Waiwhakareke nature sanctuary, Brymer Road, Rotokauri, Hamilton (2026)

Waiwhakareke is an award-winning natural heritage park and New Zealand’s largest inland restoration project. The first plant was planted in 2004 and since then over 20 hectares have been planted, largely by volunteers. The project aims to restore the native ecosystems that were once present on the landscape. This is being achieved by following natural patterns of plant arrival and basing managemen

t decisions on ecological theory and lessons learnt in the park so far. Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is a partnership between Hamilton City Council, Waikato University, Wintec, Tui 2000 Inc., local iwi and the wider community. A highlight of the park's calendar is the annual Arbor Day "Big Dig In" which sees members of all of these groups come together in their hundreds to plant thousands of native plants in one morning. The park is managed by Hamilton City Council and overseen by the Waiwhakareke Advisory Group. Regular working mornings are held by the Friends of Waiwhakareke on the last Saturday of the Month from 9am-12pm.

30/07/2026

🌿 World Ranger Day | Celebrating our Waiwhakareke Rangers 🌿

Today we're celebrating the dedicated ranger team who care for Waiwhakareke.

Through cold winter mornings, hot summer days, and everything in between, our rangers are out in the park restoring native forests and wetlands, maintaining tracks, caring for native plantings, and helping create a thriving habitat for wildlife.
Their work is often behind the scenes, but the results are all around us. Every growing forest, healthy wetland, and flourishing native species is a testament to their commitment and care.

The year ahead is an exciting one, with our predator exclusion fence nearing completion and a new chapter beginning for the park's restoration journey.

If you're visiting Waiwhakareke, be sure to say hello and thank our rangers for the incredible work they do.

14/07/2026

Community Planting Day!!
Join us and our community for a special native tree planting event at Waiwhakareke.

Together, we'll help restore local ecosystems, strengthen our connection to nature, and contribute to a greener future for Kirikiriroa. Whether you're an experienced planter or giving it a go for the first time, everyone is welcome to get involved.

• Date: 18th July
• Time: 10:30am–1:30pm
• Location: Waiwhakareke, Baverstock Road Entrance

• What to bring: Planting spade, gumboots or covered shoes, wet weather gear, and a water bottle
• Weather: Happening rain or shine (unless conditions are unsafe)
• Who can join: Everyone is welcome!

Come along, get your hands dirty, meet like-minded people, and help make a lasting difference for our local environment. 🌱

01/02/2026

🌿 2026 Wetland Inlet Planting - Celebrating World Wetlands Day 🌿

As we celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026, we’re excited to share the progress made during the first stage of restoring the Wetland Inlet, completed over six days in early December 2025.

✨ A total of 10,000 native wetland plants are now in the ground - mainly Carex secta and Carex virgata, with smaller plantings of Carex geminata and Cyperus ustulatus. Another 4,000 plants will soon be placed inside the drain itself.

Huge thanks to Forest Flora and Paul from WERT for their support and expertise. 🙌
This initial planting is essential for:
🟢 Strengthening bank stability
🟢 Creating safer habitat for native wildlife
🟢 Filtering water entering Lake Waiwhakareke
🟢 Restoring the inlet to its historic wetland condition

Wetlands play a vital role in biodiversity, climate resilience, water purification, and human wellbeing.

👉 If you’d like to learn more about why wetlands matter and how they support people and nature, you can read more here:
https://iucn.org/blog/202402/wetlands-and-human-well-being

24/11/2025

Bold and Beautiful? …Or Alien?
Have you ever come across any of these weird and wonderful flowers in our ngaahere?
These bold blooms aren’t just beautiful—they’re ingenious, designed to attract the right pollinators and keep life moving forward.
Often these berries are vibrant to encourage our native manu to gobble up and disperse the seeds when they p**p them out!
From attractive berries to hungry manu, it’s a perfect cycle of giving and growing. 🌱🐦

Address

Brymer Road, Rotokauri
Hamilton
3289

Telephone

+6478386720

Website

https://hamilton.govt.nz/parks-recreation-and-community-spaces/parks/detail/waiwhakareke-natural-heritage-park, https://

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Waiwhakareke nature sanctuary