2020 Guided Walk

We are hosting a unique environmental event, a guided walk through one of Wellington's oldest restoration projects. The walk is approximately one-hour duration and is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness.

We will be meeting at the information shelter, next to the Tapu te Ranga Marae carpark to commence the walk at 11am. Please bring good walking shoes, some water to drink and wear sunscreen or a hat.

This event is open to the public so please bring your friends or family. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Tracks are suitable for baby buggies.

Paekawakawa Link Track - Working Bee

Paekawakawa Link Track - Working Bee
Sunday 20 October: 2 - 5pm
Meeting end of Rhine Street

We're looking forward to helping our friends from Tawatawa Reserve and Paekawakawa Reserve complete the track that links the three reserves on Sunday, Oct 20.

The idea of the track was discussed between the 3 groups a couple of years ago, and with a lot of help from WCC (who own the land that makes up Tawatawa Reserve) and Conservation Volunteers NZ, the link track is already well underway.

The working bee will be starting an hour later than our usual time and will run from 2 pm - 5 pm on Oct 20.

We will not meet at our usual spot and instead will meet at the top of Rhine St, where it is just a 150m walk up Koiwi Tohora to the start of the new track.

There is plenty of parking on the side of the road, and if you bring a bike you can bring it up to the worksite.

Wear suitable shoes and clothing (it may be exposed to cool breezes). All tools and gloves are provided.

Like Manawa Karioi, Paekawakawa Reserve is privately owned. You can learn more about it here.

Manawa Karioi is only about 10 hectares, and Paekawakawa is even smaller.

Both reserves border onto Tawatawa (over 200 hectares) and also have a link track down to Owhiro Stream, which has its' own restoration group.

This creates an unbroken link of stream and bush from Owhiro Bay up to the highest peaks in the southern suburbs.

This is like a small version of Hinewai Reserve on the Banks Peninsula. For a bit of inspiration on how our reserves can grow together, watch this wonderful film "Fools and Dreamers".

A report from our Chairman - Chris Livesey

Manawa Karioi Trust Chairman, Chris Livesey has written a detailed report about the planting season and a summary of the activity and progress made at the reserve over the financial year.

The report includes information about the volunteer numbers, working bees, planting and weed control, facilities and track development, engagement with the community, fundraising, a financial report and some exciting plans for the future.

Tennent Brown Architects plant 200 trees

Caitlyn from Tennent Brown Architects got in touch with us to organise a tree planting session to offset their emissions for the financial year of 2018-19. They had a beautiful spring day, planted 200 trees and enjoyed a day outside as a team. We asked Caitlyn a few questions about the planting.

You have been to Manawa Karioi a few times now, what are your impressions of the place?

I have actually only been twice! The first time was to plant trees on a Sunday and the second time was with Tennent Brown. I was excited to see the marae the first Sunday I went, but sadly the very Sunday I came that first time was the day the marae burnt down.

The group of us planted trees on a hilly track on the other side that day and we could see the smoke from where we were planting. I was very sad about the marae and that I did not get to see it. With Tennent Brown we planted on the other side and my impression was that the bush was lush and verdant with variety in the layers, rather than windswept and exposed as on the hill on the other side.

You could see Home of Compassion from where we were planting. The brick housing and Mother Aubert’s chapel were designed by my director, Hugh Tennent. It is a beautiful, peaceful place to wander through the tracks. We can see the decades of care by Manawa Karioi and that there is still more to be done.

How did your planting session with Tennent Brown Architects come about?

One of my tasks at Tennent Brown Architects is to calculate the carbon footprint for the office for the previous financial year. We have been doing this for the last five years so far actually and you can see some of this here.

I was researching and found that to offset our carbon footprint (and a bit more) for the last financial year we could plant 200 trees. I thought, well our group on Sunday planted 200 trees in a few hours, it is doable. So I suggested to Ewan and Caroline that our firm plant trees at Manawa Karioi and they thought it was a great idea and that is how it came about.

Tell me about your planting session, how was the experience for the group?

I would say it was a hit. We loved getting out of the office, it was such a lovely sunny day and there was no wind. We are used to a sedentary, desk job in front of a screen, so being in a natural setting doing a physical task was a treat and it was great to experience teamwork amongst our colleagues in a different sort of way.

Chris Livesey, our guide, taught us well and was a wonderful host, telling us of the history the place before we set out, demonstrating how to prepare a seedling and inviting us to come back, whether to plant again or to enjoy a walk amongst the native flora and fauna.

