Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is a Wānaka non-profit organisation that eco-sources seeds from the Upper Clutha area, raises seedlings in our extensive nursery, and facilitates community-based native planting and habitat restoration.
We foster community engagement with native habitat restoration, through plant propagation, planting, maintenance, education and ongoing participation.
Collaboration with local community groups, schools, businesses and individuals is central to our promotion of hands-on community land care.
Get Involved
Help us rebuild local native habitats one plant at a time. Volunteers play an integral part in our efforts and we welcome anyone, of all ages and skills, who are keen to get involved and learn about plant propagation and habitat restoration. Your help can really make a difference.
Nursery sessions
Our nursery sessions run throughout the year, bringing together a community of volunteers passionate about making a difference in habitat restoration around the Upper Clutha region.
Nursery volunteer days are open to all members of the public and are held every Tuesday & Wednesday from 9am-12pm (spring/summer | October-March) and 1pm-4pm (autumn/winter | April-September).
These volunteer sessions teach propagation/cultivation techniques, leading on to planting and nurturing of the young plants on project sites and are guided by our Nursery Manager. No specific skills or experience are needed, simply drop in and join us.
Access to the nursery is through the QEII Reserve, either through the gate or over the nursery stile. See our location and directions here.
Delicious coffee from our local Venus Coffee roastery, tea and snacks are provided alongside great company and magnificent views of Lake Wānaka.
Community planting sessions
Our planting sessions take place in spring, autumn and winter, with maintenance sessions throughout the year to help look after the plants and habitat restoration areas.
These sessions are a great opportunity to see first-hand where the plants that are grown in our nursery go.
In 2024, we planted over 5,300 plants with the community!
Now is the time to look after what we have planted, as planting is only a small part of the process. If you would like to help with caring for our plants, please contact us. We are always looking for help with maintenance and watering. And the more people, the lighter the work!
Our planting season will start again in April/May 2025.
Please check our Facebook page to find out more about the next events. Alternatively, feel free to contact us to register your interest.
Maintenance sessions
We plant thousands of native plants every year and it is imperative to ensure that they thrive out in the habitat restoration areas. Many hands make light work so we encourage volunteers to help with watering and plant maintenance throughout the year.
There are watering drums set up at various planting sites, such as on the Millenium Track, Roys Bay West, Bremner Bay, and Albert Town (bottom of Gunn Road, Templeton Park on Kinnibeg Street, Kahuika), so feel free to water the plants when you’re walking or biking along these areas. Alternatively, get in touch with us if you’d like to be part of our watering roster.
Upcoming workshops
We organise free workshops thoughout the seasons. Please register by emailing us if you would like to attend.
Interwoven workshops
We are organising a series of workshops to teach how to weave harakeke plant guards. The workshops are an essential part of our ‘Interwoven’ project which involves using native harakeke (flax) to make sustainable plant guards. The project is a great opportunity for the community to connect with nature in a different way and learn a new skill.
Participants will learn how to respectfully harvest harakeke leaves, and will be taught basic weaving techniques to create a simple plant guard.
The workshops are open to everyone, but places are limited, so please register:
- 18 March, 5.30pm to 7.30pm at Te Kākano community nursery (find some directions here)
- 5 April, 12.30pm to 2pm at Grow Wānaka community gardens, 197 Outlet Road, Wānaka (near the Outlet motor camp)
- 10 April, 5pm to 7pm at Wānaka Library, 1 Bullock Creek Lane, Wānaka
Propagation workshops
Join our hands-on workshops and learn how to propagate native plants.
- Seed propagation worshop, 1 April, 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Mt Aspiring lookout car park (just before Glendhu Bay). The site offers a good variety of native species and seeds to learn from. Native seeds need different processing methods to insure good germination.
- Cutting propagation workshop, 28 April, 5pm to 7pm, at Te Kākano community nursery. Hands-on workshop where you will learn how to propagate plants from cuttings. We will get to leave with your own cutting to look after.
Please register.