Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao
  • About us
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  • 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
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  4. Te Wai Ōrea

Te Wai Ōrea

About us

Western Springs Lakeside Park (Te Wai Ōrea) is a much-loved green oasis in the heart of inner-west Auckland, with potential to become a thriving biodiversity hotspot. Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao is in the process of seeding a community group focused on giving the park some extra aroha.

At the founding public meeting in July 2023 we heard short presentations from:

  • Alexandra Bonham – Waitematā Local Board
  • Siân Buley – Auckland Zoo Pest Management Coordinator & Urban Ark trustee
  • Julie Robson – Community Ranger
  • Gowan Robertson – Forest & Bird Bullock Track Restoration Project
  • Chris Judd – Te Wai Ōrea Education pilot leader
  • Ben Goodwin – Biodiversity guru and zookeeper

Ben provided deep insights into several fragments of locally rare ecosystems which are holding on in the park, including a section of (degraded) gumland, a patch of remnant swampland and a fringe of open lava field containing a profusion of native ferns. Any work we do will be carefully planned to avoid disturbing these precious habitats.

The context provided by our speakers was invaluable and now we need to organise boots on the ground to get good things done. We envisage the group working closely with the community ranger and being involved with some or all of the following:

  • Weeding invasive pest plants
  • Predator trapping (rats and possums)
  • Pest monitoring
  • Biodiversity monitoring
  • Native planting

Please get in touch if you’d like to lead or volunteer for one or more of these activities.

Our area

Contact

Paul Whitfield

Phone 021 150 8284

Email Enable JavaScript to view protected content.

Website urbanark.nz

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© Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao 2025

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
      • 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
      • Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao
      • Wellpark Streamers
      • Conservation Volunteeers NZ
      • Forest & Bird Balmoral Heights
      • Chamberlain Conservation Group
      • Bluegreens Meola Creek Restoration Project
      • Te Wai Ōrea
      • Tītīkōpuke Habitat Initiative
    • 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
    • Policies
  • News
  • Events
  • About us
    • Our vision
    • Our plan
    • Our partners and supporters
  • Contact
  • Support us