Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary NZ

18/09/2026

This morning, Centennial Park Bush Society chair Richard Hursthouse joined RNZ’s Saturday Morning with Paddy Gower to talk about the remarkable work that’s been happening in our little patch of urban ngahere in Campbells Bay.

For two decades, Richard has been part of the team that has planted 24,000 native trees, tackled weeds and pests and helped create a thriving habitat for native flora and fauna.

Have a listen to Richard talking about Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary and protecting Auckland’s increasingly threatened green spaces.

Thanks Richard for your leadership and for sharing our vision so eloquently.

Deep in the heart of Auckland's North Shore, the seemingly uninterrupted suburbia is punctuated by an oasis of native bush. It's no accident - a group of local volunteers has been hard at work for 50 years allowing Centennial Park in Campbells Bay to flourish. Centennial Park Bush Society chair Rich...

18/09/2026

A wonderful late-winter bird report from Centennial Park, with 24 species spotted and plenty of special sightings. Thanks to Jenny Chamberlain for her detailed report and Viv Walker for capturing some beautiful photos along the way 🐦🌿

Centennial Park Bush Society Bird Report for Friday 28 August 2026
Time: 6:40 to 9:05am
Participants: Liz, Richard, Viv and Jenny

Weather: cool, partly cloudy, buffeting breeze during the last part of the walk

Results: 24 species observed – a very good result for this verge-of-spring walk. Of particular note: 40 tui, 35 silvereyes, 35 goldfinches, 22 grey warblers, 20 blackbirds, 12 fantails, 9 welcome swallows, 7 kereru and 1 California quail heard by Liz. Jenny has been hearing ruru at night.

Points of interest:
Lots of bird activity and bird calls at the Park Rise gum tree including: chaffinch, grey warbler, tui, rosella and a magpie spotted in the gum itself – the first time we have seen a magpie invade this tree. Viv heard a greenfinch and mention was made of the sole quail which Coral saw running along her drive this week. Liz had 10 species noted before we left the meeting spot.

Liz heard goldies as we walked towards the pond and then we spotted a charm of 35 of them in the branches of a golf course gum. Goldies have been seen in good numbers in this location over the last few weeks.

There were two spur-wing plovers near the pond, one mallard on the pond and 19 feral pigeons on the East Coast Bays power lines. Greenfinch and chaffs were heard near the practice shed.

An early kowhai in full golden bloom in the 5th fairway planting (which has several planted kowhai, all doing really well), many karo in red bloom and some with tui feeding. Near Greenfinch Bridge a kereru in flight was heard (unmistakable). Tui near the flame trees of course.

In the Wattle Patch a flock of fantails, a big fat bumble bee, a flock of silvereyes in the canopy.

Above the tennis courts Richard surveyed the main valley for flowering wilding wattles; there were five magpies. Two kereru were seen gliding up high above the Arboretum.
By 8:35am we had reached the start of the Baylis Track. While Richard and Viv were in deep discussion, Viv suddenly spotted two kereru in among the Sandford Street clearing kahikatea. This was a special sighting and Viv took lots of photos. We said hello to John.

Along the Baylis Liz heard a quail. It was kind of sad because we fear this species is not going to survive the relentless removal of quail-friendly habitat.
There was a swallow at the top of the Baylis and we heard chaffinch.

Summary: a satisfying and interesting walk with lots of learning, plant discussions, weeds noted, future planting spaces identified and deep appreciation for our lovely park.

- Jenny Chamberlain

28/08/2026

Here’s our latest Bird Report 🐦

Enjoy Jenny Chamberlain’s masterful words, bringing the birdlife of Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary to life, along with Andrew Woodmansey’s fabulous photo of a beautiful kererū, taken at a recent working bee 💚

Centennial Park Bush Society
Bird Report for Monday 27 July 2026 7:15 to 9:36am

Richard met us on the Park Rise accessway with news that the temperature was 6.7 degrees Celsius when he left home. Both he and Liz are keen trampers and were wisely clad in jackets, overtrou, warm hats and gloves. Ann and Jenny were gloveless and had to wait until well after sunrise to warm up. Blackbirds, tui and a fantail greeted us, Liz heard chaffinches and sparrows and Jenny has been hearing ruru at night so, despite the cold, we were off to a strong start.

