Conservation Tawa

09/09/2026

Over the winter months volunteers from Conservation Tawa set up a network of acoustic monitors, like this one to record the nocturnal calls of Ruru and Kiwi, to find out more about how widespread they are in Forest of Tawa & Redwood Bush.

The sound recordings are then saved as a wavelength on a mp4 file.

What was unexpected was the sound Kākā calling in the early hours of the morning, over Laren Cres. Their call can be heard on the 1st file.

For the Forest of Tawa file we need your help.

Recorded at 2am, there a couple of faint screechs, one at 14 seconds and 22 seconds. Is it Kiwi or Kākā?

Leave us a comment and tell us what you think (You may need to go full volume!)

16/08/2026

On Sunday, 9 August, despite the weather and a tree falling across the Main Rd, five members of Conservation Tawa and nine members of Tawa Scouts, including parents and leaders planted 420 trees at the Forest of Tawa. The scouts are working towards their ‘Better World-Conservation’ badge. It was awesome to have two Tawa Community groups helping each other!!

This was our second main planting of the winter. In July the weather was better. Working alongside our Conservation Tawa volunteers, were members of the Kenepuru Green Party & Port Nicholson Rotary, to plant 1282 trees in Caribbean Drive Reserve.

That brings our total to 1,700 plants this winter. With another planting session on 25 August we should get close to 2,500 plants. Follow us on FB if you would to help keep Tawa Beautiful.

23/07/2026

Entering Forest of Tawa today I nearly got bowled over by this kaka flying down the track

22/07/2026

KETE has been taking part in Plastic Free July: “a shared global movement that helps millions of people reduce plastic waste through simple, everyday choices and be part of the solution to plastic pollution.”

Over 5600 people from around the world have made a pledge this month to choose one plastic item to refuse - from single-use cups to plastic bottles or packaged produce.

Locally, reducing plastic waste helps to keep the Porirua harbour clean, and birdlife safe!

09/07/2026

WELCOME from CONSERVATION TAWA

Your community conservation group, Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves is now CONSERVATION TAWA.
The group started in 1996, when Wellington City Council purchased Larsen Bush following community outcry when sections of native bush were being cleared for development. This incident was the catalyst for a group of residents, who lived near Larsen Reserve, to form the Friends of Tawa Bush Reserves in 2001 with its aim to promote, enhance and advocate for Tawa Bush Reserves. The group then was predominantly concerned with forming a main walking track through Redwood Bush & Larsen Cres Reserve and taking community ownership of the pest animal management, in these areas.

Over the last twenty-five years ‘the Friends’ have grown to become a community-driven group to promote, enhance and advocate for ALL natural resources in the Tawa basin, including the Porirua stream, Takapu Valley and Caribbean Reserve and is the umbrella organisation for the Willowbank Reserve Care Group.

Our plantings go beyond Tawa’s nine bush reserves and include the Ara Tawa and riverside plantings by the Tawa Railway station, along with Caribbean Drive Reserve in Grenada North
To reflect our wider focus on and the ecological wellbeing of the whole Tawa community and its environment, we have re-branded to become Conservation Tawa. We will continue our efforts to enhance, restore and sustain Tawa’s natural environment for present and future generations – why not join us?

For more about us and Tawa’s amazing bush areas check out our website https://tawabush.org.nz/

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

WOW Tawa has the Tree of the Year. Thanks to all who voted.

🏆 The 2026 Tree of the Year New Zealand winner is The Bucket Tree!

Part tree, part living sculpture, this remarkable macrocarpa at Boscobel Farm in Tawa has been shaped and cared for across generations — a living landmark with a silhouette unlike any other.

Thank you to everyone who voted, nominated, shared, and celebrated Aotearoa’s extraordinary trees.

Learn more: treeoftheyear.co.nz

01/07/2026

The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey 2026 is here.
Are you ready to take part in the 20th annual survey?
Closes 5 July 2026.
See https://gardenbirdsurvey.nz/ for How to take part and to enter observations.

Get out into your garden, count the birds, and build a build a picture of the state of our environment by taking part in the NZ Garden Bird Survey.

06/06/2026

This Sunday! See you there :)

Check out our previous posts for more details!

23/04/2026

LOST DOG - seen in the Forest of Tawa today. Does anyone know of the owner?

With Kiwi nearby please keep your dog on a lead, in our reserves.