Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project

26/04/2026

As planting season approaches, yet more extreme weather events have highlighted the importance of our plan to maximise plant species diversity.

View along the new track/viewpoint near Quebec Street. The wooden stakes mark trial plantings of several plant species last year, with a 90% survival rate.

18/02/2026

The recent storms were a powerful reminder of nature’s force, but they also revealed something fascinating about the resilience of our forest at Manawa Karioi.

The recent storms were a powerful reminder of nature’s force, but they also revealed something fascinating about the resilience of our forest at Manawa Karioi.

09/11/2025

Ten keen volunteers potted up 300 locally rare trees for future planting at Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project.
Kahikatea
Tawa
Kamahi
Miro
Rata
Wharangi
Thanks heaps to Tawatawa Reserve - SEA for the use of their shade house.

02/11/2025

Can you help us with potting up some plants on Sunday November 9?
Meet at the carpark at Tawatawa Reserve (Murchison St) at 1pm. From there, we walk less than 100m to the plant nursery. We have a couple of hundred seedlings to put into bigger bags to grow on for future planting. This is part of our plan to grow more species that are locally rare.
The session will take about 2 hours.

Please comment or RSVP via email [email protected] - if you are able to attend.

15/10/2025

Planting season is done, but our work continues! Manawa Karioi's Annual General Meeting is this Sunday!

🗓️ Sunday, October 19th
⏰ 2:00 PM
📍 Lyon Room, Sisters of Compassion, 2 Rhine St, Island Bay

Let's discuss our amazing progress, from new plantings to increasing birdlife, and shape the year ahead. All welcome!

17/09/2025

https://youtu.be/q5QFs43scUc?si=Wseu5bC9sHMfiCM-

Master carver Matahi Avauli Brightwell worked with his daughter, Te Whanganui-a-Tara based artist Taupuruariki (Ariki) Brightwell, to restore the pouwhenua (...

14/09/2025

Some photos of the last planting working bee of 2025. We got 700 trees in the ground this season. Thanks to all of our volunteers!

12/09/2025

We interviewed Helen Mechen, the founder of Virescent Gardens, a native plant nursery nestled in Stokes Valley of Wellington.

Helen is passionate about providing high-quality, eco-sourced native trees and plants, and she plays a vital role in local conservation efforts by supplying special native trees to projects like Manawa Karioi.

In this interview, we'll delve into her background, her favourite plants, and gather some expert tips for gardening in Wellington's unique climate.

Welcome to our Q&A with  Helen Mechen , the founder of  Virescent Gardens , a native plant nursery nestled in Stokes Valley of Wellington. Helen is passionate about providing high-quality, eco-sourced native trees and plants, and she plays a vital role in local con

30/08/2025

Due to the rain, we have decided to postpone today's planting.

24/08/2025

Epic late winter weather for today's planting.
The group photo is in our new open area half way along Te Ahi Kaa.
We planted Totara, Ramarama Titoki, and Rewarewa in a variety locations.
See you next week for our final planting session for the year.

17/08/2025

Sunday’s working bee saw about 70 plants put in at a new site we are developing for its view. It’s north-facing, getting lot of sun, which leads it to get very dry in summer. So a range of coastal shrubs and small trees were planted. They should cope well with the conditions, and being low-growing, they won’t block the view.
We will be planting a wider range of species there later this month, with further planting to occur next year to widen the range of species.

17/08/2025

On Saturday 9th August the Vic Uni Student Volunteer Army returned to Manawa Karioi, lending a hand to improve the track surface at the upper end of Te Uma I Mokotia. The track was slightly widened and recontoured on a couple the switchback bends. Several significant trees were planted, including totara, titoki and rewarewa.
The SVA helped twice last year along the same area of track.