Events: Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao

We’re excited to announce that we’ve been invited to run a guided walk within the grounds of Government House Auckland in Epsom next month. The property contains patches of a ‘critically endangered’ lava rock forest ecosystem which is part of a Significant Ecological Area on the Eastern flank of Mangawhau/Mt Eden. This is a rare opportunity to explore this unique habitat type in a location which is not often open to the public.

Bookings: To reserve one of 15 limited places email Enable JavaScript to view protected content. and specify Urban Art ecology tour (this is important). In your email, you will also need to provide the information listed below under ‘Security Requirements’.

Security requirements: Government House will require you to provide the following information when you register:

• First and last names
• A residential address
• A contact phone number preferably a cell number

These registrations will be passed to the NZ Police as part of Government House’s normal security protocols for tours.
You’ll need to bring a form of photo ID on the day.

Registrations will close 24 hours before the tour, or when the tour is full. Government House cannot accept same day substitutions if people are unwell on the day.

If you are unable to attend, please let Enable JavaScript to view protected content., know as early as possible.

Meeting: Registered guests will meet at the gate at the end of Savannah St, which is off Omana Rd in Epsom. We will wait at the gate and once everyone arrives, staff will check off names and we will go in together. Entry is via the Savannah Street gate only.
Parking: There is no allocated parking on Savannah street. You should find parking on surrounding roads - but please do allow time to find a park so we can start on time.
Recommended to bring: Sun hat, water bottle, sturdy footwear.

General Requirements:

• Guests are required to stay on the paths at all times.
• Please avoid discussions about government or local government matters during the course of our walk out of respect for the hosts.

Further information:

• The tour will be fully guided. People cannot explore the grounds on their own
• The gardens have areas that are in the bush and have stairs. These parts of the garden are not suitable for anyone with limited mobility or balance concerns or who needs to sit frequently.
• Please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather
• The tour is not suitable for buggies or walking chairs or walking frames.
• Occasionally Government House need to cancel tours because of health or safety reasons or security reasons. If this happens, they will let you know as soon as possible.

Group: Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao

Once again Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao will be having a stall at the Sandringham Street Festival in Sandringham Village.

We’ll be supporting our local groups:

• Pest Free Sandringham
• Pest Free Balmoral
• Pest Free Mt Eden

We’ll be next to the Womenzshed woodworking tent where they’ll be building rat tunnels. Come along for a chat, get a FREE RAT TRAP or borrow one of our loaner possum traps.

Groups: Pest Free Sandringham, Pest Free Balmoral, Pest Free Mt Eden, Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao

Join us for our November all-groups meeting.

Meet Shannon

We’d like to introduce you to our new Community Engagement Facilitator, Shannon Ritter who will be talking about her studies for her Masters in Wildlife Management, her work with Predator Free Wellington and Te Korowai o Waiheke and her volunteer work for F&B’s Places for Penguins project in Wellington. Many of you will be seeing lots more of Shannon over the coming months.

Heart of Ngahere Sanctuary Proposal

We’d also like to discuss the Heart of Ngahere Sanctuary Proposal. This is the work of Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance and Te Kawerau ā Maki. The closing date for their feedback survey is 17 November 2024. Of course you can make an individual submission or one for your group, but Urban Ark would like to make one on behalf of all central isthmus groups. Is this something you’d like to support?

Let’s protect our environment

We’d also like to spend a bit of time discussing what feedback we might give Auckland Council on their Have Your Say consultation on how we, altogether as a region, protect our natural environment and primary industries in the future from introduced plants, animals and diseases that can cause harm. Submissions are open from 25 October to 8 December 2025. We can probably skip quite quickly through points 3 and 4 below, but 1, 2 and 5 should give us plenty to get out teeth into. This is what Auckland Council has to say:

We have a current plan that guides how we protect our environment, which runs from 2020 – 2030. Since this was created though, new threats to our natural environment have emerged. Creating our new plan is going to take several years, so we need to start now to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and ready for Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland by 2030.

We’re seeking to understand your, your communities’, and more broadly, Aucklanders’ views on five key topics before we begin drafting the new plan. The topics we’re seeking feedback on at this stage are:

1. Cat management for threatened indigenous wildlife protection
2. Pest free islands and peninsulas and the regional journey towards Predator Free 2050
3. Managing exotic caulerpa seaweed and other harmful marine species
4. Reducing the spread and impact of freshwater species that cause harm including freshwater gold clam
5. Addressing the impacts of climate change on our natural environment

Aucklanders will also be welcome to let us know of anything else they think we should consider.

We will use your feedback, as well as feedback from mana whenua, stakeholders, and technical experts, to draft a proposed plan for how we protect our environment and primary industries from 2030 - 2040. When this draft plan is ready, you’ll be asked for your feedback on this too.

When Tuesday 12 November 2024 6.30–8.30pm

Where Upstairs at Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre - 990 Great North Road.

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

Getting there and parking: Cycle path and bus lanes go past the door. Park beside the Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road. Or if you have mobility issues you’re welcome to park in the recycling centre car park (one of the posts will be removed).

Refreshments: We’ll be providing some food, so please make sure you rsvp Enable JavaScript to view protected content. so we can plan catering.

Requesting supplies like traps, boxes, bait, tools etc: Please ensure you let us know what you need in advance of the meeting so we can have it prepped and ready for you.

Group: Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao