Conservation eco-sanctuary in Picton/Waikawa, New Zealand

Infos

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  Description

  Welcome. This workaway suits outdoor nature- loving conservation & community focused workawayers with a positive attitude, can-do spirit, physical stamina and kind-heartedness. Meals suit gluten-able lacto-ovo vegetarians/vegans. We are having a Winter Break from hosting over May-July. Next dates available;
  August: arriving 4pm Picton 27/8 for property/river tour, dinner & conservation doco, Workaway 28/8-1/9 and leave after breakfast 2/9 - 6 of 6 beds available.
  Oct - arriving 4pm in Picton 22/10 for property/river tour, dinner & conservation doco, Workaway 23-27/10 and leave after breakfast 28/10 - 3 of 6 beds available.
  We are delighted to share we received the Landscape & Habitat Award Port Marlborough Environment Awards 2025
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  Our passion project has grown organically under the guidance of Nige & Mish. Nige has been involved in NZ conservation for 40 years and Mish is 3rd generation nursery grower. Our nature restoration covers this stunning 200 hectare Significant Natural Area at the head of Boons Valley, Waikawa, (10mins from Picton) on the South Island. The land is full of many natural treasures including rivers, old forests, waterfalls, glow-worms, endangered precious beetles, snails & plants. As such our conservation practices are guided by Biodiversity professionals in our region including Marlborough District Council and Dept of Conservation. We are everyday people doing our bit to help our environment.
  
  Our 400-year mission is to recreate an ancient, natural, wonderland that our ancestors use to know. In restoring this precious whenua that includes Te Maunga o Pirpiri, the sacred mountain of mana whenua in this area, Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Maui. We are seeking to achieve three major legacy benefits:
  
  1. Enrich a rich wildlife corridor from the two highest mountains in Picton (Te Maunga o Piripiri and Mt. McCormick/Te Maunga o PiriPiri Te Hautapu), past Waikawa Marae, to the sea including Kaipupu Sanctuary.
  2. To bring People and Nature together so both can rejuvenate
  3. Amplify conservation actions in Marlborough
  
  Our conservation activities occur alongside our busy working life. Volunteers have the opportunity to experience numerous activities (depending on season, our needs & your interests) from;
  - conservation weeding so native bush can thrive including wilding pine removal 95% hand-pulling, 5%. cut & paste chemical
  - micro-sanctuary planting to speed up biodiversity & weed management
  - propagating eco-sourced plants using local potting mix with fertiliser
  - predator control through the forest (rats, mice, stoats, possums, feral cats, goats) to save NZ species
  - trapline building - without access trails, NZ forests die from predator browsing. Our access paths cover 0.04% of land.
  - building construction activities - retainer walls, path steps, reflection decks/furniture, shed repairs
  - garden maintenance - weeding, weed-eating, lawn-mowing and mulching
  - Qualified Conservationists, Builders, Carpenters, solar installers are welcome.
  
  We are inclusive, and regularly host family, friends, friends of friends, local community & work colleagues, so there is a large social opportunity to meet a variety of people bringing different experiences, as well as connecting to our workaway community. We usually host up to 6 workaways at the same time for a week, which makes for new friendships and lots of interesting conversations. We encourage communication on your topics of interest, and on your conservation ideas and the differences you see here in NZ compared to your own country. We are always learning and growing, and happy to share reasons why we do what we do.
  
  We are a remote off the grid wild environment only 10mins from Picton. There is plenty of free time after 5hrs of workaway mahi, to swim, drive to beach, go hiking and enjoying other experiences off or on the property. Suits singles, friend groups and couples.
  
  nb: For transport logistics, we are 10min drive from Picton - 4hr ferry from Wellington, bus from Blenheim, Christchurch, Nelson or Kaikoura, or fly into Blenheim. We can pick you up from Picton Library (has great wifi).
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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Montagne

  

  Yoga / bien-être

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Fitness

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Jardinage

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Randonnée

  

  Nature
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Learning about conservation in NZ directly from ourselves and from other visitors occur naturally here during meetings & various events hosted.
  
  Learning about environment restoration, food that birds and insects eat, planting for biodiversity, how to propagate from seed and cuttings (season dependent), how to recognise when a seed is mature and should be picked (varies from plant to plant), trapping skills and why we trap to save NZ endemic species & trail building skills.
  
  Meeting many different people from all walks of life - farmers, environmentalists, business entreprenneurs, students trail builders, athletes and family members & local friends and community members to name a few.
  
  Learning the philosophies of being welcoming hosts and good kaitiaki/guardians of whenua/land for generations to come.
  
  Both Nige & Mish are outdoor people. At the moment, most of our activities are based onsite as with 200Ha or 500 acres to restore, we are highly motivated to do as much as we can now, every trap cleared, tree planted, helps to ensure birdsong triples & natural world flourishes. We are positively focused and acknowledge the good things, you will see the positive difference you make while you are here.
  
  The most unique aspect to this property is that the land is magical. There are so many incredibly stunning views. We still have unexplored parts of the property to enjoy - its wild and rugged in parts, and there are also beautiful tamed parts of the land to enjoy resting within. Part of the volunteer experience (if you are interested) may include nature practices such as Forest Bathing (time, weather & Mish's work commitments permittting) as Mish is a certified guide and likes to share these practices as a gift for your help here.

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  Aide

  Most of our tasks are outdoors supporting conservation practices or garden maintenance hosting conservation groups. You will help with purpose for the environment on any of these (seasonal projects)
  
  Nursery: Mish collects seed, germinates, grows and then we return plants to whenua/land. You are welcome to be part of this process. So far we have grown 35,000 eco-sourced plants. We grow from cuttings and using root hormone. We use locally sourced potting mix for native plants with fertilisation pellets for healthy growth.
  
  Planting for conservation: We will be extensively planting to speed up biodiversity for bird & insect food over March- September. This includes erecting plant protectors and weedmat. We have planted 15,000 shrubs and trees to date, creating a microsanctuary for wildlife corridors.
  
  Weeding for conservation. Whilst weeding doesn't sound very glamourous, it is of high importance in an environmental restoration project, so weeds don't invade pure forests and birds don't spread them. We ramp up weed control over Oct-Mar. It takes around 3 years of weeding, before newly planted native plants crowd weeds out. We mainly hand pull weeds, with minimal use of chemicals for hardy weeds like blackberry, gorse, broome. We cut and paste chemical products on individual plants. We are not an organic project.
  
  Garden Maintenance: We are visited by many community groups including Te Ātiawa Trust, Waikawa Marae, Marlborough District Council, Department of Conservation, Kaipupu Sanctuary, and various scientists in the biology, ecology, freshwater field, schools including Waitohi Kindergarten, Marlborough Boys College, Queen Charlotte College and government organisations to help support guardianship of Te Taiao/natural world as good kaitiaki (guardians). We like to have the common areas looking aesthetically neat - grass mown, banks weeded, mulched. This helps increase the positive vitality/mana of this place. These groups are welcomed here supporting nature connection for wellness, and conservation practices.
  
  Trail building & maintenance - there are 14km of handbuilt trails for plant & non-native animal pest control. Trails are regularly improved with a grubber so paths are easier to walk & complete conservation tasks. If you do trail tasks, it's likely your day will be longer, and you can balance up with a shorter day after that. Without trails, we can't access the forest to protect it from browsing non-native animals like possums & goats. We are successfully re-wilding, the seedlings are returning where there are trails and predator control.
  
  Hunting:Nigel culls ungulates (goats) & possums as they heavily browse and cause damage to the native trees and eat all the new seedlings and new shoots on plants.Nige works with his conservation dog Ash who is now 2yrs old and still in training. If you are interested and without skills, Nige is willing to share during your down time here.
  
  Non-native animal control: If you are interested in trapping for conservation, but it's new to you, Nige is happy to share outside of your workday. If you know how to trap, or want to trap independently as part of your mahi, let Nige know. Learn how NZ restoration projects check and record predator removal (rats, mice, stoats, possums mainly) on the 14km of handbuilt traplines. Nigel spearheads a massive trapline program to support bird & insect life and its working with birdsong quadrupling over the last 4.5 years with the removal of over 4400 non-indigeneous mammals.. Fitness is a requirement for trapping as the land is steep rising from 100m to 970m. There are 720+ traps on the property. If Nige is available and invites you to join him, it is likely to be a fun adventurous day in the bush, and an authentic kiwi conservation experience.
  
  Building - there are endless building projects with retainer walls, improving sheds, nature platforms, safety steps, building sheds and more. We love it when a carpenter/builder/handy-person workawayer visits. We are open to longer stays if you are a certified builder or practically handy due to life experience. Note we offer 5 day stays first, to assess our mutual compatibility.
  
  Your day: we meet for breakfast at 8.15am, and start projects at 9am . Mish packs lunch with thermos as projects are outdoors; we break for 30mins. After your work day which finishes at 2:30pm, you are free to explore, and we encourage independence as Nige & Mish usually continue to work a full day . Each of your accommodation spaces have lovely outdoor tables to spend time there until 7pm meal at main house. Enjoy this peaceful sanctuary and the beautiful environment of Picton and Waikawa - it is a special place.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant

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  Hébergement

  We have 6 beds, 3 x double & 3 single beds around the property in caravan or sleepouts, rustic but warm/insulated and comfortable beds/bedding, all a short walk to the main house. All accommodation is off the grid, bring head torch for evening light.
  
  If you are bringing your small campervan, you will be based near the caravan or workshop where it is flat.
  
  Showering is in the main house and you have a separate bathroom to Mish and Nige. This is shared with any other friends or other workawayers staying. The laundry is shared and you are welcome to use. There are three toilets onsite, one in the house bathroom, one down by the nursery/caravan and a long drop near accommodation.
  
  Meals are eaten with us in the evenings around 7pm. Mish cooks healthy and hearty vegetarian fare (can adjust to vegan). We are a vegetarian kitchen - sorry meat cooking is not an option. Mish cooks for up to 10 people per night as well as working alongside, so time is a consideration. As such we are unable to cater for gluten-free/halal etc as special dietary needs can be logistically challenging with extra time required to make separate meals, and we need the kitchen to prepare. If you are still really keen to join us, it could be an option if you buy your own diet special ingredients and supplement the group cooking to support your needs.
  
  Workawayers pitch in washing/cleaning up after the meal and keeping our shared space including bathrooms clean. We operate marae-style on the last morning with everyone pitching in with stripping beds, cleaning bathroom, kitchen, vacuuming and leaving your space as you found it.
  
  We do live off the grid with our own hydro-electricity system with Pelton wheel. If there has been a lack or a lot of rain, we sometimes lose power/water - rare'ish but can occur. If this happens we might be glamping until the river subsides or it rains so we can get power up and running again. Life is still comfortable with a back up petrol generator for electricity, gas oven, wood heater & water storage, so basics are covered. Main issue will be limiting water use during this time, so river swimming or basin washes are the alternate to showering if we lose power/water. All part of the adventure!
  
  We have mobile reception over most part of the property, the main house & near all toilets. The accommodation at the bottom of the property doesn't have reception. Fast Starlink internet is available at the main house.

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  Autres infos...

  We are 10mins drive from Picton which is the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. there are so many activities available to enjoy including kayaking, hiking, fishing, conservation volunteering on other projects. There are also many cafes, pubs & various gift, art, and book shops in Picton. A bus can take you to Blenheim where there is a bigger town for shopping & movies. Some visitors push-bike to Picton as an option as well.
  
  As mentioned, we are outdoors people focused on conservation. Our lifestyle is wholesome and outdoors focused on the property. We encourage you to explore outside of your workaway mahi; to get to know the region.
  
  If you have any questions, please ask. We look forward to hearing from you.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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