On the fairways, where chilled air is winter’s w**e, Richard spotted a pair of parries far from the pond which is their normal haunt. Ann saw a black-backed gull against the vast blue sky and a darting kingfisher and we were pleased to see a charm of 11 goldies, about a quarter of the birds Jenny recently observed feeding along the East Coast Road boundary. There was a lone spur-winged plover and the overhead powerlines dipped under the weight of at least 30 feral pigeons.

Near the pond it was a downer to discover rabbits are gobbling CPBS recent plantings – but can you blame them? It’s cold and a rabbit’s gotta eat. The pond’s glassy surface was spiked with reeds and we thought about the frogs, down there buried under all that mud.

At Greenfinch Bridge we heard a warbler and greenfinch “bubble” sounds. The waterway here, like 80 per cent of the catchment’s stream network, is now bereft of fish, koura and eels since June’s devastating stream pollution event. Yesterday’s karakia to lift the tapu off our streams, led by cultural advisor Carmen Hetaraka and Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust kaiawhina Kaya-Mei Wii, will we hope mark the gradual return of wildlife to the awa.

It’s stunning how fast nature regenerates given half a chance. In the kowhai grove around Mary Rose Hardwick Smith’s memorial seat, taraire, nikau and kowhai seedlings proliferate. And the nearby flame tree is usually full of noisy tui. This morning it was a sunning spot for a kereru too. Work for nature and nature gifts back.

Thrushes were singing by now, with other cheepings mixed in. We dived down into the wattle patch where branches are dripping with fluffy clusters of yellow blossoms but not as many small birds as usual. Maybe it was still too cold for them. For the first time I saw soft mingimingi (Leucopogon fasciculatus) flowers in bud. They would make a nice substitute for Aussie wattles which are super-spreaders in native bush. Yellow flowers outed a wilding wattle in the bush margin here.

There were no more surprises for the rest of our walk, except for another kingfisher on the tennis court fence and more fighting tui in the flame tree at the Beach Road entrance. No welcome swallow at the top of the Baylis Track but the sunshine was welcome enough. Liz had 22 species in her book. Not bad for a winter walk.

Speaking of walks please join CPBS volunteers on the March for Nature on Saturday 19 September – 1pm, Aotea Square.

- Jenny Chamberlain

25/08/2026

Track work + massive mahi!

Our fabulous crew of Wednesday volunteers has been getting stuck in, working together to make Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary even more incredible.

We want everyone who visits Centennial Park to enjoy the experience - from discovering our native birds and unique flora and fauna to walking safely along well-maintained tracks. Track work is also vital for managing water flow and ensuring our tracks drain efficiently, helping to keep them safe and accessible.

A huge thank you to our mighty crew, especially Richard, who leads the team so brilliantly.

17/08/2026

Sediment from construction sites can have a devastating impact on our streams and wildlife. Please read, stay vigilant and report sediment runoff when you see it.

Did you know that all sediment must remain on site during construction? That includes mud, dirt and sediment laden liquid. If it runs off the site, it will end up in our stormwater network and streams, coating the natural stream bed, smothering aquatic plants, insect habitats and eggs, while clogging the gills and eyes of fish, making it impossible for them to breathe or see. If you see sites like this, call the Auckland Council Pollution Hotline on 09 377 3107 and they'll send their team out to investigate.

22/07/2026

A fantastic initiative from Viv Walker and the team at Restore Hibiscus & Bays.

In Campbells Bay we’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact pollution can have on our local streams and wildlife. Education and prevention are key, and this campaign is a simple way everyone can help protect our precious awa.

Congratulations to Viv and everyone involved in bringing the ‘No Paint In Drains’ campaign to life.

Please take a moment to read, share and help spread the message.

09/07/2026

✨ What a magical way to welcome the Māori New Year.

A wonderful crowd gathered before dawn in Centennial Park this morning for our fourth annual Matariki sunrise celebration. On a crisp, clear winter morning, the Matariki stars sparkled brightly overhead before giving way to a spectacular sunrise over the sea.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and especially to Kendall Fricker for leading us in karakia, sharing the significance of Matariki, waiata, and a tree planting. It was a meaningful morning of reflection, connection and community, finished with warm drinks, kai and great conversation.

