News

Seminars are done - guided walks are still on the menu

Our 2025 series was as informative and popular as ever. Many new faces were welcomed among Trust regulars and they were treated to fascinating insights from our guest entomologists, botanists, biologists and conservation research scientists.

Several Guided Walks are yet to run. These include the Heritage of Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush (April 13), an introduction to Wellington’s most common native plants, with Te Papa Botany Curator Leon Perrie (May 18), and ‘Otari Essentials’ – an introduction to why so many of New Zealand’s native plants are cared for at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush (May 25). You can book on Eventfinda.co.nz. Trust members are free – for others it’s just $6. Sorry, but Geoff Ridley’s ever-popular walks looking at the Fungi Kingdom of Ōtari are fully booked.

Posted: 7 April 2025

Guided Walks and Global City Nature Challenge

Flies, cicadas, pūriri moths in a putaputaweta, moa, miro, and plants that killed elephants! Our autumn guided walks and seminars have only just begun and already we’re learning so much about the New Zealand natural ecology that is so well represented at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush. There’s more to come. Why do entomologists study native flies, how do they know where to find them and would we have nearly so many flowers without these tiny pollinators? Join Te Papa’s Julia Kaspar to uncover the fascinating secrets of flies and the spiders who love them (March 30).

There could be a bit of stabbing going on the following week, when Dr Carol West talks about the plants that can cut, stab or poison to defend themselves (April 6).

We’ve also transferred one of our Sunday guided walks (April 27) to enable participation in this year’s City Nature Challenge, when Wellington vies with cities worldwide to list the most native species on iNaturalist in one weekend. Join entomologist Will Brockelsby on a night time exploration to find the creatures who come out in the dark (April 25, 5pm). For more details check the Visiting Ōtari page.

Posted: 17 March 2025

Autumn Guided Walks and March Seminar Series

Get your walking shoes ready, we’ve finalised our Autumn Guided Walks programme. From fungi to flies and spiders to heritage to plants, of course, there’ll be something to interest everyone. Remember these walks are guided by experts in their fields. This year we have added two ‘Ōtari Essentials’ tours. We’ve heard from many in the community who love visiting Ōtari but don’t know a lot about its story - why Ōtari is a six star garden of international significance, why some of New Zealand’s rarest native plants are cared for here, where they are in the garden, and why we have some of Wellington’s oldest native trees. So here’s your chance to find out more.

We’ve also finalised the Trust’s annual March Seminar Series - again, hear from experts in their fields.

For details of our Guided Walks and Seminar Series, dates and booking details, click here: https://www.owbt.nz/visiting/

All walks are free for Trust members. You’re welcome to join us here: https://www.owbt.nz/membership-donations/

Posted: 12 February 2025