Our goal is to connect a continuous corridor of native trees along the Oratia stream from its source to the sea for the first time in 100 years.
Just two hundred metres of native plants will connect 15 km of continous forest in the Waitākere Ranges with 11 km of Auckland Council’s Twin Stream riparian planting. Wildlife corridors facilitate the movement of endemic freshwater and bird species, and are a critical strategy for restoring urban biodiversity.
This land is part of the Little Kaurimu Farm, owned by the Oosterman and Beckers family. The land is split into two areas by the Oratia stream, the south and north banks.
The south block
On the south side of the stream, is 200m wide section of Little Kaurimu Farm. Until mid-2024, this area was covered by Auckland’s then largest flat bamboo grove, comprising a giant bamboo variety and a smaller species.
In August 2024, this land was cleared to make way for native planting in 2025.
Weed and pest control, replacement planting and stock-proof fencing will be installed and managed by a contractor, free of charge, as a part of a larger planting project at Little Kaurimu Farm.
The north block
On the north side of Oratia stream is a 30-metre-wide landlocked old plum block. It is surrounded by Artisan Organics, who have voluntarily planted their side of the stream.
In early 2024, the Landcare Trust, Westpac and the Oratia Residents and Ratepayers covered the cost for stock proof fencing. In August 2024, we held two planting days, one with Westpac’s executive team and the other with Oratia Wildlife Project members. The land was prepared by local company NZ Enviro and across the two planting days we established 400 native seedlings.
We will need to monitor erosion, manage weeds, pests and any replacement planting for five years until the natives have established themselves.
See more photos from our official photographer Lyall Reynolds, here.
Get involved
Join a community weeding and planting days on our facebook group. Don’t want to wait or want to visit the site? Get in touch.