Tiaki Maniototo

23/09/2026

SAVE THE DATE: 10th October: Native Tree Planting Day with Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group and Tiaki Maniototo.

Come make a meaningful difference to the Styx Valley by participating in our planting day this spring! This collaborative day features native trees donated by Trees that Count, on-the-day assistance from Tiaki Maniototo and Central Wilding Group and a lunch generously provided by EcoFund.

Reply to [email protected] to register your interest. RSVP by October 03 for carpooling and catering purposes.

Planting site 2WD accessible https://maps.app.goo.gl/8HEeCiST4N5tiFdy8

Date: Saturday 10th October, 2026
Time: 9am - 12:30pm
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8HEeCiST4N5tiFdy8

17/08/2026

A shoutout to our partners the Maniototo Irrigation Company (MIC) who have created this lovely seating area with signage at the confluence of the Loganburn stream and the Taiari/Taieri river, and appointed themselves the longterm guardians of the site. This is an incredibly peaceful place to enjoy the serenity of the Styx scroll plain, one of the last great natural wetlands in New Zealand. Thanks MIC for creating this wonderful community asset: Photo Credit: Brent Cunningham, Michelle Bissett and Tiaki Maniototo

15/08/2026

I somehow managed to delete last post while trying to add more photos. Anyway, here's a roundup of yesterday's fantastic 2026 Winter Roadshow.
The day was a credit to the organisation, passion and dedication of our incredible executive Janine Smith , our unstoppable project manager Daley and our nursery manager and plant whisperer Margot Hall , and others who pulled it all together. Huge kudos to Trotter for kicking this whole business off with his incredible foresight and tenacious work.

Everyone could feel the passion for this project and the excitement for the future. As Janine put it: "We've only just begun!"

Massive thanks to Waipiata Pie Co. , Irrigation Company, OCC - Otago Catchment Community Inc Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group, Diks, Janet Gregory , all our partners, stakeholders, farmers. and many many more ....

12/08/2026

We have 2 positions available to join the planting team. These are casual contracts starting 20th August, $30/hr. No experience is necessary - all training given on site. Must be capable of physically demanding work.
Please send your CV & cover letter to [email protected]

28/07/2026

We're very lucky to have an ecologist of the calibre of Carey Knox living in the Māniatoto. In this video, Carey takes us up to the tussock grasslands of the upper Taiari/Taieri catchment and shows us the importance of these areas for insects and lizards. Thanks Carey!

05/07/2026

Hopefully this is postponed rather than cancelled. We’ll keep you updated.

26/06/2026

Friday Flashback: Spec Creek.
In 2023, we worked with farmers Phil Smith and Hamish MacKenzie to open New Zealand's first private galaxiid sanctuary at Spec Creek. Since then the site's had over 50,000 visits on Google Maps! Check out the long version of the video here:
https://youtu.be/9bW_19rl6k4

11/06/2026

12/05/2026

If you’ve been a landowner involved in our planting project, we would really like to hear from you!

We’ve put together a very short, multi-choice survey about what has worked or maybe hasn’t worked at your planting sites. This will take less than five minutes to complete.

You can access the survey here:
https://qualtricsxmkw6ph9wtb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AN0v8ecwgv3ouq

This survey is also part of our Project Manager, Caitlin Daley’s, PhD research at the University of Otago, but your responses remain anonymous and you are welcome to skip any questions you would prefer not to answer.

08/05/2026

The Taiari/Taieri river catchment. Image courtesy of Holden Hohaia