It all starts with a seed.

Poipoia te kākano kia puawai – Nourish the seed and it will grow. .

About Us – Hākuturi Native Nursery

We are a kaupapa Māori initiative under the Whiriwhiria Charitable Trust, committed to nurturing the potential of rangatahi Māori.

Whiriwhiria Charitable Trust supports rangatahi through a series of wānanga held across Te Tai Poutini and Ōtautahi. These wānanga focus on developing leadership skills, fostering cultural identity, and encouraging contributions to the community.

In 2021, Whiriwhiria partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to establish Hākuturi Native Nursery with the shared vision of restoring the health and vitality of the Arahura Awa (river). Supported by DOC funding, a local horticultural mentor (Mark De Goldi), Southside Nursery, and Conservation Volunteers NZ, this project has provided rangatahi with employment, training, and the opportunity to grow as leaders in both their communities and the taiao (environment).

Achievements: October 2021 – September 2024

Our journey so far reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and supporters:

• Employed and upskilled 3 rangatahi in nursery operations.

• Completed site renovations and infrastructure improvements.

• Staff completed riparian management training in collaboration with NIWA, sponsored by DOC.

• Achieved nursery training certifications with Primary Intesive Training Organisation and CVNZ, Punakaiki.

• Ensured all staff are First Aid trained and Growsafe certified.

• Identification workshops with DOC experts.

• Eco-sourced and processed over 65,000 native seeds with the support of volunteers.

• Supplied more than 30,000 native plants for significant restoration projects along the Arahura Awa.

• Facilitated leadership development through Whiriwhiria’s wānanga, supported by Te Puni Kōkiri funding.

• Hosted local rangatahi for hands-on nursery and planting experiences.

• Celebrated milestones, including the growth of 50,000 native plants by December 2023.

At Hākuturi Native Nursery, we are proud to be rangatahi-led and are building pathways for more rangatahi to thrive here in Te Tai Poutini. By connecting our youth with the whenua (land), their culture, and their community, we aim to plant seeds of leadership and resilience that will grow for generations to come.

We are actively seeking opportunities to expand our nursery as a facility for learning, employment, and environmental restoration.

If you would like to support our work or partner with us on future projects, please get in touch!

Let’s grow together. 🌱

Nurturing Connection, Growing Leadership

Every plant has a story, a whakapapa (lineage) that connects us to the whenua (land) and our shared responsibility to care for it.

We offer a selection of native trees, shrubs and grasses, carefully eco-sourced and grown by our team, with a focus on species that support local restoration projects.

From the mighty Kahikatea to the graceful Toetoe, each plant we nurture plays a vital role in restoring the mauri (life force) of Te Tai Poutini’s ecosystems.

When you choose plants from Hākuturi Native Nursery, you’re not just supporting the taiao—you’re investing in the growth of rangatahi Māori. Every seed we sow and every plant we grow helps fund wānanga that inspire leadership, identity, and community contribution among our youth.

Visits to our nursery are available by appointment, offering a chance to see our kaupapa in action. For those near and far, we’re working on creating an accessible online ordering system to share the beauty of our native plants with others who are passionate about restoration and conservation.

Let’s restore the whenua together, one native plant at a time. By choosing Hākuturi Native Nursery, you’re connecting with a vision for a stronger future—rooted in the values of kotahitanga (unity), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and rangatiratanga (leadership).

If you’re ready to grow alongside us, or have a project you’d like to discuss, get in touch today.