Ōtari-Wilton's Bush Trust

Ōtari-Wilton's Bush Trust Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Ōtari-Wilton's Bush Trust, Community Organization, 150 Wilton Road, Wellington.

Ōtari-Wilton Bush Trust is a charitable organisation set up to promote, educate, and increase public knowledge of New Zealand native flora, and support the preservation of Ōtari-Wilton's Bush.

There she grows, folks. The Cockayne Lawn has been restored to its former green glory, albeit with an introduced grass s...
07/06/2026

There she grows, folks. The Cockayne Lawn has been restored to its former green glory, albeit with an introduced grass seed. Ōtari staff did their level best to cultivate a native lawn, in keeping with Dr Leonard Cockayne’s wishes for an all-native Ōtari Native Botanic Garden. But they were thrown a few curve balls, contaminated soil inadvertently introduced with the native seed for one. Their trial (and trials) are not wasted. The new lawn has improved irrigation and edgings, while the lessons learned will be remembered when staff try again, as they have promised, to grow a native lawn. Perhaps on a smaller area next time.

07/06/2026

Good for the soul this, and for Ōtari. Thanks Carol, Russell, Emily, Tina, and Amalia for your filming/production skills.

The Lab is saved. Or is it? In May, when Councillors voted in a sharply reduced Annual Plan for 2026/27, they agreed to ...
01/06/2026

The Lab is saved. Or is it? In May, when Councillors voted in a sharply reduced Annual Plan for 2026/27, they agreed to a one year reprieve for the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory. An earlier proposal had threatened to cut the Lab’s entire $211k budget, effective from June. As in, this month. Several submitters on the Annual Plan, including some of New Zealand’s leading science research and conservation organisations, set out the importance of the Lab for both national native plant conservation and Wellington’s own natural biodiversity, and councillors agreed to a phased reduction of funding over 2026/27.This would allow: ‘for engagement with stakeholders and iwi on future options … and for the development of an exit plan if a sustainable operating model is not achieved.’ Savings of $1.1k in 2026/27, and total savings of $2.1k from 2027/28 would be achieved.
We offered a compromise to save the lab, our research technician and partly completed research projects and we got this. We thank those councillors who rallied to the cause.
We had hoped the compelling submissions might have generated a more positive response from the Council table. There is now a lot of work to do this coming year with stakeholders and partners to discuss future options and to persuade WCC they should continue to invest in the Lab beyond next financial year. The Trust, Karori Lions and our research partners and organisations have already been talking.
Photo: Cook Strait mahoe, Melicytus orarius. Taputeranga motu is a local stronghold for this rare mahoe, which is pollinated by geckos and difficult to germinate. Working in partnership with six local iwi, research at the Ōtari Lab has determined the best conditions for germination and several seedlings are now flourishing at Ōtari.

Look what happened! Our brand new volunteer track gang started on Thursday and immediately made a difference to access i...
29/05/2026

Look what happened! Our brand new volunteer track gang started on Thursday and immediately made a difference to access into Kaiwharawhara Valley from Ian Galloway Park. Previously this was a narrow track, rutted by a water channel running down the middle. Working with Ōtari groundsman, Martin McCrudden, our fledgling team of Charlie, Reuben and Venkat made good use of grubbers and spades to level the track and chip a swale for drainage. The new track maintenance team is the seventh volunteer group, supported by around 200 volunteers, at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. It will meet on the 4th Thursday morning every month. Private message us if you’re keen to join.

Ever wanted to try a bit of track work, in a beautiful native forest? Handy with a spade, or grubber, or pruners? The Tr...
20/05/2026

Ever wanted to try a bit of track work, in a beautiful native forest? Handy with a spade, or grubber, or pruners? The Trust is adding yet another volunteer activity to its extensive list, this one helping Ōtari staff keep our popular tracks tidy, drained, and easy to negotiate. Staff will guide you so no specialised skills required, just a bit of energy and positive approach. The group will meet monthly, on the fourth Thursday morning of the month, from 9am to 12. Yes, there will be morning tea/coffee and cookies. First session starts Thursday May 28th. Any questions? Private message us here or email: [email protected]. Otherwise, just meet up by the southern Ōtari track entrance, by the West Suburbs Rugby Club at Ian Galloway Park, at 9am. Look out for Martin and Kathy. Tools supplied.

Ōtari passion is visibly evident just now. Passionfruit, that is, kohia, Passiflora tetrandra, New Zealand’s only member...
18/05/2026

Ōtari passion is visibly evident just now. Passionfruit, that is, kohia, Passiflora tetrandra, New Zealand’s only member of the worldwide passionfruit family. In Ōtari, it’s fruiting up a bright orange autumn storm, particularly along the Kaiwharawhara Valley. Such prolific fruiting was never seen in the early 1990s, when possum numbers were high, but since these pests have been all but eliminated vines have been fruiting every year. Kohia are nowhere near as edible as the sweet, liquid-filled introduced species. Eleven-year-old Frances Fukac tried it, after helping in a recent Kaiwharawhara working bee. Here’s what she thought; ‘It tasted a bit sweet and the tiniest bit salty, but mostly tasted like nothing’. Frances had sampled from a heavily-fruiting vine on the little southern picnic lawn, by the big slip. Look for other vines on the trail north of the Troup Lawn, particularly on the western side. There’s also a big kohia beside the canopy walkway.

