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🌿 Native treasures of Hikaroroa 🌿 Hikaroroa is home to an incredible diversity of native flora, with 28 vegetation types and more than 180 native plant species recorded within the reserve. Among these are numerous threatened, uncommon and regionally significant species, making this special landscape an important haven for our native biodiversity. From towering trees to the smaller treasures tucked away in the bush, there’s so much to discover. Here are just a few of the native beauties we’ve spotted lately. 🌱💚

Hikaroroa is home to a variety of special landscapes of remarkable natural character. 🪨 The volcanic boulder fields that cascade down the sides of Hikaroroa/Mt Watkin have been identified as a rare ecosystem of national priority for protection. 💧The North Branch of the Waikouaiti River is an important natural waterway that winds through the landscape, supporting ecological connections and contributing to the areas unique character. 🌳Native Forest - A large area of indigenous habitat that contains some of the most significant remaining native forest in Coastal Otago.

The HMWCG works across more than 6000 hectares of interconnected private and public land in East Otago, reflecting the scale of the groups landscape wide conservation efforts. At the heart of the project lies the Mt Watkin/ Hikaroroa Scenic Reserve, surrounded by six farming landowner partners whose properties collectively form the wider conservation project area. Check out our website for more information or to get involved. https://hmwcg.nz/

🌿 Our new website is live! Everything you need to know about the Hikaroroa / Mt Watkin Conservation Project is now all in one place. Discover more about our project and the area we’re working to protect, learn about our conservation efforts, get involved, register for upcoming events, or make a donation to support the work happening on the ground. We’d love you to have a look around 💚 🌐 https://hmwcg.nz Protecting nature, people and place for future generations.

Some great biodiversity events happening this week on Monday and Tuesday. We hope to see you there!

❄️ Snow on the ground doesn’t slow this crew down! Jamie’s out with our interns Camilo and Bene, relocating traps and making tracks through the winter conditions. A pretty great introduction to field work at Hikaroroa for Bene, who’s joined us all the way from Austria 🇦🇹 — although thankfully, he’s no stranger to a bit of snow! Cold hands, snowy boots and a good day out on the hill doing the mahi. 🌿❄️

🌿 World Conservation Day 🌿 Today we celebrate the people who roll up their sleeves and make a difference. Every trap checked, every predator removed, every native seedling protected is a step towards a healthier future for Hikaroroa Mt Watkin. Conservation isn’t just about protecting nature—it’s about leaving a legacy for generations to come. A huge thank you to every volunteer, supporter, landowner, and partner who gives their time, energy, and passion to this special place. Together, we’re proving that small actions, repeated often, create lasting change. Happy World Conservation Day. Here’s to protecting what matters most. 💚🌿

Winter at Hikaroroa never disappoints ❄️✨ We’re incredibly lucky to have Graham and Diane as part of HMWCG. Not only does Diane contribute many hours behind the scenes with administration, but Graham also captures the beauty of our landscape through stunning photography. These images were capture last weekend whilst out retrieving bait feeders. These winter scenes are just a small glimpse of the incredible environment we’re all working together to protect. Thank you, Graham and Diane, for everything you do - both behind the camera and behind the scenes. 💚