November 17. The recommended retail price is $80. Ōtari can be purchased from our weekend hosts at Tāne Whakapiripiri Visitor Centre (11am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays). It is also available from leading bookstores.
Our merchandise - books and cards
The following selection is available for sale at the Tāne Whakapiripiri Visitor Centre. Ask our weekend hosts. Or email
Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest, by John Dawson and Rob Lucas (Godwit, 2000) $50
Eminent botanist and former Trust chair, the late Dr John Dawson, wrote several excellent books during his distinguished career as a botanist. This one is perhaps the most informative in helping people understand New Zealand’s forests.
Drawings from Ōtari, by Eleanor Burton $20
Eleanor is one of New Zealand’s notable botanical artists. She also manages Ōtari’s plant collections’ database. See some of Eleanor’s drawings here.
Ōtari: Two hundreds years of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush
A Trust project, written by Bee Dawson, illustrations by Chris Coad (The Cuba Press, 2022) $80
Trees and their Bark, by John and Bunny Mortimer (Taitua Books 2004) $15
All the wonderful colours and textures of bark, along with some whimsy, fable, verse and little known anecdotes. This is a book for all tree lovers.
New Zealand’s Native Trees (revised edition)
By John Dawson and Rob Lucas (Potton and Burton, 2012) $120
Ōtari Path Names (and map) 1926 to 1965, by Rodney Lewington. $15
Botanist Rodney Lewington was a driving force for the Trust for many years and, in 2019, was posthumously awarded the Allan Mere for his contribution to botany in New Zealand. This booklet describes the path names in the early years of the gardens and reserve.
Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of Aotearoa New Zealand 2024, by Leon Perrie and Pat Brownsey. $50
The definitive visual guide to identifying NZ ferns, by Te Papa’s foremost botany experts. Clearly set out, heaps of photos and easy to use..
We also have a gorgeous stock of greeting cards ($5)
Name your season, your colour, your flower - chances are we’ll find a card for you!