News

Welcome to our new gardener

Or rather, welcome back! Lucy Williams, just appointed to the role of Gardener – Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, is returning after spending four months here as an apprentice last summer. Lucy has completed a BSc, majoring in Zoology and Ecology, worked in a Nelson retail nursery for two years and began her Amenity Horticulture Apprenticeship with WCC’s Wellington Gardens last year. Her interest in native species stems from the huge diversity of plants she discovered while tramping around the hills of Nelson and Tasman. At Ōtari, she’s looking forward to learning more about our threatened species, being part of projects such as the conservation of rātā moehau (metrosideros bartlettii), and working with the Ōtari team again. ‘It’s awesome to work alongside a group so passionate about caring for native species.’ With Megan Ireland also returning from a six-month secondment to Wellington Botanical Gardens, Ōtari now has a full complement of gardening staff.

Posted: 2 August 2025

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