We’re feeling loved. A huge thanks to everyone who supported the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory with submissi...
15/05/2026

We’re feeling loved. A huge thanks to everyone who supported the Lions Ōtari Plant Conservation Laboratory with submissions on the Council’s Annual Plan 2026/27. As part of Council’s cost-cutting aims, a $211,000 cut proposed for the Lab would effectively lead to its immediate closure, the loss of our valued Research Technician along with irreplaceable plants and seeds. The Trust, Karori Lions (who largely funded the Lab’s establishment in 2018), ecologist Rob Smith, and partners representing DOC, Te Papa Tongarewa, Te Herenga Waka- Victoria University of Wellington and Wellington BotSoc all delivered compelling reasons to retain the Lab. Submitters asked for lesser funding that would keep the lab open and allow time for developing a viable long term future for the Lab. Councillors were largely receptive, especially when given the chance to engage with rare Cooper’s Black and Swamp greenhood native orchids, brought along by Te Papa Botany Curator Carlos Lehnebach, and a Cook Strait mahoe, Melicytus orarius. Trust Chair Carol West explained to Councillors how Taputeranga motu is a local stronghold for this rare mahoe, which is pollinated by geckos and difficult to germinate. Research at the Lab established the best conditions for germination are underneath their own canopy, now several seedlings are flourishing at Ōtari. Thanks, too, to other organisations (Wellington Forest & Bird) and individuals who we know sent persuasive submissions.
Photo: Lee Oliver (VuW), Carlos Lehnebach (Te Papa), Carol West, Crs Matthew Reweti, Sam O’Brien, Laurie Foon and Ben McNulty (with the mahoe), Johnny Osborne and ecologist Rob Smith.

Is there something in the water? 25 years on, after transforming Ōtari’s Kaiwharawhara Valley from a mess of gorse and b...
10/05/2026

Is there something in the water? 25 years on, after transforming Ōtari’s Kaiwharawhara Valley from a mess of gorse and blackberry into a native forest – many original volunteers have just kept coming on back. And they are being joined by an increasing number of younger volunteers. The Kaiwharawhara Revegetation Group tackles weeds in the valley on the second Saturday of every month. Co-ordinator Wilbur Dovey (far right) sent this report from the latest working bee: ‘14 volunteers removed large amounts of Montbretia and Tradescantia. We also noticed the return of some old friends: gorse, blackberry, broom and fennel. The wet summer probably encouraged their long dormant seeds to germinate, possibly also the greater number of birds are spreading seeds’. Meanwhile, another group of keen beans has just completed measuring 30 vegetation plots in the valley, to determine exactly what has grown throughout this restoration process. Results coming your way soon.

After a full summer of working bees, the Kaiwharawhara Reforestation Revisitation will come to an end this weekend. Join...
05/05/2026

After a full summer of working bees, the Kaiwharawhara Reforestation Revisitation will come to an end this weekend. Join us! Since last December volunteers, along with specialist botanists and ecologists, have been measuring and counting native species in Ōtari’s Kaiwharawhara valley, to see what’s happened since forest restoration began here in 2001. Project managers, Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall, have tallied up fantastic results in both tree growth and the number of species present. Instead of rubbish and weeds, we now have a real forest! They will be presenting their findings at a Trust seminar, on July 7. Meanwhile, join us this Sunday morning, 9am til midday. Help us pull out the last of the carpet squares (originally laid for mulch), weeding and ‘light-welling’ (clearing spaces so canopy species can reach for the sky). Meet at Tāne Whakapiripiri, the visitor centre, at 9am. Gloves and old clothes are a good idea.

Must be the year of the centenary! Not only does 2026 mark 100 years since the establishment of the Ōtari Native Botanic...
16/04/2026

Must be the year of the centenary! Not only does 2026 mark 100 years since the establishment of the Ōtari Native Botanic Garden, in September this year one of our founding Trust members will turn 100. Athol Swann, 99, was honoured at the Trust’s AGM this week, for helping to establish the Trust, in 2001, and for instigating the Trust’s Kaiwharawhara Stream Restoration Project. This has become a benchmark of community volunteer restoration. Happy early birthday Athol.
And for the record, at the AGM Dr Carol West was elected as the new Trust Chair, following the retirement of Kevin O'Connor. Carol was previously Chair in 2024, welcome back.

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150 Wilton Road
Wellington
6012

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