Rā Tūwhera ki Ōtari Open Day 2025
All welcome - free entry to most events.
Mark your diaries: Saturday September 13. Time: 10am to 2pm.
[Rain day: Sunday September 14. Updates on our social media and website.]
Here is the programme:
Trust Nursery Plant Sales - Leonard Cockayne Centre Deck
10am to 2pm (or until sold out)
First up, our perennially popular sale of native plants. All plants are selected for their suitability for Wellington gardens and propagated in our own Trust Nursery here at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. Some of them are rarely available for sale. Our nursery team, headed by the indefatigable Jane Humble and Lynley Trower have been toiling for months to prepare these plants for sale. As usual they’ll be there to advise you, along with our staff gardeners and Trust botanists who really know their plants. Note: we will have an eftpos machine at the sale.
Authors’ Talks – Tāne Whakapiripiri Visitor Centre
For all the family. Some talented and exciting authors make up the Ōtari community, four of them are attending our Open Day. Come and meet them. Hear about how and why they wrote their books, listen to them read their favourite passages. Their books will be on sale and the authors will be happy to sign them for you. So who’s coming, and when?
Ruth Paul 10.30 to 11am
Ruth has written and illustrated more than 25 books, illustrated yet more, and was twice winner of Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Ruth lives at Makara and she’ll be bringing her latest book, Anahera, the mighty Kiwi Māmā (one very special māmā kiwi who was released into the wild ‘just over the hill’ near Makara by Capital Kiwi).
Phil Sirvid 11.45 to 12.15
As co-author of titles such as Why is that Spider Dancing? Amazing Arachnids of Aotearoa and Incredible Insects of Aotearoa, Phil has got to be a hit with kids and big kids. As a curator of invertebrates at Te Papa, he knows his entomology, especially spiders and harvesters, we’re told.
Walk among the ferns with Leon Perrie 12.30 to 1.15
Curator of Botany at Te Papa, Leon is the co-author of New Zealand’s definitive visual guide to identifying ferns. He’s also a great Ōtari supporter, returning year after year to take part in the Trust’s seminar and guided walk programmes. Leon explains things clearly and gets people engaged – which is what he aims to do at Open Day. Reading from a book when the real things are growing all around seemed a wasted opportunity, so join Leon on a guided tour of Ōtari’s most special ferns.
Michael Szabo 1.30 to 2pm
Wild Wellington author and photographer Michael Szabo is well acquainted with the region’s wildlife and wild places. He is editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, the author of Native Birds of Aotearoa (Te Papa Press, 2022), and has written for New Scientist, New Zealand Geographic, Sunday Star-Times, Forest & Bird and Wilderness.
Ōtari’s Native Orchid Research
11am – 11.35, Tāne Whakapiripiri Visitor Centre
Hear all about the latest ground-breaking research into the germination of some of New Zealand’s rarest native orchids, from the talented conservation scientists at the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory.
Behind the Scenes Tours
10.30-10.50, 11.30-11.50, 12.30-12.50, 1.30-1.50
Your opportunity to see how our professional garden staff propagate and care for some of New Zealand’s rarest native plants, and to learn about the research successes of Ōtari’s conservation scientists. It’s first come-first served for these tours, guided by our knowledgeable staff gardeners. Register at the welcome desk.
Tū Mātau Ora
10am – 2pm, Cockayne Lawn
So much family fun and challenge here, sharing Taonga Tākoro (traditional Māori games and activities), designed in a safe, enjoyable way to engage, educate and empower you!
Rongoā Workshop
10am to 12.30, Leonard Cockayne Centre
Join Sharli Solomon (Ngāti Toa Rangatira); revered Rongoā practitioner with strong connections to Ōtari. Sharli will lead a pani/balm making session, $10 per person to go to the Trust, bookings via eventfinda.co.nz. Mirimiri (Māori massage/holistic healing) will also be offered. Nice.
Raranga Workshop
1-2pm, Leonard Cockayne Centre
Ōtari Raranga Weavers have a valued presence at Ōtari, teaching traditional raranga using species from the collections especially cultivated at Ōtari’s own Pa Harakeke. Join them for an introductory workshop, be there promptly in time to weave something beautiful.
String Bean Puppets
11am-11.30, 1pm-1.30 Cockayne Lawn
Two shows from popular puppeteer Anna Bailey: ‘Once in a Full Moon’ (about a Kiwi) and ‘Tree Friends’ (about weeds). Anna (in action here at Open Day 2022) has a passion for the flora and fauna of Aotearoa and her shows are fun, engaging and emotionally resonant. She’s very much in demand and we’re delighted to have her here at Ōtari, bring the family.
All Day on the Deck
Tane Whakapiripiri Visitor Centre
Come and chat, share stories and learn what’s new with our supportive community and environmental groups. Here’s all who will be here, along with their props, plants, furry pests and critters: RAMBO (our own community trapping team), Capital Kiwi, Kia Mouriora Te Kaiwharawhara Sanctuary to Sea, Conservation Volunteers NZ, Wellington Botanical Society, Porirua City Council Sievers Road Nursery, WCC Animal Control, Te Papa and the Invertebrates team and our supportive neighbours the Trelissick Park Group. Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust will of course be there, offering information about the Trust and our work to support Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, our volunteer opportunities, membership forms and we’ll be selling merchandise; books and beautiful cards.
Plus tea, coffee, cake and one big, tasty sausage sizzle (with onions, of course)
The Trust will offer tea, plunger coffee and cake throughout the day. We will also have the barbie fired up to keep you and the kids well nourished. We’re asking just a koha for everything, so bring along some coins if you wish.
Posted: 29 August 2025