Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust: Where Plants and People Thrive

Our volunteers say, “there are amazing people here”; they say, “I’ve learned so much”; another adds, “I’ve taken ideas I have picked up here, home...”. Our volunteers say, “I come for the baking…”; they say, “this is fun - I get to play in a bigger sandpit!” Our volunteers say, “I love that I see our work from end to end - from the seed that Rach has gathered from the environs, through to the plants growing in the gully where we monitor their success”......”and the native birds, a kereru last week”.

I observe - is it all about the chat? The chat that is the first greeting with our manager, Rach who organises the tasks that need done today, and who will do what today? Much negotiation and laughter - what aches need to be allowed for, have we done it before, a chance to work with one who has; will it be the potting-on under the shade cloth; will it be washing pots in the sun; will it be weeding? Everyone eventually settles to a task.

There is a chat that asks each other, “how are you today…?”, the chat that describes the blue sky, the bright sunshine, the grey misty day, the hot day, the cold day, the chat that shares a new experience, a movie enjoyed. The chat that discusses the flavour of the baking,....

The chat that exclaims the changes around the nursery; this year’s extension project and isn’t the Korimako Corner developing nicely…the PH of the soil..and did you know Rach has discovered species not known here recently….?

The chat that cares and sends us home at the end of the session, having not worried for a minute about the current state of the world.

This could be your year to volunteer! Tōu tau ki te tūao!

Story written by Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust for our Volunteer Celebration Stories campaign to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2026.