Okiwi Community Group
WeLCOME TO THE
OKIWI COMMUNITY ECOLOGY PROJECT
Okiwi Community is nestled in a valley at the northern end of Aotea/Great Barrier. To the east we are borded by Whangapoua spit and estuary and on all other sides by DOC administered bush clad hills, or farmland merging to the bush clad hills.
Our project area incorporates approximately 50 ha and 33 properties (15 with permanent residents) and includes a church, community room, honey processing facility, environmental contracting company, market gardens and nursery, and at its centre is Te Kura O Okiwi (primary school) and the Auckland Council ‘Okiwi Park’. Two streams flow through the project area to the Whangapoua estuary.
The staff and students of Te Kura O Okiwi, along with Okiwi Park play a significant role in the project and are a source of inspiration and motivation.
Our taonga include Kaka, Kakariki and Kereru (recently a flock of 16 was counted flying over Okiwi). Pateke live on the streams and Okiwi Reserve, bittern are occasionally seen flying over and live in the estuary. Many other more common species also live within Okiwi.
OUR OBJECTIVES ARE:
Protection and enhancement of biodiversity values in Okiwi
Securing and improving the quality of life for residents through reduced pest impact
Supporting existing initiatives and raising awareness of biodiversity values, their threats, and tools to manage
Creating an Aotea ‘Oasis’ for biodiversity
Supporting the ‘Pest Free New Zealand Vision’.
THE OUTCOMES THE PROJECT IS WORKING TOWARDS:
Protected and enhanced biodiversity
Cohesion between existing initiatives (school, Waterhouses, private)
A point of contact for outside agencies working with Okiwi community
Increased awareness and understanding of biodiversity values
Increased awareness and understanding about pest issues and impact options
Data to inform decisions about future projects, including the NZ Pest Free 2050 Vision
An ‘Oasis’- part of the Oases of Aotea described in the Great Barrier Island Ecology Vision
Okiwi Community Biodiversity project showing location of rat traps