Friends of Owhiro Stream
Brooklyn
The restoration site is along Owhiro Stream, alongside Ohiro Road, Brooklyn. Check out an aerial photo of the area. The group also has a shade house at the Brooklyn Resource Centre, 36 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn.
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 this site 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
There are working bees held throughout the year. 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.
Contact information
The group is led by Paul Blashke, ph: (04) 389 8545
Greater Wellington contact
Callum Brookes, ph: (04) 801 1060, Callum.Brookes@gw.govt.nz
Demonstrating planting at the children's planting day