Wilde on the Ruamahanga
Alan Wilde has a bold vision to see the entire length of the Ruamahanga River planted in native trees. His passion is evident as he points out the areas on his 14 hectare farm that he single-handedly planted in native trees.
The Ruamahanga Restoration Trust funds the planting of native trees and educational conservation projects that support schools, landowners, and rural communities across the Wairarapa.
As a non-profit, our goal is to help restore and regenerate streams, wetlands, and pockets of native bush along the length and breadth of Ruamahanga River and its many tributaries, which in turn will help protect native fish species and create bird corridors from Pūkaha to Kawakawa Palliser Bay.
For us, this means starting with our Schools Behind Our River project to deliver hands-on learning opportunities for school students to embrace environmental conservation projects that connect local communities with the health of their river catchment, Māori heritage, and sustainable biodiversity goals.
The Ruamahanga Restoration Trust embraces traditional values, mātauranga Māori, sustainable farming practices, and the use of new technologies as a means to reverse the effects of climate change and protect our natural environment for future generations.