Whats New: Latest News

Volunteer Awards 23 June 2010

The Friends of Waiwhakareke have been nominated for a Volunteering Waikato - Volunteer Excellence Award. The Awards evening is held on 23 June 2010 at Waikato Stadium Congratulations to all those who have helped out as part of the Friends of Waiwhakareke to date – awesome effort!

Craig Potton visits Waiwhakareke 4 May 2010

Waiwhakareke was recently visited by a film crew and famous New Zealand landscape photographer Craig Potton. Mr Potton has spent a month or two on the road filming for his new television programme ‘Rivers’ to be screened on Prime by South Pacific Pictures later in the year. Rivers focuses on five of Mr Potton’s favourite New Zealand rivers including the Waikato. Mr Potton read the article in Forest and Bird Magazine last year on Waiwhakareke and because of the Parks links to the Waikato River in terms of it being a part of the larger catchment, the filming of a planting at the park was undertaken. It was Mr Potton’s first visit to Waiwhakareke and he had this to say about the project: " I am amazed and frankly delighted at the project and was so encouraged to see the rate of growth of the planted trees ... certainly seemed faster than our growth rates in my south island!! .The fact that it is in the city limits is exceptional and visionary . I am also amazed that peat soils transported from elsewhere are doing so well and the wonderful rushes with them ...Its a brilliant and well conceived project” - Craig Potton Photographer and Conservationist

Photo 1 Craig Potton and Bruce Clarkson Photo 2 Craig Potton and Yuki from Conservation Volunteers and one of the film crew

Arbour Day planting at WNHP 2010 26 April 2010

This year Hamilton City Council is hosting the Arbour Day planting at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. We are hoping to plant 4000 native trees and shrubs with help from local schools and groups on the day! The project partners have secured $40,000 per year for the next three years from Environment Waikato to help with funding plants so we will be appreciative of all the help we can have to help us plant these.

Arbour day planting Friday 4th June at 10.00am -12.30pm Meet at Brymer Rd opposite the Zoo (Buses will deliver to Zoo car park follow directions from there to site)

All participants MUST have their own spade and suitable sturdy footwear for the planting. We will go ahead rain or shine unless there is a heavy rain warning etc.

Contact Gerard Kelly at Hamilton City Council for more information – gerard.kelly@hcc.govt.nz

Environmental Initiatives Fund 1 April 2010

Environment Waikato have gifted $40,000 per year for the next three years to the purchase of plants for Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. This funding is to come from the Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) and will be key in ensuring the rapid growth of the canopy at the park. A big thank you to Environment Waikato from all Waiwhakareke supporters!!! Click here to see the Waikato Times article on the funding gained.

EW lifts lake grant Environment Waikato will grant $120,000 over three years to help create a living museum at Lake Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (Horseshoe Lake) in Rotokauri, Hamilton. (Waikato Times, 30 March 2010)

Environment Waikato supports urban paddock to forest project: www.infonews.co.nz

New Zealand Planning Institute Planting10 March 2010

On the evening of Wednesday 10 March 2010 the Waikato Branch of the New Zealand Planning Institute were hosted by Hamilton City Council at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. The planners were given an overview of the Park by Professor Bruce Clarkson before heading down to the lake margin to plant 100 kahikatea. Because of the dry conditions water had to be taken from the lake in buckets to ensure each plant will grow. Following the planting a bbq dinner and some drinks were provided on the back of Gerard Kelly and Paul Duffy’s Council ute. Thanks heaps to contributing organisations who turned up to the event, in particular Beca who provided the food and Opus who turned out in force for the planting.

Waiwhakareke Donations 24 February 2010

The Friends of Waiwhakareke would welcome any monetary donations to the project. Donations will go towards planting costs at the park, as well as maintenance of existing plantings. Click here to find out more

Paddy Woodworth, visiting restoration ecology author from Ireland 19 February 2010

“I was most impressed by the quality of the restoration process at Waiwhakareke. The initial research by Dr Clarkson and his colleagues to determine which native plant communities might be suited to the soil types, and the varieties of experimental planting techniques, all augur well for the site to become a valuable model for other restorations in urban areas, and to make this once-treasured peatland a living reality once more. The council's commitment to the project is impressive. I like the idea of people being able to move from a zoo to native landscape with ease. It would be good if a predator-proof fence, or some form of intensive pest control, could also create a safe haven for more native birds, reptiles and insects in the future. In a time of grave environmental degradation and crisis, ecological restoration offers us an optimistic opportunity to re-connect with our natural environment in a healthy and pleasurable way. Waiwhakareke, coupled with the gully restorations ongoing in Hamilton, and simple initiatives in their own gardens by citizens to replace exotics with natives, offers great hope for richer New Zealand landscapes even in urban areas, connecting its people back both the period of Maori settlement, and to the unique heritage of a relatively recent ecosystem without human impacts before that. “

Paddy Woodworth, Irish author, whose forthcoming book, Restoring the Future (Chicago University Press, 2011) will feature a chapter on New Zealand ecological restoration projects. Email: woodworth@ireland.com. See also www.paddywoodworth.com

Urban Restoration Workshop 7-9 July 2009

The Centre for Biology and Ecology Research (CBER) from the University of Waikato, a partner in the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park Project recently held an Urban Restoration Workshop to discuss all matters to do with the restoration of areas of native vegetation within urban areas in New Zealand. Facilitated by Professor Bruce Clarkson, professionals with differing ecological backgrounds from all over New Zealand were invited to attend and gather knowledge from a range of accomplished speakers as well as contributing to topics in workshop situations.

A range of urban restoration topics was covered including environmental law, social factors, freshwater ecology, gully restoration and Maori ecological perspectives. There was a major focus on Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, as people from outside of Hamilton had a chance to hear about the project and also to share information from their own experiences with restoration that may help the continuing success of restoration at WHNP.

Highlights from the workshop included keynote address and other contributions from Professor Rutherford Platt, Professor of Geography Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, USA, and the tour of many of Hamilton’s natural areas including Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park.

The success and professional knowledge sharing of the workshop, pending funding, could see it become a bi-annual event for CBER.


Biodiversity Forum Day on Monday 29 June 2009

Held at the Wintec Avalon Drive Campus, this Forum day invited interested parties to attend to discuss success of similar projects, receive presentations on the plans for WNHP and what has occurred at the park to day and to brainstorm in workshop sessions some ideas for the future management of the park.

Report from the Forum Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park Biodiversity Forum Day is available on PDF: download (332kb)