Ōtari waits for council nursery decision
Is it in or is it out? 
The current small nursery has little room for hosting visiting groupsŌtari’s Landscape Development Plan has been flagged for axing from the Council’s 2024 Long-term Plan. But Council officers have recommended it stays, given it sets aside $3.1 million for much-needed staff facilities. We will learn this Thursday (21st) if Councillors agree, although there is now hope, given the latest financial advice related to insurance costs, that LTP cuts will not be necessary. Phew. For now, here’s what the Landscape Development Plan is all about, and why the Trust feels it is important. Ōtari Native Botanic Garden is home to more than half of all New Zealand’s native plant species, including some 450 of our rarest and most endangered. Our gardeners somehow manage to care for these special plants in Ōtari’s old, crammed nursery. 
All student levels visit Ōtari for conservation and botanical educationThe Landscape Development Plan aims to redevelop the nursery, propagation and laboratory areas. Improved nursery configuration, better irrigation and a humidity-controlled facility for alpine plants (increasingly important as our climate changes) are part of the plan. Better facilities for Ōtari’s conservation scientists are also included. A third, and key part of the plan is to make the nursery collections more accessible to visitors, for tourism and especially for education, thus providing opportunities for primary and secondary students, and university scholarship and masters students to learn about the incredible conservation plant care and science research happening at Ōtari. In summary, the Landscape Development Plan would ensure an outstanding visitor and education resource for Wellington, and provide our gardeners and conservation scientists with the facilities they need. The Trust is grateful to those Councillors who have so far shown support for Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush in these financially challenging times.
Posted: 17 November 2024