News

Buzzing bugs and budding entomologists

It wasn’t just bugs and moths buzzing around the light on Ōtari’s Troup Lawn on April 25. Budding young entomologists were also buzzing on the first night of the City Nature Challenge 2025. They stayed incredibly focused, and found heaps of bugs for the grown-up entomologists, William Brockelsby and Shaun Thompson to identify. More than 60 parents, grandparents, kids and other keen beans joined the search for bugs, moths, spiders, weta, glowworms and much more - as Wellington vies for the global city with the most native species identified on iNaturalist in one weekend. See City Nature Challenge 2025

Posted: 26 April 2025

Inaugural writing competition produces thoughtful words

Spared from axe and fire
Remnant trees to admire
Safe home for manu

By Sarah Goldberg

One of several haiku received in our inaugural Ōtari writing competition, in early 2025. We asked for haiku, poetry or prose, and received intriguing, thoughtful entries on the topic: what does Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush mean to you? You can see the other winning entries in the Trust’s newsletter on this website link: https://www.owbt.nz/site/assets/files/2881/otari_newsletter_march_1.pdf

And keep your eyes peeled for next year’s competition.

Posted: 25 January 2025

Some highlights of 2024

It’s a good time of year to reflect on all that’s gone on these past twelve months, at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. Here are some highlights:Our new Forest Weeders

- Volunteers have gone from strength to strength. Manager Tim Park says it’s been a boost to have this year’s new forest weeding group working with staff gardener Travis to get problem areas of weeds under control.

- Trustees campaigned successfully to restore funding for a redevelopment of Ōtari’s nursery and laboratory areas into Council’s Long-term Plan.Linda Lee harvesting at Pā Harakeke

- Having more weavers harvesting harakeke has been really rewarding for the team who established the special collections in Ōtari’s Pā Harakeke, says Tim.

- A presentation on rare native orchid germination research by Ōtari’s conservation scientists received acclaim at an International Orchid Conservation Congress in Perth in September.

- Kiwi came to Ōtari! The presence of one was confirmed by its transmitter, there could well be more.

- Sales of Ōtari-sourced plants propagated in our own Trust Nursery started in February and were immediately popular.

- Guided tours were also popular, in particular the re-vamped winter glow-worm tours which quickly sold out.

- Ōtari staff continued relationship-building with mana whenua around the country to source cuttings and seeds of rare native plants from the wild, and thus help safeguard their survival.

- And right now chicks are hatching and fledging in nests throughout Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush! Thanks to Ōtari’s RAMBO trapping team, also to all the responsible local dog and cat owners who are taking care to keep the native birds and lizard fauna safe from their pets.Marlborough rock daisies are flowering well this year

The Trust wishes everyone a happy and safe Christmas. Remember that Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush is open every day of the year – and free to enter. That includes 12km of forest tracks plus gentle paths traversing 5 hectares of the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants.

Posted: 23 December 2024