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

KKHS students conduct eDNA sampling of the Wairoa Stream

Sandra Leaming

Aug 232 min read

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...

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Friends of Wairoa Stream receive a Community Board grant

By Rod Brown

Jul 312 min read

Friends of Wairoa Stream receive a Community Board grant

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

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Cliff Mail

Jan 121 min read

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...

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Help bring the native birds back to the Kerikeri river track

Cliff Mail

Nov 23, 20231 min read

Help bring the native birds back to the Kerikeri river track

For those who have had the pleasure of walking along the Kerikeri River Track, with its stands of Totara, Kahikatea and other native...

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Cliff Mail

Oct 13, 20231 min read

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...

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Another fantastic planting effort by Kerikeri High School students

Rod Brown

Aug 2, 20231 min read

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...

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Kerikeri High School native tree planting

Rod Brown

Jun 17, 20231 min read

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...

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Wairoa Stream Art Exhibition & Sale - 10am - 4pm, Saturday 29 April

Cliff Mail

Apr 27, 20231 min read

Wairoa Stream Art Exhibition & Sale - 10am - 4pm, Saturday 29 April

Mary Hayman, a visitor from Wales, has been residing in Kerikeri for the last five months. During her stay she has been a regular...

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Public Planting Day Wairoa Stream - Sun, 14 May 2023 - 9am

Cliff Mail

Apr 22, 20231 min read

Public Planting Day Wairoa Stream - Sun, 14 May 2023 - 9am

UPDATE - 9 MAY: Despite the recent bout of wet weather the forecast for Sunday looks promising so we are intending to proceed with the...

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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 2023 more than 20,000 native species have been planted along the 5km 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.