On Saturday, 29th March 2025, journey through native forests and across farmland as you trace the path of the Kōkako. All profits will be dedicated to enhancing and expanding the trapping network, as well as planting native trees throughout the catchment, with the goal of establishing a corridor that connects the two kōkako populations of Kaharoa and Otanewainuku. Participants in this inaugural race will each have a native tree planted in their honour. 

Recently the Bush Classroom was the winner of the Rabobank's Good Deeds competition for 2022, the prize being $5000 plus a day of labour provided by local Rabobank staff. Read all about it in this article from the Herald.  

Te Ranga School's bush classroom gets a helping hand - NZ Herald

On a settled, sunny day on the 22nd February 2023,  Scott McGlashan - local farmer, ex commercial raft guide and accomplished kayaker and Joel Flamank - Fireman and commercial raft guide took and explorotory trip down the Parariti River in serch of Whio. 

The mission was taken in a 3.8m long raft. They put in at around 11am at Cotters Farm, 1601 Te Matai Road. It took around 25 minutes to carry the raft through the bush, down the track to the river. It took just over 2 1/2 hours to get to the take out at Hungerford’s Orchard at Oak Drive. Dragged the raft 100 meters up a bush cliff. A side by side had been parked in the morning to drive out of the property. 

The river had a medium flow, following little rain in the previous few weeks. The water clarity was very clear but no Whio were seen despite sightings of them in previous years by land owners up and down the Paraiti.  Other wildlife sighted were one possum on the side of the river and 3 set of mallards, one set with ducklings

There were some 3 meter waterfalls to navigate, they were scouted before navigating in the raft. One waterfall had to be walked around due to rocks at the bottom of it. Further towards the take out there were some logs to navigate in the river, at a higher water flow they wouldn’t have been able to navigate past them.

The main concern with rafting or kayaking down the Paraiti is that being a gorge there is no access or route out should an accident occur.

On the 1st November the Paraiti Catchment Care Group held a community BBQ at the Te Ranga Hall. We enjoyed a BBQ of locally hunted venison then gathered for the opening of a viewing platform built by Peter Mark and Toi Ohomai.  The platform gives a clear view of Kaharoa through to Otanewainuku and was the perfect location to have an update on the corridor project from Carmel Richardson. 

Sarah Peak - PCCG representative and teacher at Te Ranga School toured us through the bush classroom and updated us on the mahi the school is doing in there. We also were lucky enough to be joined by Nataalia Lundson from DOC who kindly led a session on pests and pest control in the bush classroom. The presentation was informative and engaging and it was great to see all generations of the community present. 

In April we placed 10 bat monitors on properties around the catchment and excitingly bat activity was picked up on all monitors. BOPRC analysed the data and it was the most bat activity they have recorded to date! Rats were also picked up on the monitors and along with cats pose a huge risk to bat populations. The Paraiti Group is focusing on rat control this season and if you need any poison please get in touch. With regards to cats, please give this resource from Forest and Bird a read. If you have a pet cat there a few simple steps you can take to minimise their risk, keeping them inside over night being one of the most effective steps you can take. 

At the end of January the Paraiti Catchment Community were very kindly invited to hold our meeting in the Kaharoa Conservation area in the hope of hearing some Kokako and seeing the inspiring work being accomplished by the Kaharoa Kokako Trust. This invitation was extended to everyone in the Paraiti Catchment and we had a great turn out.  

After a short meeting at the shelter we took a guided walk through the forest with Carmel Richardson and Greame Young where we were lucky enough to see and hear a Kokako.  The morning concluded with a shared lunch and cuppa back at the shelter. 

The Kokako Ecosystem Expansion Program (KEEP) held a meeting at Te Ranga Hall at the start of December and they were very complimentary about the pest control/trapping work that has been undertaken by the Paraiti group in such a short period of time. Michael Taylor from BOP Regional Council has produced some very detailed maps which show the proposed Kokako corridor and these will be on display at the hall.  Kathy Porter has kindly volenteered to be the Paraiti Comminity Catchment representative on KEEP. 

There was a great turn out at the October PCCG Community meeting at the Te Ranga Hall. We heard updates from the BOP Regional Council, Kaharoa Kokako Trust and with the support from Janie Stevenson from NZ Landcare Trust we were able to brainstorm some key themes and words to add to the vision of our group. ‘Thriving together; Kokako, kiwi and community’, ‘Flourishing bush and connected community’, ‘Bringing the kiwi and kokako back to our community’, ‘Strong community, abundant biodiversity’. 

Thank you to Farmlands for kindly providing a BBQ dinner.