Pohangina Wetlands

Pohangina Wetlands are the brainchild of Gordon and Anne Pilone, and are thriving with a little help from nature. After falling in love with the Pohangina Valley, the retired couple from Palmerston North set about turning this soggy block of farmland into a functional wetland park in 1995.

A huge pond was dug, and the rest is (very interesting) history, which you can read here. The couple and their trust partners have planted thousands of native seedlings, regenerating the natural swamp here, which is wet via aquifer, not runoff. Planting is targeted on successful cultivation of Kahikitea, the New Zealand White Pine, 95% of which was felled by Pakeha settlers. In fact, it was a remnant stand of kahikitea which inspired this entire project.

The wetlands run in parallel with neighbouring (directly across the road) conservation business Luttrells White Pine Gardens and Museum. Both have now won QEII Covenant status. One of the greatest successes celebrated here is a one time visit of the White Heron, a rare wetland bird which breeds hundreds of kilometres away at Okarito on the West Coast.

Original Pohangina Valley farmer Charles E Wildbore, who settled this valley in the 1890s, was a talented photographer. His now famous images (in the book below) were captured in the valley as the original kahikitea forests met their death.

As always, NZPlaces would appreciate your impressions and images of this great NZ Place.

Image Credit: Pohangina Wetlands Story