News

New sign celebrates Ōtari’s Centenary and Dr Cockayne

It’s Centenary Year and Ōtari has a new sign to celebrate it. The role of Dr Leonard Cockayne, in establishing the ‘Ōtari Open-air Native Plant Museum’ in 1926, is the focus of the sign now in place on the wall outside Tāne Whakapiripiri, the visitor centre.

Cockayne developed a four-point scheme to safeguard the future of the ‘museum’ and the native plants brought here from throughout New Zealand. His scheme included restoration of Ōtari’s native forest. Cockayne’s legacy continues today in what is known as the Ōtari Native Botanic Garden, the only public botanic garden solely dedicated to New Zealand native species, and the adjacent forest, Wilton’s Bush Reserve.

The new sign has been an Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust project, completed with support from Ōtari Manager, Tim Park, Wellington Gardens and WCC’s Communications and Creative Team. It features an artwork of Rubus ×barkeri, a bush lawyer hybrid favoured by Cockayne, drawn by botanical artist, Eleanor Burton.

Posted: 14 July 2026

Raise a glass for Wilbur

When coordinator, Wilbur Dovey, sent his regular email to the Kaiwharawhara Revegetation Group in June, he dropped a bombshell. “Unfortunately, after 21 years, the time seems to have come when I’m going to have to give up leading you all each month. Old age and unfitness is catching up. I’ll keep on providing morning tea until someone takes the job on.”

Fellow Ōtari volunteer, Ron Fountain, says that Wilbur, together with his late wife Liz, have been outstanding volunteers at Otari-Wilton’s Bush. ‘For more than 20 years, many of them as a Trust Board member, Wilbur has co-ordinated and led the Kaiwharawhara Revegetation Project. He also skilfully managed and guided cruise passenger tours at Ōtari for many years. Many of us have benefitted from his knowledge, wisdom and unwavering encouragement as our friend and mentor. Thank you Wilbur.’

And this, from Ōtari Manager, Tim Park. ‘Wilbur has diligently enabled volunteers to chip away at the ecological restoration of the Kaiwharawhara valley over many years. He should be proud of the massive achievement his group has made by planting native trees and keeping on top of weeds throughout the planted areas. When the big slip happened (in 2023), Wilbur was the first to offer help to remove the rubbish and replant the area. This was a big boost to our morale as it seemed like an enormous task at the time. Thank you Wilbur for your sustained efforts, you are truly a local legend!’

Take a well-earned rest, Wilbur, but we know you will likely be there at the next working bees anyway, no doubt doing more than serving morning tea.

Posted: 7 July 2026

Measuring a new forest: the results are in!

Wandering up the Kaiwharawhara Valley from Ōtari’s Troup Lawn today, it’s hard to believe that 25 years ago the place was a jungle of gorse, blackberry and rubbish. A massive volunteer restoration project saw 55,000 Project leaders, Bronwen Wall and Jonathan Kennetttrees planted over five years, on 22 sites. Ongoing replanting and weeding has continued since. Last summer, the project was assessed, gathering data useful for other restoration projects. All 22 original sites were revisited and vegetation measured and counted.

Here’s what was found: on average, 72 trees or shrubs were planted in each of the 3m x 10m plots. That number has now increased to an average 212 plants per plot – helped by the birds and wind adding their self-seeded contributions. The canopy is now 8–10 metres tall and comprises the trees originally planted, mostly five finger, kōhūhū and tarata, with some large hīnau on most sites. Underneath the canopy, species diversity has boomed.

Come along to hear project leaders, Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall, talk about their findings as part of the Trust’s Centenary Talks Programme on July 7 at Tāne Whakapiripiri, the Ōtari visitor centre, 7pm (entry by koha). Better still, take a guided walk in the valley with Bronwen and Jonathan on September 27. Or just wander through the valley anytime.

Posted: 26 June 2026