Friends of Maara Roa

Belmont Regional Park

Where can you find the group?


	Visitors to the long garden

The Cannons Creekvalley in Belmont Regional Parkis home to two little lakes and a tiny stream which has carved out a wide valley down from the tops. Follow the link to see an aerial photo of the park.

Once, this valley was full of trees and birdsong. Hidden here, there still are some fine native New Zealand trees - tawa, kohekohe, pukatea, kahikatea, white rata and nikau palms, with many tree ferns. Halfway from the heights of Cannons Head (390 m) there is a deep gorge which was cut through a ridge by the stream.

The story is told that in former times a Maori woman, name unknown, tended a garden on a long strip of land somewhere in the northern side of this valley. She grew fruit and vegetables there and shared them generously with Maori and Pakeha alike.

So well-known did she become for her hospitality, that travellers called her home "Maara Roa - The Long Garden”. The nearby Marae has honoured her by naming the wharenui Ukaipo Hiato - the gathering place of the mother who provides for all the people. The Friends of "Nga Hoa o Maara Roa" intend to recreate a forest "garden" here, whose pleasures can be similarly shared by all in years to come.

The community group are based mainly in the Porirua/ Tawa area, and are always happy to welcome new volunteers.

Contact Sylvia, the volunteer co-ordinator at 'Friends of Maara Roa, PO Box 53029, Porirua City' on 04 2374760, or at sylvan@actrix.co.nz

Greater Wellington contact Ross Jackson.

What has the group done?

In early settler times, virgin forest here was milled and burnt, and farming was attempted. But the stripped soil was poor; farms failed, and land reverted to the Crown. Now the valley has been retired from farming; but gorse soon found the old pastures, possumstook over bush and grassy clearings, while rats, stoats and feral cats took over the birds.Then fire in the gorse became the biggest threat, with severe burns in 1981, 1997 and 2003, killing mature trees.

The group has identified the fragile environment and has developed some objectives and aims for the care of this area.

Objectives

To enhance and restore the native forest
To guard and develop it for public ownership and enjoyment
To cooperate with city and regional councils and other bodies
To provide a venue for educational activities
To protect all its indigenous flora and fauna.

Aims

Grow native seedlings
Plant and look after new native trees
Protect existing bush
Improve freshwater wetland
Control pest animals and weeds
Reinstate the big native trees
Follow biodiversity principles
Open new walking tracks
Plan for the future reserve.

The group also has political and long term objectives. These include:

The whole valley in public ownership
Year round access for walks in the bush
Mitigation of motorway impacts
Future bush corridor across the hills to Petone.

To find out more, contact the Friends, or visit The Friends of Maara Roa website.

Current Activities

The group is currently weeding and releasing plants. They always welcome new volunteers.For more information visit the friends' website.

The group is also asking for help with forest monitoring, surveys, seed collection, growing seedlings, fundraising and sponsorship, planning, lobbying and networking.