January-February 2026 project update

The new year at Te Hōnonga a Iwi has been infused with rampant spring growth across the restoration. First season native plants are showing surprising growth rates. Resident pest plants have tested our patience with their vigour. The capacity of the vine weeds to swallow new plants and their stakes whole made the place look more like a commercial hops farm than a native forest restoration.

We had a recent conversation within an Upper Waitemāta Ecology Network meeting about whether plant or animal pests would impose the greater threat to endemic species in the climate crisis era. It was a sobering chat, and more poignant when Te Hōnonga a Iwi does not use pesticides to control pest guests. When practicing regeneratively, a biodiverse future is even more dependent on changes in behaviour, new biocontrols and new knowledge generated by industry experts and universities to enable regeneration of ngāhere and the socio-cultural, financial and ecological benefits of being surrounded by healthy natural ecosystems.

Our partnerships with local schools, AUT and Massey and Auckland Universities are pivotal for long term success and all partners invest heavily at this time of year in readiness to welcome students back with authentic learning opportunities.

Elouise, our ecological guardian angel, together with the amazing Thomas and Oisin, our new working bee coordinator and supporter, had fleeting breaks that enabled us to continue trapping, complete monitoring projects, prepare the site and conclude orienting our new people in readiness to welcome students back to the restoration.

Whilst we say farewell and special thanks to Daniel, we are thrilled that Ceinwen has joined the contractor team. The team offers a wide array of skills that enable us to thrive and look forward to the year ahead.

New student youth leaders are in the process of being orientated. Their voluntary mahi brings contemporary insights, STEM, IT and art skills also high expectations for positive change. These people are hope generators, legacy creators. They enable businesses to be activated, strategic thinking, mentorship, working bees to flow smoothly, chickens and traps to be cared for. Student leadership grows skills, knowledge and three quarters of our socio-ecological and financial outcomes. Special thanks to Miriam, a global studies in sustainable development student, for offering 20 voluntary hours a week to enable us to deliver greater volumes of working bees across the year.

Adult volunteers, especially Matt W, Sheryl, and Sam have made the most of a quieter front of house to develop policy suites, analyse and operationalise new informatics processes that tighten safety procedures and enable new reporting outcomes for KPIs.

The quieter time has also resulted in our young people using their academic connections to build capstone offerings for undergraduate design and environmental science students to increase meaningful placement opportunities and attract, and hopefully retain. The leveraging of a new pathway for volunteers who offer immense value to regenerating ngāgere, decarbonising and developing social cohesion across the catchment enables growth in the ngāhere and prepares us to scale.

We are almost an entirely voluntary small business-led restoration project, and we thank our people for their hard work and united vision for a future that includes regenerated ngāhere in the urban environment.

Download the full report for January-February 2026.