Why was it important for Tennent Brown Architects to participate in the restoration project and what do you think the group got out of it?

We as a firm were one of the founding signatories of Architects Declare, which you can see at www.architectsdeclare.nz. It begins, “The twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss are the most serious issue of our time. Buildings and construction play a major part, accounting for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions whilst also having a significant impact on our natural habitats…” so by planting at Manawa Karioi we feel we can make a positive impact on two things we care deeply about as a firm, climate change and biodiversity loss.

It is about taking responsibility by reducing our carbon footprint where we can and offsetting where we cannot, and showing others that by taking action there is hope to combat our ecological crises. I think the group not only enjoyed the whole exercise, they could see themselves that it did not take much to take charge where most of the news regarding sustainability is wearisome doom and gloom.

I think that they could see themselves coming back to plant again in their spare time, we are an active bunch and it is a way of being active while taking care of nature and future generations at the same time.

Tennett Brown Architects with Chris Livesey planting the bottom of the goat paddock.

Would you recommend the experience for other corporate groups/companies, for what reasons?

Absolutely. The work is not finished at Manawa Karioi. There are carbon calculators available for corporate groups and companies to calculate their office carbon footprint. If everyone takes care of what they have emitted by flights, car travel, bus travel, energy, waste etc. and more we will see the Paris climate goal reached.

By restoring the native bush we will see an increase in biodiversity. Not only that, you will have a great afternoon also.

Do the mahi get the treats! A beer at the Island Bay pub with colleagues after a day planting.

If you would like to get in touch with us, to talk about how your company could participate in the project please email us: manawakarioisociety@gmail.com.

Plants we have planted at Manawa Karioi

Manawa Karioi was once host to a range of vegetation types. Our medium term goal is to restore a range of plants appropriate for the site and then allow nature to take over – with minimal ongoing intervention.

The upper slopes and ridges will become shrublands typical of the northern Cook Strait coast. Trees and shrubs such as tauhinu, mingimingi, coastal flax and kōkōmuka tāranga will be planted as they can tolerate salty wind, drought and low soil fertility. This vegetation may be limited to a height of two to five metres, but taller vegetation may develop in time.

The lower slopes are more sheltered but usually quite dry in summer. Drier, north-facing slopes will host only some of the taller trees like rewarewa, rāta and tōtara. Kohekohe will form the main canopy on the damper, south-facing slopes.

In the gullies the bush will consist of five layers typical of forests further inland. A key difference is the presence of kohekohe, a frost-sensitive tree not usually found more than 10km inland.

Leaves from the KoheKohe Tree at Manawa Karioi

The 5 Layers of the Forest

The emergent layer
- Scattered trees often over 30 metres tall that tower over the lower canopy trees
- Ancient forests often contain slower growing podocarps (cone-bearing species that evolved millions of years before flowering plants) such as rimu, tōtara, miro and mataī
- Regenerating forests often contain faster growing, flowering trees such as rewarewa

Baby nikau and a nikau that was planted by Ross which lives next to the stream.

The canopy
- The roof of the forest: trees in this layer form dense foliage, filtering rain and sunlight for the layers below
- Typically a height of around 20 metres tall
- Includes tawa and kohekohe

The sub-canopy
- Typically includes various tree ferns such as mamaku and ponga, nikau, and small trees such as māhoe, makomako, whauwhaupaku and tarata
- Plants in this layer often grow to about ten metres tall

These young Totara and Rewarewa trees are doing well at Manawa Karioi.

The undergrowth
- Often consists of ferns, young trees, shrubs and vines up to about five metres tall
- Can be very dense and hard to walk through
- Often includes kawakawa, karamū, rangiora and tūrepo

The forest floor
- Usually damp, but can dry out in summer
- Consists of ground covers such as grasses, sedges, ferns, mosses and fungi
- Home to a wide variety of invertebrates including wētā, snails and ngaokeoke
- Important hunting ground for birds such as toutouwai and tīeke, as well as pekapeka

Creating a situation in which these five forest layers can develop is a challenging task. Hardy plants tolerant of drought, sun and wind exposure can generally be planted and left to grow. Other species require various amounts of shelter and shade, but also some sunlight and care. Our general approach is to create seed sources for a wide range of plants native to the local area, along with suitable vegetation for their seed to fall into, and then allow nature to take over – with minimal ongoing intervention (for example, weed control).

