Whareroa Guardians Community Trust

Whareroa Guardians Community Trust It connects Queen Elizabeth Park to the Akatarawa Forest Park. “Hills to Sea”

It is very accessible to the public from SH 1 at Mackays Crossing.

The Trust is established to protect and develop Whareroa Farm as a reserve for environmental and heritage conservation and public enjoyment, by working with the Management Authority. The Trust is established to protect and develop Whareroa Farm Reserve as a reserve for environmental and heritage conservation and public enjoyment, by working with the Management Authority to:

a) maintain Whareroa F

arm Reserve as a publicly-owned and sustainable coastal hill country farm as meets the overall aims of the Trust

b) restore the catchments of the Whareroa Stream and protect and enhance the indigenous flora and fauna;

c) recognise and respect the bond that tangata whenua have with the land;

d) preserve and strengthen the historical and cultural heritage of Whareroa Farm Reserve with emphasis on the link with Queen Elizabeth Park;

e) ensure Whareroa Farm Reserve is widely accessible for any public recreation activities that do not unduly damage the environment or disturb the enjoyment of others;

f) promote Whareroa Farm Reserve as a recreational hub and a resource to be used and valued by the local Kapiti and wider community;

g) value and develop this land as an educational resource for “best practice” catchment, conservation, environmental, recreational, and farming management. There is a “Farm Plan” agreed between the Trust and DOC and outlines the roles for the Trsut with DOC as well as goals for Whareroa Farm

The park is a 438 hectare block. There are a variety of recreational opportunities for walking, cycling, horse riding, running, picnics and just “being” in bush, by streams, on open pasture and high up on the hills. There is already high usage since it was opened to the public in April 2011. VOLUNTEERS

A small but active group of volunteers have planted over 30,000 plants along streams and in various locations throughout the Whareroa Farm Reserve since 2007. They have also cleared gorse in key areas, constructed new tracks and undertaken a myriad of small and large projects to improve Whareroa. More volunteers are always welcome as the planting continues as do the many and varied projects to enhance Whareroa. Working Bees are held on the 1st Sunday of each month (except January) from 9am to 12pm throughout the year (morning tea provided). You don't have to be a member to be a volunteer. HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER: https://www.kapitibiodiversity.org.nz/whareroa1 .p1bam

Volunteers and group members formed a small team to commence systematic pest control from April 2013 supported with advice and assistance from DOC and Friends of QE Park. We report on it regularly here: https://www.kapitibiodiversity.org.nz/whareroa3 .p3pc

Regular bird monitoring commenced in July 2011 and it is also reported on reguarly here: https://www.kapitibiodiversity.org.nz/whareroa3 .p3bc



If you would like to be on our no-obligation free email list for monthly updates about Whareroa activities and planting /working bees, send us an email: [email protected]



DONATIONS: As Whareroa Guardians Community Trust is a registered charitable trust (Reg.Nr: CC21270), donations are tax deductible

DONATIONS can be made…

(1) to our Bank Account: 03-0732-0429996-00

To get your receipt, email [email protected]

or…

(2) by using your credit card at www.givealittle.co.nz/org/WhareroaG. You will receive an automatic email confirmation immediately

Jan sent us some lovely photos (thanks Jan!) from the Whareroa Farm today (5.6.26): two notes left at the mini-hut and o...
05/06/2026

Jan sent us some lovely photos (thanks Jan!) from the Whareroa Farm today (5.6.26): two notes left at the mini-hut and one beautiful Whareroa Farm morning vibe shot ❤️

You can find out more about the mini-hut here: https://tinyurl.com/y3nwj7vw

At the bottom of the pages about "Visitors activities at Whareroa"
(https://tinyurl.com/2h6fk8ju)
you can find these photos and many more in our photo galleries
(https://tinyurl.com/ycydf2fx)

The latest Supporters’ Update (June 4, 2026) is here...https://tinyurl.com/2a4m6hez . . . . FIRST PLANTING WORKING BEE O...
03/06/2026

The latest Supporters’ Update (June 4, 2026) is here...
https://tinyurl.com/2a4m6hez
. . . .

FIRST PLANTING WORKING BEE OF 2026!
. . . .

The next Working Bee is on Sunday, June 7, 9am - noon

All are welcome. You don’t have to be a member to join in the fun.

We will plant in the wetland below the Caravan, filling in gaps and extending the area.

There will be about 600 plants, we may not get them all in this session.

You can drive in to the Hub. The ground will be wet so gummies recommended.

Bring your tools, gloves, family and friends!

Follow the flags and please remember your morning tea, we will gather at the caravan at about 10.30.

Sausage sizzle back at the Shed afterwards.

- - -

Message from Ann:

Hi All, We have a busy planting season ahead, over 2,500 trees and wetland plants to go in. All help appreciated.

