Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao
  • About us
    • Our vision
    • Our plan
    • Our partners and supporters
  • Contact
  • Support us
  • Get involved
    • Join a group
    • Remove predators
    • Remove weeds
    • Plant natives
    • Make your garden native-friendly
    • Education
    • Become a trustee
    • Other ways you can help
  • Biodiversity
    • Birds
    • Bats
    • Skinks and geckos
    • Butterflies and moths
    • Invertebrates
    • Taiao / Landscapes
  • Resources
    • Maps of trapping activity in our area
    • How to trap
    • The Workshop
    • Tool library
    • Promotional resources
    • Pest monitoring
    • Being a good citizen
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Businesses
    • Health & Safety
    • Flood Resilience
    • Policies
  • News
  • Events
  1. Home
  2. Events

Events

April 2023

SMTWTFS
1
  • 2:00 pm Public talk about the Maungawhau Ecological Halo and Epsom’s critically endangered lava rock forest.
2
  • 10:00 am Mayor’s Million Trees Restoration
3
4
  • 9:30 am Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
  • 9:30 am Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area
12
13
  • 6:30 pm Urban Ark Talk - The Insect Advocate
14
15
16
17
18
  • 9:30 am Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
  • 9:30 am Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area
  • 6:30 pm All-groups meeting 2023 April
26
27
  • 7:30 pm Restoring Auckland’s Streams and Wetlands
28
29
30

Latest news

Seeking a new Trust Chair and trustee

Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao is looking for a new Chair of the Trust Board and a new Trustee. For full position desciptions see here. Read more

April 2023

Prev Month Next Month

Public talk about the Maungawhau Ecological Halo and Epsom’s critically endangered lava rock forest.

Saturday 1 April 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Come to hear Phil Simpson talk about the Maungawhau Ecological Halo, a buffer zone around Mt Eden to protect and enhance the diversity of native plants and animals in the area.

The project supports residents, business owners and schools to control predators such as rats and possums, suppress invasive weeds and encourage ‘bird friendly’ native shrubs and trees to grow on their private properties.


The Maungawhau Ecological Halo encompasses critically endangered lava rock forest centred on Withiel Thomas reserve, as well as private residences nearby. This pūriri-dominant forest is one of the last few remnants of a unique ecosystem that was once common across Tāmaki Makaurau’s lava field, but is now limited to a few small surviving pockets in Epsom. You will learn about the history and ecology of the forest and hear about the work Phil is doing to raise awareness about the vulnerable status of this fragile habitat.


Attendees who live within the halo area and want to get involved will receive a free rat trap inside a wooden safety box (to keep kids and pets safe from harm) and free tuition on how to use the trap safely and effectively.

This event is part of Ecofest 2023

Venue: Epsom Community Library - 195 Manukau Road.

Group: Maungawhau Ecological Halo

Mayor’s Million Trees Restoration

Sunday 2 April 2023, 10:00am - 12:00pm

In 2022 we were gifted plants from the Council’s ‘Mayor’s Million Trees’ programme for our restoration project. We planted 600 of them in Harbutt Reserve. However, there is lots of work to be done to ensure they survive and thrive.

Join us for a plant releasing / weeding and mulching session.

Follow the signs / flags from the reserve entrance, south-west along the shared path to the end of the mown area.

For more information contact Wendy - 027 232 6454.

Group: Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area

Tuesday 4 April 2023, 9:30am - 12:30pm

Things are moving at a pace on this exciting project, thanks to the great work being done by Sandra and her volunteers. If you have some spare time we would love for you to join us at this special area on the ‘Oakley Inlet’, as we work to restore it.

Meet at the Waterview Park carpark, Waterbank Crescent

For more information contact Sandra 021 166 7647

Group: Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 9:30am - 12:30pm

Things are moving at a pace on this exciting project, thanks to the great work being done by Sandra and her volunteers. If you have some spare time we would love for you to join us at this special area on the ‘Oakley Inlet’, as we work to restore it.

Meet at the Waterview Park carpark, Waterbank Crescent

For more information contact Sandra 021 166 7647

Group: Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

Urban Ark Talk - The Insect Advocate

Thursday 13 April 2023, 6:30pm - 7:30pm


Join Auckland Zoo’s insect afficionado Ben Goodwin for an introductory talk about the diverse groups of crawling critters which are represented in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Ben devotes his spare time to exploring Auckland’s less-visited corners looking for rarely-seen species and If you’ve heard him talk before, you’ll know that he can enthuse and amuse an audience about even the most obscure moth or moss. If you haven’t, come along to hear him highlight a scattering of species which exemplify our unique native fauna.

For a taste of what makes Ben tick, check out this Radio New Zealand interview about his work breeding over four thousand threatened giant wētāpunga and introducing them to islands in the Hauraki gulf.

Spaces are limited, so please book here for your Free ticket here.

Venue: Auckland Zoo, Grasslands Room - look for the Urban Ark flag to the left of the main zoo entrance.

Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area

Tuesday 18 April 2023, 9:30am - 12:30pm

Things are moving at a pace on this exciting project, thanks to the great work being done by Sandra and her volunteers. If you have some spare time we would love for you to join us at this special area on the ‘Oakley Inlet’, as we work to restore it.