Planting Trees in Seed Source Gully - Working Bee on Sunday

 Last Sunday's working bee was a great success. Even with a couple of brief but heavy showers people were still keen to keep on working after 3pm.

Sunday’s Volunteer Team

 We cleared a whole lot of dead blackberry and other vegetation from around the historic water reservoir that was built in 1907 for the Home of Compassion and from the banks of the Manawa Karioi stream.

The last 30 metres of Union Rd was widened, and then we planted the stream banks with a mix of plant species.

Reinstating the last section of Union Road - originally constructed in 1907 to build the reservoir.

In the near future we will finish clearing the soil from the roof of one corner of the water reservoir (from a small landslip 10 years ago) and install a picnic table.

Building Union Road - Now (2019) and Then (1907)

On Aug 18 we will be planting in two areas. The first is a small area at the Danube St entrance of Tapu Te Ranga marae. We try to put in some of the locally-rare species at all our track entrances so that as people enter they notice that the bush looks different to that around most of the surrounding Town Belt tracks.
 
We will also be doing some planting around Seed Source Gully. This area was initially planted with hardy colonising species in 2002-2004. 

Once the first trees had created a canopy we began underplanting. The intention is to put small numbers of a wide range of species in the gully to provide a seed-source to spread into surrounding areas.

Seed Source Gully - Then

Seed Source Gully - Now

This Sunday we will put in some small understorey trees in the gully margins that have already had titoki, totara and rewarewa planted in them. Further up the gully, we will plant out an area that has been cleared of blackberry. The soil here is quite rich and holds moisture longer so is suitable for putting in some tawa, kohekohe, kotukutuku and putaputaweta. In previous years we have put in some rimu, totara and nikau. Many of these are now 3-4 metres tall.

A tunnel of revegetating bush with the planned picnic area at the top

August Planting Days: Sunday 4th Aug, Sunday 11th August, Sunday 18th August, Sunday 25th August from 1pm - 3pm.

Sunday's working bee departs at 1 pm from the interpretation board shelter at Tapu Te Ranga marae carpark, signposted at the end on Danube St. Wear suitable clothes and shoes. All tools and gloves are provided.

After the Marae fire: Planting Work Continues

We received a delivery of 980 plants from Wellington City Council’s Berhampore nursery a couple of days prior to our first working bee.

A couple of nights later, disaster struck with a fire completely destroying the main buildings at Tapu Te Ranga Marae.

Despite the sad and sudden loss of the marae buildings, we decided as a committee that it was important to carry on with our work, especially as the June planting was all in areas along the boundary of Manawa Karioi and the access roads of the marae. The marae buildings can be replaced, and the Manawa Karioi forest will be growing even closer to them.

Our plants were very close to the buildings, but we only lost about 30 (all of this year’s porokaiwhiri (pigeonwood) and most of our pate (Schefflera digitata).

Most of the June plantings were in large blocks, using mostly hardy species that need open spaces. For August we will be taking a different approach, focussing on trackside planting and establishing future canopy and understory species.

This will be done in several different locations – we will continue with understorey planting along the marae driveway leading in from Rhine St, as well as planting hardy species along the upper slopes near our boundary with Tawatawa reserve.

We had a successful month of planting in June, with large groups of people kindly volunteering their time.

We will also be focussing on planting around the historic water reservoir in the gully from which we take our projects’ name – Manawa Karioi. This area has had a lot of natural regeneration of native bush along the stream bed and on the south-facing slope above it. However, this has been mostly of a limited number of species; predominantly mahoe and the tree fern mamaku, with an understorey of hangehange, kawakawa and rangiora.

Almost two decades ago, students from Victoria Environment Group planted a range of colonising species on the slope to the west of the reservoir. At several working bees over the last 3 years we have planted a wider range of trees further up the slope, and previously we had put in small numbers of kotukutuku, nikau, tawa and pukatea along the stream bed.

A former Manawa Karioi volunteer, Peter Hills, writes:

 “In Spring of 2003 members of the Seed Carriers Hikoi completed their journey by staying at Tapu te Ranga Marae. After presenting their story to then Environment Minister, Marian Hobbs, they planted a number of Kahikatea around the Manawa Karioi spring. These had been sourced from local seed and grown in the Manawa Karioi nursery.  The total number planted was twelve.