The kohekohe flowering is disappointing this year, probably as strong winds blew off the buds, however tui are still busy up in the canopy so it's worth a wander through.

The AGM minutes (includes Liffet's Chair report) and Treasurer's summary are included in the Supporters’ Update.

It looks as though we are very flush but most of the balance is grant money received and allocated for specific projects eg plant protectors, plants.

We are grateful for your membership subs and a number of generous donations. At times we have been beneficiaries in supporters' wills. Maintaining sufficient income takes a lot of trustee effort.

We hope to see a good turn out on Sunday - forecast is good and Darell and Diane are geared up for the sausage sizzle back at the shed.

* * *

New volunteers are always needed. so if you are thinking of coming along… come along!

Many thanks to all who help.

* * *

Working Bees are held on the first Sunday of each month, except January. In winter, we usually have a few months of two Planting Working Bees a month.
Next working bee dates:
June 7
June 21
. . . .

It is never too late to renew membership (or become a member and / or to donate): click on this link for details https://tinyurl.com/bdftd6yc
. . . .

You can find this posting and more on our web pages here...
https://www.kapitibiodiversity.org.nz/whareroa/ .p0top

and links to Supporters' Updates here...
https://www.kapitibiodiversity.org.nz/whareroa3 .p3su See less

Thanks to Shane W for the picture of the blooming kohekohe, which are also attracting tui and filling the Forest Loop wi...
28/05/2026

Thanks to Shane W for the picture of the blooming kohekohe, which are also attracting tui and filling the Forest Loop with their lovely song. Get along there and experience it for yourself folks, as unfortunately it doesn't last long.

It’s the 2026 Kohekohe flowering season!(they only do this every 2 years or so)Celebrate with a visit to Whareroa Farm R...
24/05/2026

It’s the 2026 Kohekohe flowering season!
(they only do this every 2 years or so)

Celebrate with a visit to Whareroa Farm Reserve in the next 2-3 weeks!

There’s much more to see, hear & contemplate as you wander the tracks in the regenerating forest.

And if more strenuous activity is on your mind, please join the tree planting on alternate Sunday mornings during June, July & August.

Thanks to Sue for the info and pic

See also other things to check out at the farm on this link...
https://tinyurl.com/2h6fk8ju

A new information board has been erected in the entrance bay.The old information board was vandalised. An anonymous dona...
10/05/2026

A new information board has been erected in the entrance bay.

The old information board was vandalised. An anonymous donation has funded the new (better) sign (thank you, anonymous donor!).

Ann dug deep into her archives and collated a new set of pictures and created an updated timeline.

Dana at Kapiti Signs donated her layout skills for free (many thanks Dana!).

Shane W and Rhett erected it and Shane plans to put a little lashing above it to stop bird droppings.

Teamwork!
Many thanks to all involved :-)

Kotukutuku flowers, they start off (usually in August!) green and white with blue pollen and when pollinated (mainly by ...
05/05/2026

Kotukutuku flowers, they start off (usually in August!) green and white with blue pollen and when pollinated (mainly by Korimako [bellbirds]) the flowers turn cerise colour. The berries are sweet, Maori called them Konini. It is the biggest fuchsia in the world.

Many thanks to Jan for the photo and the information.

You can find this photo and many more in our new picture galleries in our web pages at this link...
https://tinyurl.com/ycydf2fx

It is just below our collection of flora and fauna found on Whareroa Farm at this link...
https://tinyurl.com/mr4a5r8m

And to finish off the advertising, it is below the listing of things to see and do on Whareroa Farm....
https://tinyurl.com/2h6fk8ju

* * * Updated * * * Shane W found an injured ruru in Whareroa on Sunday. He has got the ruru in a safe, quiet place and ...
03/05/2026

* * * Updated * * *

Shane W found an injured ruru in Whareroa on Sunday. He has got the ruru in a safe, quiet place and giving it a chance to rejuvenate in peace. Time will tell ...

Update: Monday morning, the ruru was feeling good enough to be able to fly off. A happy end! Well done Shane!

More information on the ruru can be found here...
https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/morepork

On April 24, Shane W sighted a karearea in the gums just above the Forest Loop turnoff.See more information on this fabu...
01/05/2026

On April 24, Shane W sighted a karearea in the gums just above the Forest Loop turnoff.

See more information on this fabulous animal (with a population classified as "widespread but rare") here...
https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/new-zealand-falcon

Thanks to Shane W for the photo

Peak flowering in Matai bush & along the Kohekohe loop track is often during late May & early June. Please send us your ...
01/05/2026

Peak flowering in Matai bush & along the Kohekohe loop track is often during late May & early June. Please send us your photos!

And thanks to Sue for the photo attached 🙏😊

Address

Whareroa Farm, Mackays Crossing
Paekakariki
5034

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