News

Matariki, te taiao ora and Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush

The celebration of Matariki is intrinsically linked to te taiao, the natural world and the interconnection with people and nature. Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush fits well within te taiao. Let’s consider some of the Matariki cluster of stars, and their influence. Waipuna-ā-rangi welcomes the winter rains that nourish our ngahere (forest) and gardens. Waiti watches over the streams and waterfalls. Tupu-ā-rangi looks out for the ngahere, manu (birds) and all the other native wildlife that make our forests thrive, and which our community works to protect through weeding and predator control. Tupu-ā-nuku encourages us to consider what we plant, with special interest in our edible plants. In Ōtari, for just some examples, the native uhurere, or pūhā (pictured), kawakawa (pepper tree), kokihi (NZ spinach), and tī kōuka (cabbage tree) all thrive. And Matariki, the mother of all the stars in the cluster, gathers everyone together, connects them with our environment and inspires people to do the same. This is the essence of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. Come visit us. Mānawatia a Matariki.

Posted: 20 June 2025

Mistletoe Masters

Ben with earlier planted green mistletoe (Ileastylus micranthus) on Coprosma virescens in Ōtari

Two native mistletoes, considered locally extinct in the wider Wellington city, could be restored to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush as a result of a Master’s study by VUW student Ben Wright. Ben’s thesis focuses around propagation techniques and the status in Wellington of the small green mistletoe, Ileostylus micranthus, or pirita, and the regionally endangered, nationally at risk, white mistletoe, Tupeia antarctica.

In 2023, Ben planted around 1500 white mistletoes, sourced from Wairarapa, onto host trees within Ōtari. Progress was slow, now the biggest white is maybe 10cm in height. Last year Ben planted green mistletoe onto host trees including mahoe and pittosporum.

New Zealand mistletoes are hemiparasitic, they can photosynthesise but rely on host trees for some nutrients. It’s rather special that some of the mistletoes sowed by Ben in Ōtari have been on trees established by the Kaiwharawhara Revegtation Group. Native mistletoes have declined across New Zealand due largely to possums, habitat loss and White mistletoe (Tupeia antarctica) two years after planting by Bena decline in native birds that act as pollinators and seed dispersers. With its forest restoration, predator control and huge increase in native birdlife, Ōtari is definitely shaping up as a healthy ‘laboratory’ for Ben’s thesis.

Ben’s current estimates are to produce a significant number of adult plants, both green and white. With most of the field work complete, he is now writing up data and expects to finish by August. ‘My hope with this project is that it will provide a natural seed source to re-populate Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, and that seed could be collected for planting around Wellington.’

Posted: 27 May 2025

Buzzing bugs and budding entomologists

It wasn’t just bugs and moths buzzing around the light on Ōtari’s Troup Lawn on April 25. Budding young entomologists were also buzzing on the first night of the City Nature Challenge 2025. They stayed incredibly focused, and found heaps of bugs for the grown-up entomologists, William Brockelsby and Shaun Thompson to identify. More than 60 parents, grandparents, kids and other keen beans joined the search for bugs, moths, spiders, weta, glowworms and much more - as Wellington vies for the global city with the most native species identified on iNaturalist in one weekend. See City Nature Challenge 2025

Posted: 26 April 2025