In 2004, I sourced twelve local Matai plants from the same nursery and planted them in the catchment area directly above the spring. These were planted to honour the twelve people who walked and reopened the Peace Trail  ‘Te Huarahi o Rongo-marae-roa ' with Barry Brailsford in 1989.”

We will continue to increase the biodiversity of this gully by planting more kotukutuku, kohekohe and pate along the streambed, while on the sunnier slopes above it we will put in a small number each of totara, rata and rewarewa, and larger quantities of more common colonising species.

Pate: A small tree to 8m high, it flowers February/March with fruit ripening two months later, which is a food source for several bird species. Pate is the most common host of the parasitic plant Dactylanthus taylori. This is a root parasite which was known to the Maori as 'Pua-o-te-reinga', 'the flower of the underworld', which alludes to the way its’ flowers emerge from under the ground. 

Kotukutuku: Growing to 15m high, it is the world’s tallest tree fuschia. Flowers appear between August and December. They change from greenish-yellow to purple-red.The flowers are rich in nectar and are visited by honey-eating birds, especially tūī, bellbirds and silvereyes. The dark purple berries, known as kōnini, are edible and taste like tamarillos.

Kohekohe

Kohekohe: This was once the main forest canopy tree in the coastal strip around Wellington. While stands of it remain in patches along the Kaiwharawhara Stream catchment, in south Wellington we only know of one mature tree over the ridge in Tawatawa Reserve, and up to five on Te Motu Kairangi/Miramar Peninsula.

It is one of the few native trees to flower in winter, producing impressive quantities of small flowers directly from the trunk and branches in June. While we have planted dozens of kohekohe around Manawa Karioi, only one has been seen flowering yet, located by the track Te Ahi Kaa where it crosses Seed Source Gully.

Written by Ross Gardiner

Photos by Ness Patea

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We have pledged to plant another 1000 trees in 2019 at Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project in the hills of Island Bay.

We would appreciate help from any keen volunteers to the scheduled working bees. Please RSVP to this email to let us know which planting event you would like to attend or sign up via our Facebook event.

Upcoming Manawa Karioi Upcoming Planting Working Bees: 

• Sunday 4th August from 1pm - 3pm

• Sunday 11th August from 1pm - 3pm

• Sunday 18th August from 1pm - 3pm

• Sunday 25th August from 1pm - 3pm
  

  Meeting at the Interpretation Board Shelter in the Tapu te Ranga Carpark at the end of Danube Street in Island Bay.

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Manawa Karioi Fundraiser at Third Eye - Tuatara Breweries

We are hosting a social fundraising event on Friday 5th July from 6 pm - 8 pm. We invite all past and present volunteers, supporters and beer lovers to join us at The Third Eye - Tuatara’s Temple of Taste. If you love trees and tasty craft beer - we would love to see you there!

Come on out to The Third Eye - Tuatara’s Temple of Taste to sample “Union Road", a limited edition karma keg ale brewed specifically in support of the Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project. All proceeds will go to support native tree planting, trail maintenance, and other operations at this beautiful nature reserve near Wellington’s south coast.

Founded in 1990, the Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project is one of Wellington’s oldest revegetation projects and is situated on land in Island Bay owned previously by Sisters of Compassion. It is a community-driven initiative, operated by passionate community volunteers to bring back the bush and the birds.

Union Road is a historic track at Manawa Karioi and was built approximately 100 years ago to provide access to the construction of the water reservoir which would supply the Home of Compassion. The name Union Road evokes the rich history of this area which now exists to regenerate native bush and further engage the Island Bay community with the whenua.

This social fundraising event was spearheaded by one of our committee members Kevin Thomas. It is fun to take some time out socially, have some chats and fundraise by drinking yummy craft beer at the same time, we think this fundraiser event is genius!

I asked Kevin some questions about brewing the beer and organising this fun event.

Tell me about your involvement in Manawa Karioi?

I discovered Manawa Karioi a few years ago when I attended a guided walk as part of the Island Bay Festival. I started volunteering for working bees, then I helped improve volunteer numbers via Meetup groups, and then more recently I joined the Board.

Can you tell me about what appealed to you about the Tuatara Breweries Karma Kegs as a possible fundraiser for Manawa Karioi?

I have seen karma kegs as charity fundraisers from various breweries around Wellington. I'm a big fan of Wellington's craft beer community and saw this as a fun opportunity to combine some of my personal passions.

What was the process of brewing 'Union Road' Beer like?

