Ian McKean Pinetum

05/11/2024

The countdown is on for this Saturday and the start of the Manawatū Garden Festival 🌲🌷🌳

Immerse yourself among hundreds of different varieties of conifers, explore our network of walking tracks and make sure you bring a thermos and a picnic lunch to really make the most of it!

Any questions? Ask away! And let us know below what gardens you'll be checking out as part of the festival 👇

Huge thanks to for bringing this together 👏

20/10/2024

Happy Sunday, tree lovers🌲

We are very excited to be one of the 20 participating gardens in the upcoming Manawatū Gardens Festival, running from 9 to 17 November!

The festival is a celebration of Manawatū gardens of all shapes and sizes. From gardens of national significance and rambling country estates right through to small cottage gardens and wild wetlands.

Come and discover the Pinetum in your own time, bring a picnic, enjoy the incredible views and beautiful spring weather ☀️

For more information and a printable Garden Trail Map, visit https://manawatunz.co.nz/gardens-festival/

Tag a friend who would be keen to explore and we hope to see you soon 👋

17/05/2024

11/01/2024

We had so much fun taking this crew from Kimbolton School around the Pinetum before Christmas. As we walked around exploring, we explained what a Pinetum is, who Ian McKean was and how his passion for conifer trees led him to starting what's now one of the largest collections in the Southern Hemisphere 🌲

We enjoyed morning tea at the Gazebo before hugging the mother tree, a Sequoia (the first tree planted) and collecting pine cones for them to take home. Lots of them had great ideas for the future, so I think we may have recruited a few newbies for the committee!

11/12/2022

A huge thanks to everyone who braved the elements to come to this year's picnic, to all the volunteers who help us maintain this special place and to those who helped make the event possible (including Manawatū District Council). The sun finally made an appearance mid-afternoon in time for the tree tour!

We look forward to welcoming Bullfrog Rata when the weather is kinder, we'll keep you posted for that date.

Thanks to Mary and Steve Bielski for their 📸.

07/12/2022

We can’t wait for the live sweet serenading sounds from Bullfrog Rata (aka Tura Rata) and his partner in crime Geoff Culverwell who will be on the trumpet and flute, this Saturday.

We’ll begin the day with forest bathing at 11am 🌲 followed by Bullfrog and Geoff at midday, then around 2pm we'll have a conifer tour with the guru - Don Tantrum.

Pack your picnic, rug, and who knows what the weather is going to do, so a jacket would be smart!

Big thanks to Manawatū District Council for their support - looking forward to seeing you all there!

07/12/2022

We can’t wait for the live sweet serenading sounds from Bullfrog Rata (aka Tura Rata) and his partner in crime Geoff Culverwell (on the trumpet and flute) this Saturday!

We’ll begin the day with forest bathing at 11am, followed by Bullfrog and Geoff at midday, then around 2pm we'll have a conifer tour with the guru - Don Tantrum.

Pack your picnic, rug, and who knows what the weather is going to do - so a jacket would be smart!

Big thanks to Manawatū District Council for their support - looking forward to seeing you all there!

18/11/2022

Picnic in the Pinetum is back this year!

Pack a delicious picnic and spend the day exploring the Ian McKean Pinetum while listening to live music by Bullfrog Rata.

We'll also have forest bathing, a marshmallow pit, rock painting for the kiddos, and a tree tour!

Special thanks to Manawatū District Council for supporting this event!

Full event details here https://fb.me/e/1VJ2cNJYR

28/10/2022

Opening in the heavens - Rangiwahia!