News

Summer writing competition delivers!

Edge of the Forest, watercolour by Maryann McKeeWe asked for people to describe what Ōtari means to them, and did they deliver!

The Trust was delighted with both the quality and quantity of entries received for our second annual summer writing competition. Stories, poems and haiku, some adorned with artwork, included many creative entries from our Under 12 Ōtari fans.

We were fortunate this year to have the help of two quality judges: Carol West, a former Trust Chair, one of our leading tour guides, an esteemed botanist and experienced editor, while Naomi O’Connor is a published writer and poet and keen Ōtari supporter.

All entries were judged ‘blind’ – the judges did not know the names of the writers they were judging. This is an important point – given that the overall winning entry was written by Megan Ireland, who when she is not writing is our very own Ōtari Collection Team Leader. Congratulations Megan!

The judges were also impressed with Tempus Fugit, (Time Disappears) a story initially written by Irene Swadling when she was a third former, back in 1951, about playing in `Wilton’s Bush’ (and forgetting the time!). Alo Highly Commended were Fiona Robinson (What Ōtari Means to Me), Maryann McKee (Untitled poem and beautiful watercolour), Charles Dawson (poems; Rātā, and Kaiwharawhara), and Clarinda Kwee (poem Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush).

What really stood out were the entries from younger contributors. Eddie Lenson’s winning ‘Ōtari Bush Run’ had beautiful, internal rhythm, said judge Naomi O’Connor. ‘It is so immediate, so complete’.

Nellie Burnard (The kākā near me), Elsie Hiliam (To me, Ōtari is a quiet space) and Elsie Hiliam (Frisbees Flying) were also Highly Commended.

We have a collection of books, native plants and cards to be given out to these keen writers - we will be in touch!

To see these stories and poems, please visit https://www.owbt.nz/botanical-art/writing-about-otari-1/ . We will be putting these up over the next few days. For members, we will also be publishing these stories in our next newsletter, due out in March. Happy reading!

Posted: 14 February 2026

Bogans in the bush

Kākā chick nesting in an old, Ōtari hinau. Photo Rob Suisted/NZ Geographic

Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, in particular its old growth forest that provides great nesting and feeding habitat for kākā, features in this NZ Geographic look at the ‘second coming’ of kākā in Wellington. The species had become extinct in the city until introduced into the predator-free, fenced sanctuary of Zealandia, in 2002. Of course the fence didn’t stop kākā from exploring further afield, and they soon spread and multiplied throughout the wider city, including just down-valley to Ōtari, where they love the old, hollow hinau trees for nesting, and the abundant natural food sources. Years of predator-control by RAMBO, Wellington’s first community volunteer trapping groups, has enhanced the Ōtari habitat and the flashy plumage and boisterous antics of Ōtari’s kākā are now a delight to behold. For a thorough look at kākā in Wellington, the studies being enabled by this flourishing population, and why Kaiwhakahaere Ōtari Manager, Tim Park, affectionately describes them as the bogans of the bush, read the full story here: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/forty-names-for-kaka/

Posted: 26 December 2025

Monthly plant sales underway for the year

Just to let everyone know that, after a summer break, our monthly plant sales have started again. They will be held on the second Saturday of every month, starting 10am at Tāne Whakapiripiri, the visitor centre.

These plant sales have developed a strong fan base of local gardeners. The plants have been propagated in our very own Trust nursery at Ōtari, and chosen deliberately for their suitability to grow in domestic gardens around Wellington. The project fits well with the Trust’s aims to promote awareness of our native flora, and the funds raised go towards plant conservation and education pojects.

Posted: 16 December 2025