Sister Organisations

Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is a Wanaka community-based native plant nursery that specialises in propagating plants of local origin (Upper Clutha region) and uses these plants for localised native habitat restoration. Our work benefits the community at large as we engage people to care for their land and work together in support of native habitat restoration. Volunteers retain knowledge about propagation techniques and care of native plants. Our work also involves local community groups, schools, councils, organisations, businesses, as well as individuals, and promotes the importance of native flora and fauna to people of all ages. This is especially important for the younger generations who are exposed to our habitat restoration efforts as they are the ones to continue our legacy for conservation. Loss of habitat through fires, farming and weeds has made it difficult for the survival of our native species, so our work benefits native biodiversity. Native birds, animals and threatened native species flourish from habitat restoration.

Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is  not-for-profit charitable organisation registered with the NZ Charities, #CC23553.

Since humans first set foot on New Zealand, our native forests have reduced by 70% while our native bird species have been reduced by 30%. The Kowhai rich dry woodlands that used to be prolific in the Wakatipu Basin are one of the most threatened ecosystems in New Zealand, and also one of the least protected.  The Wakatipu Reforestation Trust is the brainchild of Neill and Barb Simpson, whose hard work over the past 15 years on Pigeon and Pig Islands has seen the once bare and weedy islands become a haven for native birds thanks to hundreds of volunteers. Inspired by this success, Neill and Barb recruited support from several funding agencies, and in 2013 created the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust.

This trust was formed from the Clyde Railhead Community Nursery which was an initiative of Making a Difference for Central Otago (MAD4CO), the Sustainable Living Programme of the Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme (COREAP).

The name is Te Reo for Leaning Rock – its literal meaning is “first to greet the dawn”. The nursery originally operated in a small part of the Department of Conservation (DoC) Nursery at Clyde. In 2015, DoC made the entire nursery available to MAD4CO and in 2016 the Community Nursery started planning in earnest.