I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Brayden Owlinson, Tuatara's Head Brewer, to create our karma keg beer at the Third Eye. We started the process on a Thursday at 7:00 AM and wrapped around 1:30 PM. Brayden kindly allowed me to help with some of the tasks such as the hop addition and beer transfer into the fermentation tank.

What did you gain from the process?

Brayden is incredibly knowledgeable about all things beer so I learned a lot about how different aspects of brewing, such as type of hop, temperature, and yeast variety, can dramatically influence flavour. I have home brewed before, but the Third Eye equipment is significantly larger scale and more automated than I have experienced before.

What are your hopes for the Friday night fundraising event?

I hope to raise awareness about Manawa Karioi because it's amazing little nature reserve just outside of the Wellington CBD with a fascinating history and a group of dedicated volunteer stewards. Also, I hope everyone in attendance learns a bit more about conservation and enjoys a tasty craft beer.

A big thanks to Kevin, Mary and Jerry for organising the event! We look forward to seeing you there!

New Track Names and their Descriptions

In the process of making new signs, we have been given new track names from the whanau at Tapu te Ranga Marae. The Tapu te Ranga Trust would like Manawa Karioi to be used and enjoyed by everyone. Let us know what you think of the new names, we will let you all know when we have our new signs made.

Te Ahi Kā - The long burning fires

This loop track encompasses most of Manawa Karioi. Its name refers to the home fires that symbolise a group’s title to land through continuous land occupation.

Te Uma i Mokotia - The chest that was marked

This track was planted with rātā which flower red in the Spring and Summer. The name connects the track to Ngā Pari Whero, the Red Rocks, a significant landmark in the area. Kupe’s daughter, Hine-te-ura, cut her chest in grief as she feared that her father had died, staining the rocks red with her blood.

Kōiwi Tohorā - Whale bones

This track runs closest to the coast. Its name honours the marae’s connection to Tohorā, (whales), the South Coast and Te Raukawa Moana, (Cook Strait).

Meri Whaiora - A transliteration of Mary and Fowler

This track leads up to the reservoir. Its name honours those whose support was crucial to establishing Manawa Karioi and building Tapu te Ranga Marae. Meri for the Sisters of the Home of Compassion. Whaiora for former Mayor Sir Michael Fowler.

Whakatūranga - Establishment or formation

This track runs through the heart of Manawa Karioi, including Seed Source Gully. It is named for the core values of the Tapu te Ranga Trust, which are whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, turangawaewae and rangatiratanga.

Te Whare Āhuru - The protective house

This track leads towards Tapu te Ranga Marae. It was named after the mōteatea or lament composed to honour Bruce Stewart’s passing. It refers to him as being the “protective house” watching over those coming to the marae.

Wawata -To desire, yearn for, aspire or daydream:

This track passes through some of the earliest plantings and shows what all of Manawa Karioi aspires to become.

Moemoeā - To have a dream, to have a vision:

From this highest track you can look out across the land and see the fruition of dreams past or dream new dreams of your own.

Union Road - This track is named after the trade union workers who built it. It provided access for the construction crew to build the reservoir below the Manawa Karioi springs, supplying water to the Home of Compassion.

Volunteer workers building Union Road, Photo from the Home of Compassion Archives (23.11.1907)

Volunteer workers building Union Road, Photo from the Home of Compassion Archives (23.11.1907)

Botanical Society Visit to Manawa Karioi

7 July 2018: Manawa Karioi Reserve

Eleven people braved the cold showery weather and were rewarded with a largely clear day for their exploration. Manawa Karioi is easily accessible from Danube St or Rhine St, Island Bay. Although privately owned by the Tapu Te Ranga Marae Trust, it is publicly accessible. As one of Wellington’s earliest restoration projects, and one which has been undertaken with ecological integrity from the outset, it is worth botanists’ attention and has recently been included in a comprehensive Waikato University study of urban forest restoration sites across NZ.

We traversed the main tracks in the northern part of the reserve and spent most of our time in two gullies where a range of restoration plantings have been concentrated. We had the benefit of an early (1992) species list compiled by Maggie Wassilieff, and a comprehensive up to-date list compiled by Pete Russell. The latter included a vast list of plant pests and other adventive NZ native and introduced species, indicating the size of the task any reserve manager hoping to undertake serious ecological restoration in a city suburb must undertake. We inspected and discussed the range of species planted.

