Vision Kerikeri - Wairoa Stream and Waterfall Walking Track

Public Planting Day 2022 Autumn 2022 planting on the Avida esplanade	Te Wairere Waterfall Access to the falls that were 'lost' for more than 60 years was opened in April 2017.	Old swimming hole A section of track between Alderton Park and the Jim & May Brodie bridge	Making the bridge possible Doug Galbraith (Rotary), Rod Brown(Vision Kerikeri) & Michael Sidey.	Wairoa Stream A serene section of the stream just below the waterfall
Jasmine Wilderness Access around the falls was blocked by a wall of Jasmine. This was sprayed in Spring 2016 - Rod Brown inspects the results.	Track around falls With the Jasmine removed the track was constructed around the falls in early summer 2017	Waterfall area 2022 The area previously in Jasmine has been replanted in native species a vast contrast to 2016.	Friends of Wairoa Stream This small group of volunteers have worked on track construction, weed spraying & planting. Working Bees are held on the first and third Monday of each month (and often in between) - here they are building the track above the waterfall	Mulch Spreading Mulch from the felled Eucalyptus is spread. It is invaluable for helping the young planting to survive their first summer.
First planted in 2013 The earliest plantings near Orchard Estate on Cobham Road are now at canopy stage.	A jungle of weeds The team survey the wilderness west of Sammaree Reserve in winter 2016. This will need clearing for the 2017 planting.	Cleared and ready to plant The same section in June 2017 minus the jungle of weeds.	Rod Brown Bridge This bridge between Sammaree Reserve and Campbell Lane was completed late 2018	2019 Extension The project will be extended in 2019 beyond Sammaree Reserve up to the junction of two streams.
2019 extension in 2023 After several wet summers the plantings are well established

Community Board Grant Allows Privet Tree Removal

Privet trees marked for removal by contractors. Northland Treeworks felled 10 large Privet trees along the Wairoa Stream track, which was funded by a grant of $2,898 from our Bay of Islands / Whangaroa Community Board and follows a Community Board grant last year to fell 8 large Privet Trees, for which Friends of Wairoa Stream (FOWS) is very grateful. The felling was delayed for many months because of the about 1300 mm of rainfall Kerikeri experienced between April and August

Wairoa Stream: A Community Led Project

14 Years after first floating the project we have produced a video that looks at progress that has been made, how it has grown from that original concept and highlighting the many community groups who have made it all happen.

Kerikeri and weeds

The Kerikeri weed problem needs Council, DOC and local residents to manage the problem. There is a collective lack of civic pride.

KKHS students conduct eDNA sampling of the Wairoa Stream

Kerikeri High school students became forensic detectives in March this year sampling the Wairoa stream for eDNA. Just like criminals...

Friends of Wairoa Stream receive a Community Board grant

Community Board grants Friends of Wairoa Stream a grant to cover Tree Privet removal.

Friends of Wairoa Stream - Annual Newsletter

The FOWS January 2024 newsletter outlines the objectives of the project, how it is progressing and the fincial breakdown of what is now a...

Wairoa Stream: More Vandalism

Rod Brown keeps detailed records of the effort and cost that has gone into the habitat restoration, creation of public access and...

Another fantastic planting effort by Kerikeri High School students

Students planted more native trees at their Swimming Hole site which they have been planting at since 2018. It is not an easy site, prone...

Kerikeri High School native tree planting

On Tuesday,13th June, there was another very successful planting on the Wairoa Stream walkway when 22 Kerikeri High School year 8...

Moth Plant a menacing weed in Kerikeri

If it is in your hedge or windbreak please be a good neighbour and remove it now before it forms its pods.

The Project

Wairoa Stream has been a hidden and much neglected treasure which at its closest point is only a 5 minute walk from the centre of Kerikeri.

There are two discrete projects underway separated by a large obstacle called the Te Wairere Waterfall.

In 2012, the public Walkway and Wildlife Corridor began, starting 350 metres upstream of the waterfall along the Orchard Estate boundary to the Cobham Bridge and then continuing upstream. This is a joint project by Vision Kerikeri and Living Waters.

In February 2015 Vision Kerikeri and Rotary Kerikeri started a 1.5 km track from Pa Road bridge to the long hidden Te Wairere Waterfall. This track was opened to the public in April 2017.It has now been extended upstream of the falls to join with the wildlife corridor. Crossing Cobham Road the track continues to the 'Rod Brown Bridge' completed in 2018. Walkers can cross the bridge and exit the track via Campbell lane which joins onto Shepherd Road. A further extension called Te Tahawai has extended access through to Hall Road.

Since 2013 to 2025 more than 27,000 native species have been planted along the 4km of stream banks with more planting planned in coming years on proposed extensions.

This work is carried out by a small but dedicated team of volunteers. Any donations towards the ongoing development and maintenance of these projects would be greatly appreciated.