22 Oct 2024

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Nestled a short 3km from Christchurch’s city centre is a haven of native flora and fauna and a significant site of heritage.

Pūtaringamotu/Riccarton Bush is a long-standing treasure of the city and a remnant of what the Canterbury Plains once were.

Gifted to the people of Christchurch by the Deans family in 1914, the abundant bush is one of the oldest protected natural areas in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The 7.8ha forest is a collection of mostly kahikatea (up to 600 years old), tōtara, mataī, kōwhai and hinau, with native climbing plants, ferns, mosses and fungi growing below.

Pūtaringamotu/Riccarton Bush Ranger Mike Steenson says the area acts as a seed bank for the region. 

“The bush is the only surviving remnant of the lower Canterbury Plains, so we often assist environmental organisations with collecting seeds for their own nurseries and native planting around Christchurch.

“The bush is relatively self-sufficient, so we’re really working to protect the forest from exotic pests and weeds and give it a helping hand to ensure it continues to flourish in its urban setting.”

The oasis was previously home to kiwi, takahe and moa, and now an array of native creatures hide amongst the foliage from forest floor to tree top.

Choruses of native birds including korimako/bellbirds, pīwakawaka/fantail, riroriro/grey warblers and tauhou/silvereye echo through the lush greenery.

The nocturnal waitaha/Canterbury geckos emerge from the tree canopy after dark, and reintroduced native wētā call the damp garden home.

“If we weren’t here, the bush would continue to grow – it would be fine. Our job is to nurture its native environment, allowing it to flourish without damaging the natural ecosystem,” Mike says.

“The seedlings from the trees are genetically true to the area, so I look at the bush as a science lab that we can learn from and contribute back to, enhancing Christchurch’s biodiversity.”

Pūtaringamotu/Riccarton Bush Rangers also collect seedlings to grow in their nursery to supplement regeneration onsite. 

The Council nursery often eco-source kahikatea from the bush which end up in the ground in sites across Christchurch.