In recent years Manawa Karioi has enriched the early planted successional species such as ngaio, Veronica parviflora, Coprosma spp, puka, kawakawa, māpou etc., with small numbers of later successional species including tawa, kohekohe, northern rātā, porokaiwhiri, Sophora spp, black maire, and the podocarps rimu, mataī, miro, kahikatea and tōtara, plus a few vines including kiekie and puawhānga.

All species planted since the start have been locally ecosourced. We were pleased to see the range of planted species that are now freely regenerating, including tōtara, ngaio (very prolific and probably now the most significant forest canopy dominant), kōwhai, and many smaller broadleaved trees. We also saw small apparently regenerating puawhānga (now flowering, see photo), and a few planted swamp maire which are doing well. Thanks to Eleanor who collated the species observations which included several additions to the list, including six fern species. We also observed for the first time Coprosma areolata which may well have selfintroduced from Tawatawa Reserve across the ridge. Non-local natives such as karaka, karo, lacebark and five-finger hybrids are also thriving, and we discussed weed control priorities, which Manawa Karioi are now reassessing.

Our pick of the most urgent control priorities included climbing asparagus, wild ginger, Darwin’s barberry, flowering cherry, privet and karo. With the exception of karo, these are all of relatively limited distribution in the reserve. We felt that generally the reserve was in good condition with fewer weeds impeding native succession than in comparable Wellington reserves.

Participants: Paul Blaschke (leader/scribe), Eleanor Burton, Gavin Dench, Michelle Dickson, Richard Grasse, Kate Jordan, Rodney Lewington, Russell Poole (Palmerston North), Peter Russell (Manawa Karioi group), Sunita Singh (co-leader), Xavier Warne.

Volunteer Scrub-cutter Operators Needed.

We are looking for Volunteer Scrub-cutter Operators for mowing the grass on the tracks through the reserve with a scrub-bar every 6-8 weeks during the period November - April and less frequently during the rest of the year. Each volunteer will be responsible for a section of track that will take about 2 hours to mow. The scrub-bar and fuel and safety equipment will be provided by us. We are an ecological restoration project in Island Bay that is open to the public and is a valued recreational resource for walkers: runners: mountain bikers and horse riders. We would like scrub-bar operators to commit to doing the job for a minimum of 6 months and would be delighted for them to continue beyond that for as long as they like. 

Contact us to register your interest - manawakarioisociety@gmail.com

Guided Walk at Manawa Karioi - 2019

We are hosting two of our popular guided walks at Manawa Karioi in March 10th at 11am and 1pm.

Join us for a casual walk around the tracks with a Manawa Karioi with some of our committee members and hear about the progress of the restoration project, hear about the history of the land and discover some new tracks.

Please bring a gold coin koha that will go towards the running costs of our project. Dogs are welcome on leads.

Meeting at Tapu te Ranga Marae carpark by the interpretation board at the end of Danube Street.

Birds Eye View on the Reserve

I met Malakai Tupou many years ago on one of my many visits to the Marae. Malakai is the grandson of Bruce Stewart and is of Tongan and Maori heritage. A builder by trade, Malakai is now living at the Marae in a whare bearing his name.

Last month I asked Malakai if he could get some images of the Manawa Karioi Reserve with his drone so we can document the progress of the restoration project and see the reserve from above as the birds do.

Tell me about your history with Tapu te Ranga Marae?

I’m a grandson of the founder of Tapu te Ranga, Bruce Stewart, so have been coming here since a wee kid, de-nailing timber and straightening out nails was something I remember doing as a kid.

Do you use the Manawa Karioi reserve yourself (how)?

I use it nearly every day to walk my dog, there are lovely bush walks and views.

What is your impression of how the Manawa Karioi land has changed over your years of living here?

When I was a kid, I remember walking up with the cousins to the pine trees and surfing down with cardboard trying to dodge the gorse, nowadays you can't as the native trees have pushed through and have created the lovely native bush we have today.

Tell me about your experience taking the drone photos, what were the challenges?

The day was a little windy so didn't want to fly too high, also there are planes that fly above so I just had to keep an eye out for them.

Do you see people using the tracks, what do you think this reserve gives back to the local community?

I see a lot of people using the tracks, dog walkers to tourist walkers to runners, the locals I talk to love the tracks and enjoy walking.

The reserve gives the locals a place to call home (their backyard) its  place that will never stop giving with its walking tracks to the natural enrichments that it gives us,

My grandfather once told me in one of many of his ideas he shared with me that, if everyone planted a native tree in their backyards it would benefit our future generations, and how true is that. To have one of the best reserves in Wellington in your backyard is awesome.

