News

Regal Red

Posting this ‘regal red’ photo, snapped during Ōtari’s Centenary celebration brought a huge response, most significantly from Graeme Atkins (Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine) project leader for Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā and noted endangered species expert.

Our Trust Chair, Dr Carol West, was showing a flowering ngutukākā to Her Excellency, Dame Cindy Kiro, in Ōtari’s Threatened Species Garden. Tairāwhiti is the only region where ngutukākā still grows in the wild, and Ngāti Porou have given seedlings from their Tairāwhiti Ngutukākā project into the care of Ōtari’s gardeners, to nurse a backup population.

It doesn’t get much better than this, commented Atkins. ‘A plant I donated to Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush for an insurance population. Our taonga in safe hands. Pleasing to help play a small part along with the expertise and passion of the team at Otari-Wiltons Bush,’ he added.

The Trust sincerely hopes that Council officials, currently pursuing a Wellington Gardens staff restructure, are taking this kind of feedback on board when considering the critical importance of relationship building and the need for dedicated curator/manager, gardener and specialist archivist roles for Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush.

Posted: 18 October 2026

A regal centenary celebration

Sarah Partridge, great granddaughter of Dr Leonard Cockayne, Trust Chair, Dr Carol West, Her Excellency Dame Cindy KiroŌtari’s centenary celebrations were blessed with stunning weather and a regal turnout. Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro joined Wellington Mayor, Andrew Little, several councillors, Ōtari staff, Trust members and volunteers, botanists from throughout New Zealand, local community supporters and Te Kura o Ōtari’s kapa haka group in giving a heartfelt acknowledgement to the visionaries who established the Ōtari Open-air Native Plant Museum, 100 years ago.

Posted: 13 October 2026

Today is Centenary Day!

Dr Leonard Cockayne, eminent botanistToday. One hundred years ago, October 12, 1926, the Ōtari Open-air Native Plant Museum was officially opened. It’s key purpose was to protect our unique native flora, and it was the first of its kind in the world. Hats off to botanist Dr Leonard Cockayne and Wellington Director of Parks, John G. MacKenzie, for your vision. To the NZ Institute of Horticulture for promoting the concept, and Wellington City Council for supporting the Ōtari location. Thank you also farmer Job Wilton, for protecting the original northern rātā/podocarp forest that made Ōtari such a perfect fit for what is now the Ōtari Native Botanic Garden. Final kudos to current Ōtari Manager, Tim Park, all the Ōtari staff and Trust volunteers, for working together to make Ōtari look so good, today and every day. Some 1100 native plants, including around 400 rare and endangered species, are cared for here. With adjoining Wilton’s Bush Reserve, Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush is a six-star Garden of International Significance. It’s a place for botanists and scientists, local families and friends and international visitors.

An official function today will mark the opening at 3pm, the exact time of the original ceremony in 1926.

Posted: 12 October 2026