Our Changing World
It was a pleasure to host Claire Concannon from RNZ’s programme ‘Our Changing World’ at Waikereru, where we talked about our ‘seed island’ trial with Tane’s ...
Welcome to Waikereru - an Ark in the Bush. Waikereru is a haven for rare and endangered species of indigenous birds, plants and animals. It is reached by a winding gravel road up an inland valley, just 9 kilometres from Gisborne city on the Tai Rawhiti / East Coast of New Zealand.
From high hill ridges to the west, three streams tumble down steep valleys and across a plain, entering the Waimatā River to the east. A rare surviving strip of lowland bush (Longbush Reserve) runs beside the Waimatā River. The bush is alive with the sound of birds, including tui, bellbirds, fantails, kingfishers, tomtits, whiteheads and many kereru or native pigeons.
Waikereru is a hub for ecological innovation. Its visionary projects include:
- The Wild Lab Tiaki Taiao wilderness programme for local children
- The Tuia 1769 Seed Archive, featuring rare and endangered plants from Tairāwhiti
- The Seed Island project to speed up the restoration of biodiverse natural forest in erodible hill country.
It also helped to inspire:
- The Waimatā River restoration project
- The ‘Let the River Speak’ Marsden research programme
- ‘Recloaking Papatūanuku’, a project to restore 2 million ha of indigenous forest across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nau mai, haere mai!
Visiting Waikereru
Waikereru is on private land owned by Dame Anne and Jeremy Salmond.
Longbush Reserve (on the right side of Riverside Road) is open to the public for bushwalks only. No events or gatherings please. Access opposite 910 Riverside Road. As visitors to Longbush Reserve, please note you’re responsible for your own health and safety. Stay on the tracks, be careful around electric fences, traps and streams, and take care of our precious bush.
Waikereru Ecosanctuary (including the Welcome Shelter and 1769 Seed Archive) is home to the Wildlab Tiaki Taiao for local school children. It can be visited by the public on open days only, or by private arrangement.
The Waikereru Hills are actively managed with trapping and shooting, and are not open to the public.
Here’s a chant for Waikereru, composed by Merimeri Penfold:
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2025
2024
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