HMWCG and our Project Area

The Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin Conservation Group (HMWCG) is a charitable Incorporated Society focusing on community conservation. The group was formed in 2023 by the six farms surrounding the DCC Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin Scenic Reserve as a mechanism to expand pest control efforts beyond the confines of the reserve to the wider landscape. The genesis of the HMWCG stems from the group’s shared pride in neighbouring Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin as well as the recognition that efficient and effective land management must be executed on a holistic and meaningful scale. A cooperative approach is needed for success. This collaborative conservation effort seeks to protect the special cultural and ecological values of the wider Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin area by bringing together the landowners and farmers, mana whenua, the local community, and local and regional agencies to protect this important ecosystem. The area is home to some of the last remaining examples of coastal kowhai and podocarp forest in the region, one of the best examples of volcanic boulder stream habitat in the nation, as well as significant remnant populations of native fauna and flora, including at least 20 threatened and at-risk species.

Our project area is located just west of Waikouaiti and Karitane, about 30 minutes north of Dunedin in coastal Otago.  On the detail map, the Scenic Reserve is marked in the centre, with the private farmland surrounding the Reserve. Together, these two areas make up our project area. While the community group is fully responsible for the conservation efforts on private land, we work collaboratively with Dunedin City Council to help manage conservation and biodiversity efforts within the Scenic Reserve as well. 

Our Values and Biodiversity goals guide our overall strategy and operations. The project is brought to life by active and engaged local community members putting in the work to preserve and protect our valuable landscape.