Wellington/Kapiti conservation groups
Introduction
Get involved with conservation groups working with DOC in Wellington/Kapiti.Listed below are some volunteer-based groups that you can get involved with. You'll learn new skills, meet like-minded people, contribute to conservation, and increase your connection to your local community and natural spaces.
For more conservation volunteer opportunities volunteer for a DOC project.
Forest & Bird Wellington branch
Aim: To protect and restore natural ecosystems and native flora and fauna of te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Runs projects with volunteering opportunities across Wellington, alongside other branches in Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Kapiti-Mana.
Forest & Bird Wellington branch
Friends of Mana Island
Aim: To promote and enhance the scientific reserve on Mana Island, and to provide financial, material and physical support for the projects approved by DOC.
Friends of Mana Island website
Friends of the Otaki River
Aim: Monitors the implementation and maintenance of the Otaki Flood Plain Management Plan. They are also very involved in the environmental enhancement of the Otaki River with plantings of native grasses, flaxes and trees.
Friends of Queen Elizabeth Park
Aim: Oversees the wellbeing of Queen Elizabeth Park near Paekakariki, its walkways and green spaces. All community help is welcome.
Friends of the Waikanae River
Aim: Plants and maintains the Waikanae Riverbank from SH1 to the sea. They also have a nursery where they grow seedlings until they are ready for planting. They need help with maintenance to free plants of weeds and hold regular working bees.
Keep Otaki Beautiful
Aim: Concerned with Otaki environment, its specific project is the development of the Pareomatangi Reserve. The group meets regularly on Tuesday mornings at the reserve.
Contact: Barrie Bayston. Ph: +64 6 354 8887 or Lloyd Chapman +64 6 364-6193 Email: trinity.farm@xtra.co.nz
Mainland Island Restoration Operation
Aim: Works in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council to restore the forest and lakes ecosystem of the East Harbour.
Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park Supporters / KATCH 22
Aim: To create a world class mountain bike park in a restored native forest in Karori. Always welcome new volunteers regardless of their level of experience or interests: pest plant and pest animal control, restoration planting and care, track building and maintenance, etc. Offer a friendly and supportive network no matter what level of involvement you’re after, and you don’t have to be a mountain biker.
Matiu Somes Charitable Trust / Friends of Matiu
Aim: Helps to protect, nurture and enhance Matiu/Somes Island by raising funds for projects which increase biodiversity and enhance visitors' enjoyment of the island. Encouraging community support and involvement in special projects and hands-on work.
Ngā Uruora - Kāpiti Project
Aim: To create a continuous ribbon of bird-safe native forest from Porirua through to Waikanae. Ngā Uruora has worked on the the Paekākāriki - Pukerua Bay Escarpment. Te Araroa Trail runs through the area and hundreds of people walk through each week. An MOU with DOC has been signed for a lizard protection trial. It's one of the Welllington region's oldest community conservation groups.
Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust
Aim: Works in partnership with the local community and tangata whenua - with support from DOC, local bodies and interested groups - to protect and restore the unique flora and fauna of the Rimutaka Forest Park near Wellington.
Waikanae Estuary Care Group
Aim: Restores and preserves the native flora and fauna of the Waikanae Estuary area. A planting plan is being put into actions under the guidance of DOC and the local council. The group has regular working bees in the shade house as well as planting and releasing.
Location: Waikanae
Opportunities: Looking for long-term volunteers who want to do specific conservation roles, especially citizen science roles.
Contact: secretary@waikanaeestuary.org
Waitohu Stream Care
Aim: Cares for Otaki's Waitohu Stream and associated wetland and dunes, home to abundant wildlife, native birds, plants and fish. It grows its own plants form locally sourced seed at its nursery and plants out more than 1,000 plants per year. The group also does a monthly bird count. Working bees are every Monday 10:00 am – 12 noon, starting at its Moana St nursery.
Waitohu Stream Care on Weedbusters website
Whareroa Guardians Community Trust
Aim: Restoration goals and projects which enhance visitors' enjoyment of Whareroa Farm, a coastal setting near Paekakariki and Queen Elizabeth Park near MacKays Crossing SH1. The trust encourages community support and involvement in hands-on work.
Whareroa Guardians website and Whareroa Guardians Facebook page
Email: whareroa.guardians@gmail.com
Zealandia (Karori Sanctuary Trust)
Aim: The trust has an extraordinary 500-year vision - to restore a 225 ha area of forest and wetland just 2 km from the Beehive in Wellington city as closely as possible to the way it was before humans arrived.
Location: Karori, Wellington
Opportunities: This trust prefers fit volunteers who can make a long-term commitment of at least six months. As of August 2023, they have 500 working volunteers and a wait list of 20 they are waiting to fit to roles/skills.
Contact: volunteer@visitzealandia.com to find out what volunteer teams are recruiting.