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Friends of Owhiro Stream

Brooklyn

The restoration site is along Owhiro Stream, alongside Ohiro Road and Happy Valley Road in Brooklyn. Check out an aerial photo of the area.

Friends of Owhiro Stream have been actively restoring the Owhiro Stream, Wellington’s only unpiped natural flowing stream, since 2004. The stream provides crucial habitat for native creatures such as long-fin and short-fin eel, red-fin bully, banded kokopu and koura, and the group are working towards encouraging the return of Koaro to the area.

Owhiro Stream and it’s catchment are important connecting corridors between other green spaces such as the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and the town belt. By planting the Owhiro Stream’s riparian strip with native trees the group hopes to ensure these corridors continue to encourage the presence of New Zealand birds such as Tui, Kingfisher and Morepork.

Friends of Owhiro Stream focus their efforts on the stream’s upper reaches, working mostly north of the Southern Landfill road.

At these sites the group has:

  • Removed blackberry, pest plants, and problem trees;
  • Planted several thousand native plants, from small streamside rushes, to kowhai and manuka;
  • Involved schools, community and business groups; and
  • Improved the habitat of the stream for native insects and fish.

Work underway on the stream

The group is busy throughout the year growing plants in their shadehouse and carrying out working bees at the stream. During the planting season (June to August) there are regular planting days which anyone can attend. New members are always welcome, as are corporate groups (such as businesses, government departments, or community groups) that want to give a half or full day back to the community, and have a great experience at the same time.

You can contact the group on the numbers below to volunteer or find out when work is next planned.

Working bee and planting calendar

Working bee - Saturday, May 14th - 10am - 12:20pm: Preparation for this winters planting.

Site: Bagel Factory Site, 323 Happy Valley Road. Families most welcome.

Planting day - Saturday, June 11th - 10am - 12:20pm:

Site: Opposite 369 Ohiro Road - watch out for moving traffic. This site is not suitable for children.

Planting day - Saturday, July 9th - 10am - 3pm: Planting and new track generation. (Postponement date: Saturday 16th July - 10am-3pm)

Site: Bagel Factory Site, 323 Happy Valley Road. Families most welcome. BBQ lunch at 12:30pm.

Planting day - Saturday, August 13th - 10am - 12:20pm: Planting and more track work.

Site: Bagel Factory Site, 323 Happy Valley Road. Families most welcome.

Working bee - Saturday, September 10th - 10am - 12:20pm:

Site: To be decided.

Contact information

The group is led by Marting Payne, ph: (04) 389 8995

For more information about this group, check out their website www.owhirostream.org.nz or email info@owhirostream.org.nz

 

Greater Wellington contact

Tessa Roberts, ph: 04 830 4029, Tessa.Roberts@gw.govt.nz

 

Demonstrating planting at the children's planting day

 

 

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