Meet at the Waterview Park carpark, Waterbank Crescent

For more information contact Sandra 021 166 7647

Group: Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

Tuesday Working Bees - Waterview Heritage Area

Tuesday 25 April 2023, 9:30am - 12:30pm

Things are moving at a pace on this exciting project, thanks to the great work being done by Sandra and her volunteers. If you have some spare time we would love for you to join us at this special area on the ‘Oakley Inlet’, as we work to restore it.

Meet at the Waterview Park carpark, Waterbank Crescent

For more information contact Sandra 021 166 7647

Group: Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

All-groups meeting 2023 April

Tuesday 25 April 2023, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Join us for our April all-groups meeting. Yes, it is on ANZAC Day.

Rather than having a guest speaker we are going for a casual open discussion. If you’ve got successes to share or issues you’d like advice on, this is your opportunity.

We’ll also have a chance to get to know new people who are involved in the organising existing groups:

  • Kaaren Hiyama – Predator Free Grey Lynn
  • Lisa Busch – Predator Free Herne Bay Ponsonby
  • Jesse Dyer – Pest Free Sandringham

When Tuesday 25 April 6.30–8.30pm

Where Gribblehirst Hub, 5 Cabbage Tree Swamp Drive, Sandringham

Who Group leadership. Please let us know if more than 3 are coming from your group.

Refreshments There will be snacks

Restoring Auckland’s Streams and Wetlands

Thursday 27 April 2023, 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Back in December last year Urban Ark asked Boffa Miskell’s Mark Lewis if he would deliver a public presentation. We were after a landscape architect’s perspective on stream restoration, daylighting and flood mitigation. Little did we foresee the floods which were just around the corner!

Mark was the design lead for the Te Auaunga: Walmsley and Underwood Reserves project, which minimises flooding around 200 homes and established an 8 hectare riverside park along two kilometres of Oakley Creek in Mt Roskill. Seven tributaries were daylighted and shared pathways created along with an outdoor classroom and Te Māra Hūpara playground.

Mark will be speaking on the effect of this and other green infrastructure projects to both mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

There should be plenty of time for discussion after Mark’s presentation.

When Thursday 27 April 7.30pm to 9pm

Where Grasslands Room, Auckland Zoo, 99 Motions Rd. Look for the Urban Ark flag beside the main entrance

Bookings Numbers for this talk are limited to 100. Book here for your FREE ticket.

Groups: STEPS, Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Subscribe to our newsletter

© Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao 2026

Photo credits: Bartek Wyptch (grey warbler)

Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao logo: Glenn Jones

Website by RS

  • Get involved
    • Join a group
      • Wai-a-te-Ao – F&B Bullock Track Restoration Project
      • Friends of Maungawhau
      • Ngā Ringa o Te Auaunga Friends of Oakley Creek
      • Jaggers Bush Restoration Group
      • Kingsland Eco-neighbourhood
      • Weona Lemington Coastal Forest Restoration Group
      • Lower Waitītko groups
      • Maungawhau Ecological Halo
      • Friends of Te Tātua a Riukiuta (Big King)
      • Oakley Loop Group
      • Pest Free Gladstone
      • Pest Free Balmoral
      • Pest Free Mt Eden
      • Pest Free Ōwairaka
      • Pest Free Pt Chevalier
      • Pest Free Sandringham
      • Pest Free Waterview
      • Predator Free Grey Lynn
      • Predator Free Herne Bay-Ponsonby
      • Predator Free Morningside / Western Springs
      • Manu Tīoriori I Te Uru / Western Songbird Project
      • Predator Free Westmere / Te Rehu Konihi Kore
      • STEPS
      • Wellpark Streamers
      • Conservation Volunteeers NZ
      • Chamberlain Conservation Group
      • Bluegreens Meola Creek Restoration Project
      • Te Wai Ōrea
      • Tītīkōpuke Habitat Initiative
      • Friends of Wairaki Stream
      • Friends of Waikowhai Park
    • Remove predators
      • Rats
      • Possums
      • Stoats
      • Hedgehogs
      • Wasps
    • Remove weeds
    • Plant natives
    • Make your garden native-friendly
    • Education
      • Te Wai Ōrea Education Programme
      • Schools Engagement Programme
    • Become a trustee
    • Other ways you can help
  • Biodiversity
    • Birds
      • Kākā
      • Kākāriki
      • Kererū
      • Korimako / Bellbird
      • Riroriro / Grey Warbler
      • Tōrea / South Island Pied Oystercatcher
      • Ruru / Morepork
      • Tūī
      • White-faced heron
      • Rogues gallery
    • Bats
    • Skinks and geckos
    • Butterflies and moths
    • Invertebrates
    • Taiao / Landscapes
      • Maunga / volcanoes
      • Awa / streams
        • Te Auaunga / Oakley Creek
      • Ngāhere / forests
        • Lava Rock Forests
  • Resources
    • Maps of trapping activity in our area
    • How to trap
      • Trapping rats
        • Advanced rat trapping tips
        • Avoiding catching birds
      • Trapping possums
      • Trapping stoats
      • ANFA pulsing
      • Recording your trapping activity
    • The Workshop
      • Making trap tunnels
      • Rat-proof your compost
      • Build a wētā hotel
      • Nest boxes for ruru
    • Tool library
    • Promotional resources
    • Pest monitoring
      • Chew cards
      • Wax tags
      • Tracking tunnels
    • Being a good citizen
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Businesses
    • Health & Safety
    • Flood Resilience
    • Policies
  • News
  • Events
  • About us
    • Our vision
    • Our plan
    • Our partners and supporters
  • Contact
  • Support us