What is the history of conservation in Wellington?

Possum management begun in 1993 has played a significant role in increasing Wellington’s native bird numbers. Photo: Greater Wellington Regional Council

Typical of cities the world over, Wellington has some pretty gloomy biodiversity statistics — for example:

• less than 5% remains of the podocarp-broadleaved forest which once was the dominant land cover within the Wellington City area
• about 2% of original sand dunes remain
• about 1% of wetlands are left today.

Despite this, or perhaps because of it,Wellington has a strong history of conservation.

In summarising some of the major factors and initiatives that have shaped Wellington’s conservation history, my focus is on the period of time since European settlement, but it’s important to acknowledge that iwi have an important story to tell of kaitiakitanga, or environmental guardianship.

Parks and reserves have undoubtedly formed the shape of our city. Many of our open spaces are prominent landscape features of the city, forming a huge part of Wellington’s character and identity.

The establishment of the Wellington Town Belt could be argued as an early act of conservation. The original land was set aside in 1839 under the instruction of the Secretary of the New Zealand Company, John Ward. This was part of the design approach to towns and cities of that time, to provide a green and open space for the pleasure and health of citizens. As is pointed out in the new Town Belt Management Plan, contemporary ideas on the value of natural environments fit with this concept, and the end result is that Wellington has a large, predominantly natural, open-space environment which provides for both sport facilities as well as informal recreation and, increasingly, conservation.

The Outer Town Belt, a concept that emerged around 1978, added to Wellington’s conservation story. Its objectives included the protection of bush-clad hillsides, soils, wildlife and open space, the preservation of land for public recreation, and protection of the natural features of the landscape as a scenic and recreation amenity. Today it’s managed as the Outer Green Belt area under its own management plan.

Otari-Wilton’s Bush is another important conservation story for Wellington. Otari Scenic Reserve was gazetted in 1906, and the adjoining ‘virgin’ forest long protected by Job Wilton was added to the reserve in 1925. Leonard Cockayne, Director of the reserve from 1926–1946, formed the Otari Open-Air Native Plant Museum and led the way in ecology — not just in New Zealand, but the world. He advocated for the conservation of ‘primeval New Zealand’, the use of native plants in horticulture, and teaching about the ecological grouping of native vegetation. He focused on the restoration of the forest and introduced possum control at Otari in 1928.

Community action is also a strong characteristic of Wellington’s conservation efforts.

While I’m sure there was plenty of amazing community work under way beforehand, the early 1990s marked a major watershed. At this time, the Wellington branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society produced Natural Wellington: a plan to preserve and enhance the natural treasures of Wellington City. Its aims were twofold:

(1) the preservation and improvement of natural ecosystems and the native plant and animal species of Wellington City, and

(2) to bring native birds back to Wellington.

The document outlined important ecosystems and habitats, threats to these areas and an action plan. This was hugely informative, and the significant ecological sites identified in the plan informed Department of Conservation, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and City Council priorities for protection and conservation management.

And it was, of course, the seed of the idea which resulted in the creation of Zealandia. In 1995 the Karori Sanctuary Trust was established and work began on this world-leading conservation project.

Then in 2008 Taputeranga Marine Reserve was established — like Zealandia, in close proximity to the city centre. The reserve is managed by Department of Conservation, but was the outcome of many years of advocacy and hard work by volunteers.

Pest control is also a unique characteristic of Wellington’s conservation management. Some years ago I was in charge of animal pest management for the city, and I did wonder whether there were many cities in the world where pest animals were managed to such a degree — including by hunting, which for some (such as pigs and goats) is the preferred and only method.

Weed management is also prioritised and carried out across the city. A comprehensive plan was developed in 2004, based on the Department of Conservation’s weed control model, which is still being implemented today.

One of the most successful pest management projects for Wellington is the urban possum control programme. This major programme, working across public and private land throughout the city suburbs began in 1993 and continues to this day — a partnership between Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and many volunteers. An estimate on possum numbers from Landcare Research in 2009 suggests that on a regional basis, Wellington has had the greatest percentage reduction in the number of possums (87%) compared with what numbers would be if there was no control. Without a doubt the possum management (which also assists with managing rats) has played a massive role in increasing our native bird numbers.

Hand-in-hand with this is significant restoration planting. It’s unclear exactly when this started, but for the last 10 years, around 70,000 plants grown in the Council’s Berhampore Nursery have been planted by volunteers and the Council into the city’s natural areas and open spaces. Other organisations contribute to this, including the Forest & Bird Nursery. For more information, check out the Two Million Trees page.

I hope these examples illustrate that conservation in Wellington isn’t new, but also that it is constantly growing and evolving. I think our history also demonstrates that leadership — both by the community and by national and local government — has created a platform to protect and enhance Wellington’s nature. And that we now celebrate this nature as a significant contributor to the city’s excellent quality of life and economic development.

Amber Bill, Wellington City Council