Introduction and Questions by Ness Patea.

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) Picnic and Walk

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, The Island Bay Community Center and the Manawa Karioi Society would like to invite you to a community picnic at the Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project. 

The theme for the Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Let Nature in’ so we have found a picturesque flat grassy spot that is just 5 minutes walk from the Tapu te Ranga Marae carpark in Island Bay.

Pack a picnic of delicious snacks, gather your family and friends and join us for our community picnic in the regenerating native forest of Manawa Karioi. Children and dogs on leads are welcome. Meeting at 2pm at the interpretation shelter in the Tapu te Ranga Carpark and we will have signposts for any late arrivals. Depending on interest we can lead a bush walk on the tracks after the picnic around 3.30pm.

Sunday 14th October, starts at 2pm - 5pm (Postponed until next week - 21st October)
Meet at the Tapu te Ranga Marae carpark and at 2pm, walk up to the picnic area.

Postponement Date:
Sunday 21st October - 2pm - 5pm

What a difference a decade (or two) makes!

Nothing better illustrates the progress that can be rapidly made than a few photos that were taken decades apart. Here are three views looking at the main gully and hillside above the Tapu Te Ranga Marae carpark, and one shot from under the established canopy.

This photo was taken around 1994. The first plantings were done in 1991, and most are around 1 metre high. Notice that gorse is rapidly taking over the grassy slopes of the former farmland.

Photo 2 was taken in 2008. The canopy has gotten taller, and the plantings are spreading up the gullies. The gorse has also gotten taller and has become a major problem (along with blackberry) by blocking the tracks, which require a lot of effort to keep open. What isn't visible is that a lot of natural regeneration is occurring under the gorse. The seed source for this comes from the faster-growing species that have already been planted, as well as from nearby regenerating bush in the surrounding Town Belt. 
 
10 years earlier work had begun on establishing understory and future canopy and emergent species, with many nikau, as well as kahikatea, matai, miro and others

Photo 3 was taken recently in early 2018. Like the other two photos, it was taken when the gorse was in flower (bright yellow flowers) as this is the best way of distinguishing gorse from other vegetation. The first thing that really strikes you is how little gorse there is now. Many years of planting along the track sides have resulted in the gorse getting shaded out and dying off, making track maintenance much easier. This method also eventually shades out the blackberry. The canopy has grown up to 15 metres high in the lower gully, and the diversity of underplantings has greatly increased. Natural regeneration continues, with kawakawa becoming abundant. This plant gives this coastal part of south Wellington its' original name of "Paekawakawa".
 
As gorse is highly flammable, the risk of accidental fire is greatly lowered when forest returns, as many native trees are not as combustible. This has been shown from a couple of accidental fires at Manawa Karioi (possibly started by discarded cigarette butts) and also from several deliberately lit fires over the hill in Happy Valley.

A shot looking up at the canopy near where the fresh-water spring emerges. 20 years ago this was a sunny clearing choked with blackberry. Now the nikau and some of the podocarps are between 3-5 metres high!

Written by Ross Gardiner
Photos by Bernard Smith, Vanessa Patea

Clematis paniculata in Seed Source Gully

Clematis paniculata flowering in Seed Source Gully, not to be confused with introduced invasive Clematis vitalba (old man's beard).

This is possibly the first time this species has flowered at the Manawa Karioi site in 150 years.

Although occasionally present in gardens, this is a great step towards re-establishing this plant in the local area using locally sourced seed, thereby helping to protect the local gene pool of this species.

Planted 5 years ago, this is an example of our efforts to re-establish the broad range of plants that once existed in the area.

These are female flowers - the species is diecious (has separate male and female plants). So we will need to establish a few male plants nearby to pollinate it.

Peter Russell

Podcast: $5000 grant to create new signs

Island Bay’s Manawa Karioi Ecological Restoration Project has won a $5000 grant to erect signs and put in track markers that will help people walk local bush trails.

The money comes from the Walking Access Commission’s Enhanced Access Fund, which supports local groups to build and preserve outdoor access - especially tracks and trails.

Walking Access went to Manawa Karioi to meet Chris Livesey from the restoration project. Chris says that currently the tracks, none of which are marked, can be a confusing web for people who have not used them before. New map panels at the entrances to Manawa Karioi and colour-coded track markers will help more people to enjoy them.

Listen to the podcast here.