Securing one of the city’s last remaining tracts of old-growth native forest
We’ve made it!! Ka rawe koutou!! Thanks to your amazing generosity we now have donations or pledges for all the money we need to complete the purchase of the old-growth forest in South Mākara.
A massive thanks to everyone who contributed, shared our posts and talked to their friends and family about this opportunity. Whether you gave $2, $20, $100, $500, $1,000 or more, you’ve all made a lasting contribution to securing this very special land for the future. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are humbled, awed and absolutely blown away by your support and enthusiasm. Thank you again everyone.
What’s next? Now that the funding is secure, we’re finalising all the paperwork with Ngahuru Charitable Trust and the vendor. A survey and council approvals are needed so it will take some months until we have everything organised and become the legal owners.
We’ll keep you posted on progress here and on our webpage. And further down the track, we will look to organise an open day or some tours. We can’t wait to show you around!
About the South Mākara project
This project offers a unique opportunity to combine environmental restoration, cultural partnership and intergenerational impact through targeted investment in a high-value conservation asset.
The 71 hectare property represents one of the few remaining tracts of old-growth native forest in the western Wellington hills, providing critical habitat for indigenous flora and fauna. Its protection will contribute to regional biodiversity restoration, climate resilience, and community wellbeing. However, the land has not been well managed and is showing signs of ecological collapse.
We intend to acquire the property together with Ngahuru Charitable Trust (NCT) through a jointly owned charitable company we will establish together. NCT is a charitable organisation that was established by Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserves Trust to support social, cultural and environmental outcomes. Once acquired, the land will be managed for ecological restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and community engagement. WNHT has a proven track record managing similar long-term ecological restoration projects, including Long Gully Bush Reserve.
We intend to use a professional contractor to prepare a comprehensive management plan, setting measurable outcomes for pest control, forest health and any necessary infrastructure. Implementation will be guided by partnerships with Capital Kiwi, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and mana whenua, with a strong focus on creating training and employment pathways for rangatahi Māori.
To govern the charitable company, we will establish a balanced and transparent board structure. Shares will be held in proportion to each party’s contribution, and we will seek a combination of independent and appropriately qualified directors to ensure robust governance, accountability, ecological management, and alignment with charitable purposes.
Together, we are securing this extraordinary landscape for future generations, honouring both the natural heritage of Te Whanganui-a-Tara and the enduring connection of mana whenua to the land.
Support the management and ongoing restoration work via our Givealittle page
Email us for more information: wellington.natural.heritage @gmail.com