You can help bring

Tui

Kereru

Bellbirds

back to our suburbs

To re-establish native bush on the land known as Manawa Karioi, adjacent to the Tapu Te Ranga Marae, as habitat for native birds.
 

To establish partnership of Maori and Pakeha and apply the principle of Kaitiatanga or stewardship in the care of the land.
 

To foster community involvement, especially of children.
 
 

To be ready to develop other areas similarly and support organisations with similar or compatible aims.

On the hillside overlooking Tapu Te Ranga Marae, Island Bay, a spring of clear water was given the name Manawa Karioi - "a lovely place to linger" by Hinekiri, daughter of Tara, founder of Wellington. In Hinekiri's time the spring was surrounded by virgin bush and the song of many birds would have been music to the ears of her people as they worked in the sacred kumara gardens on the site.

In 1906 Mother Aubert built a hospital there and founded her Order, the Sisters of Compassion. She built a reservoir at the spring and once again the waters sustained the people, this time of many races and cultures.

In 1974 Bruce Stewart arrived to build a marae on the adjoining land. Although the surrounding hills were now covered in gorse and pine, there still was a special energy in the place and eventually Tapu Te Ranga Marae was established.

The native bush and the birds have gone. Every few years fires have raged through the gorse. But now we have a chance to restore the area back to something like its original beauty.

In 1990 a public meeting was held at the marae to discuss the possibility of establishing a native forest and bird reserve on the block of 20 hectares surrounding the spring, which had been acquired for the purpose from the Home of Compassion - and the Manawa Karioi Society was begun.

The proposed reserve is the vision of Bruce Stewart who, in the Maori tradition of ohaki, wishes to ensure that the land, once again returned to the forest and birds, will remain available always as a place of peace and inspiration for the people of Wellington.

44 Rhine Street
Island Bay
Wellington

• To maintain the established trees by keeping them free from weeds, gorse and broom.
• To cut access ways and clear areas for furthre planting.
• To plant more trees (in winter months).
• To care for the plants in the nursery; weeding, potting and watering

Working bees (with tools and lunch provided) are held:

• On the second Sunday of every month from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. signposted from The Parade.
• On every Wednesday from 10 am to 3:30 pm

Wellington Botanical Society
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
Maruia Society
Hillary Commission

The area is identified by the Wellington City Council as a conservation site.