News

Revisiting the restoration

Ōtari’s Kaiwharawhara Valley sets a benchmark for community restoration.

It now has a new chapter, and you could be involved!

Since 2001, the once weed-infested valley has become filled with native forest. While volunteers planted and cared for more than 55,000 seedlings, conservationists Jonathan Kennet and Bronwen Wall completed a ten-year study of 22 monitoring plots in the valley to determine the survival and growth rates for the species planted.

Now, 20 years on, Kennett and Wall plan to revisit all 22 plots, measure the trees, create light holes for climax species and assess where more planting is needed. The project aims to provide invaluable, long-term data to benefit future restorations, and is supported by the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.

Volunteers are being invited to help clean each of the 22 plots, remove old carpet ‘mulch’ along with tradescantia and other weeds. Some revegetation experience would be helpful, but guidance will be given. The first working bee will kick off on Saturday October 18, from 9am and run for 2 to 3 hours. If you’re keen, meet at Tāne Whakapiripiri, Ōtari’s visitor centre, by 9am.

Posted: 11 October 2025

A move to native grass

Going, going - whatever is happening to Ōtari’s Cockayne Lawn? In honour of Dr Leonard Cockayne, and his role in establishing the `Ōtari Open-Air Native Plant Museum’ in 1926, staff are replacing the lawn’s current exotic grass with native grass. Next year’s centenary of what is now known as the Ōtari Native Botanic Garden, is a good time to remember the eminent botanist’s ideals in protecting native plants, and his aim to exclude all exotic plants from the garden, even the grass on the lawn. When the exotic lawn was first established, back in the 1950s, it was intended as a temporary sward to be replaced by the native cotula (used on bowling greens). Staff decided the imminent centenary was a good time to rectify this ‘temporary status’. The new grass will be Stewart’s Slender Poa, a new variety bred from Poa imbecillia that’s deemed preferable to cotula. Watching grass grow will be a thing, this spring.

Posted: 25 September 2025

Open Day 2025 was wonderful!

Open Day, on September 13, was a busy, happy day, at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. The weather was kind and there was so much going on. Ōtari manager, Tim Park said it was lovely to see so many people enjoying Ōtari, connecting with our amazing supporters and volunteers to learn more about the work we collectively do to make Ōtari such a special place to bring people and native plants together.

To see more of what happened, check our Facebook or Instagram pages: https://www.instagram.com/otariwiltonbushtrust/ or https://www.facebook.com/OtariTrust/

Posted: 14 September 2025