As Matariki reminds us to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present, and look ahead with hope, it also invites us to reflect on our responsibility as kaitiaki of Papatūānuku. In light of the recent pollution event in Campbells Bay, the morning was a timely reminder of the importance of caring for the natural environment that sustains us, and of the role we all play in protecting it for future generations.

Mānawatia a Matariki. ✨

03/07/2026

Hundreds of eels and fish have been found dead after chemicals were flushed into an Auckland creek volunteers had spent decades restoring.

03/07/2026

A huge thank you to our wonderful committee member and Restore Hibiscus & Bays Community Activator, Viv Walker, for being such a passionate voice for our local environment.

Viv represented our community on national television, speaking with Ryan Bridge about the devastating pollution spill that killed hundreds of native tuna (eels) and fish in a Campbells Bay stream.

Please take a moment to watch the interview below 👇🏽

If you saw anything unusual in Campbells Bay last weekend, or if you ever witness pollution entering a drain or stream, please report it to Auckland Council’s Pollution Hotline on 09 377 3107. All reports are confidential.

Thank you, Viv, for your passionate mahi and advocacy 💚

'Conservationist and catchment activator, Viv Walker says they'd been working for decades to restore the waterway. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

18/06/2026

The last Bird Count of Autumn 🍂 - Enjoy!

Thanks to Jenny Chamberlain for her beautiful words and Viv Walker for the stunning photos.

Centennial Park Bush Society Bird Report for 26 May 2026, 7:15am to 10am

The pre-dawn temperature was 9 degrees but felt colder when Liz, Viv and Jenny set off up Park Rise to meet Richard for the last walk of autumn. On the way we met the beautiful, heavy-duty Barnevelder hen, which freely roams the berms at the top of Park Rise. Being domesticated it doesn’t feature in our stats of course but a few years ago we were amused to meet a regular chook along the Zig Zag Track, which Liz later caught and returned to its owner.

Liz quickly noted mynahs, blackbirds, tui, two grey warblers and wished I she had gloves to warm her hands for note-taking. Thrushes, which have been practising their winter singing for a couple of weeks now, were still a-bed and the golf greens were mostly bird-free. Viv took photos into the blazing eye of the rising sun and we knew birdrise would be soon; meantime the pond was still and chilly-looking and across East Coast Road feral pigeons were assembling on their customary power line, landing carefully one by one like planes on a runway.

Soon Liz was hearing greenfinches and thrushes were starting up, Richard saw a kingfisher and magpies were calling. Magpies are problematic Aussie migrants but in their homeland they have just come top in the 2026 Australian survey of urban bird species. Interestingly, Birdlife Australia has been gathering annual citizen science bird data for 12 years but 2027 will mark the 20th since CPBS began doing the same thing (monthly) for Centennial Park*.

At Greenfinch Bridge thrushes were loud, greenfinches and chaffinch were heard and fantails began to be numerous. It was so good to look down and see banded kokopu in the little stream here, their habitat having been rescued from paddling dogs by Viv’s amazing stream fencing programme. Thank you Viv and thanks to every dog owner who keeps their pet(s) on-leash along the park’s fragile track and stream-edge networks.

As the sun warmed the forest, trees and bushes released their fragrance, a life-giving blend of teatree flowers, wet leaves, damp earth, and a hundred other scents. Someone should bottle it. And there were numerous silvereyes in a totara, a large tui feeding in a garden gordonia, carpets of coffee-coloured fungi in the wattle grove, rosellas in a liquidambar and, when we looked up, eight tui flying way up high all in the same direction. Where were they going? Why? We will never know!!

Busy Richard left us along the Aberdeen Track and we walked across sunny Morton Meadow noticing grey warblers and silvereyes threading in and out of flowering teatrees. Viv and Jenny peeled off at 9:20am, by the yellow gum in Sandford Street Clearing and, as we farewelled Liz, Viv saw two kereru gliding above the kahikatea trees. Liz carried on from here and finished the walk at 10am, with 19 species in her notebook including: 42 tui, 41 silvereyes, 26 blackbirds, 21 thrushes, 12 fantails and one welcome swallow.

*Liz, Richard and Jenny have been surveying and recording birds monthly in Centennial Park since November 2007. Please get in touch if you would like to undertake bird training with us: [email protected]

- Jenny Chamberlain 26/05/26