News

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

More good news from the valley

Jonathan KennettIn early November, the second working bee of Ōtari’s ‘Kaiwharawhara Restoration Revisitation’ took place.

Nine skilled volunteers recorded native plant growth and took out hundreds of weeds from sites 14 and 17, and removed several floors worth of old carpet squares. Lightwells were also created around many magnificent climax species, enabling them to thrive.

The work was part of the revisitation of the major reforestation project in the Kaiwharawhara Valley, run by Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall and supported by the Trust.

Since 2001, the once weed-infested valley has become filled with native forest. Volunteers planted and cared for more than 55,000 seedlings, while conservationists Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall completed a ten-year study of 22 monitoring plots in the valley to determine the survival rates for the species planted. Now, 20 years on, Kennett and Wall plan to revisit all 22 plots.

Dr Carol West measuring growthWhen planted in 2003, the 3x10 metre monitoring plot on Site 14 contained 68 native plants and 11 species. Now there are 212 plants made up of 27 species! The volume and diversity of native plants is fantastic, says Jonathan. ‘Site 17 has been just as successful. The number of native plants has gone from 49 to 145 in the last 23 years, and the diversity of species has increased from 11 to 26! This site now has trees up to 10 metres tall. The growth and diversity are uplifting, I can’t wait to do the next sites.’

The revisitation project will continue along the valley through summer.

Posted: 21 November 2025