Centennial Park, located in the heart of Campbells Bay on Auckland’s North Shore, was designated a recreation reserve in 1884, making it one of Auckland region’s oldest parks. It is 73.5 hectares in area; 44.5 hectares are leased to Pupuke Golf Club and the remaining 29 hectares are regenerating native forest, managed by Centennial Park Bush Society.

The entire reserve plays a vital role in Auckland region’s ecological wellbeing and is an important link in the North – West Wildlink corridor, which connects the islands of the Hauraki Gulf to many mainland conservation hotspots, including the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges.

The forest is a remarkable, species – rich haven for biodiversity in an increasingly intensively infilled urban area. It provides an oasis for native trees, smaller plants and birdlife and its lifeblood is a 6km stream network which exits into the Gulf and connects the park to the coastal environment.

The park’s preservation and flourishing wildlife are the result of nearly five decades of dedicated conservation work by CPBS volunteers. Founded in 1979 by Pat Morton and chaired for the last 22 years by Richard Hursthouse, CPBS is a community driven organisation focused on the long term health and survival of the park. In 2020 Centennial Park was selected from 12 nominations to receive Recreation Aotearoa’s Healthy Park Award.

A mutually beneficial relationship between CPBS and Pupuke Golf Club management has evolved over the last decade. CPBS volunteers weed and restoration plant with native species large areas of golf course land which are not useful for golf. Pupuke management help with planting – area preparation, moving piles of mulch and metal and keeping on top of some key invasives like boneseed . CPBS helps fund the removal of fallen pines and gums, weeds, plants and mulches the golf-course margins and helps manage stormwater runoff. Partly as a result of this collaboration, Pupuke won Golf Club of the Year at the 2023 National Golf Awards.

CPBS volunteer workers meet on Wednesday mornings and the first Saturday morning each month and devote thousands of hours a year to maintaining this urban forest.

Banded kokopu, koura, eels and kakahi (freshwater mussels) are living in the stream network. Helping them survive and thrive is critical. An important part of protecting these species is keeping dogs on leash at all times. Volunteers fence off long sections of the streams which have been consistently damaged by dogs entering and exiting the waters. We believe kokopu numbers have increased as a result of fencing. Important native grasses such as carex are now spreading naturally along the banks, providing shade and shelter for kokopu to breed and hide under.

Fencing has also paid dividends in terms of bank stability; as the natives have spread erosion has considerably reduced. Restoration planting is also key. Nature needs a hand where areas have been trampled or eroded by flooding. Ti kouka, our native cabbage tree, is a definite go-to, where light permits. A recent research project entailing rigorous testing of a variety of natives revealed ti kouka has the highest tensile root strength, root depth and diameter for stabilising stream banks.

Each year CPBS volunteers plant thousands of natives – our biggest year being 2022, when 5,000 plants were put in the ground. Planting is a growing and essential feature of being a steppingstone in the North -West Wildlink corridor–allowing safe travel for wild species and providing breeding habitats.

Predator control is a huge part of the park’s success. Predator Control volunteers actively maintain a complex, catchment-wide network of bait stations, monitoring tunnels and rat and possum traps –a total of more than 387 pest control devices.

Community engagement and local support are also essential. Invasives like arum lilies and montbretia would be suffocating streams and stranglers like Japanese honeysuckle and morning glory would be smothering native trees without our weed warriors. We are so grateful so many residents care for the whenua.

There is no doubt working bees can be hard yakka but the endorphins are running, the korero is meaningful and engaging and we share a sense of community ownership and responsibility for the wellbeing of the park. And morning tea is a great reward for the mahi – the best chocolate cake, biscuits and fresh coffee or tea for whoever lends a hand. We always welcome more volunteers.

To sum up, our long term dream is to wake up one day to hear the sounds of bellbirds and saddlebacks and see kaka flying over the treetops. Plus many more! We would love them all to call Centennial Park home.

Sign up for our weekly and monthly working bees : https://web.econet.nz/cn/ajcan/cbus_signup

Map of Centennial Park & Nature Trail : https://campbellsbayurbansanctuary.org.nz/our-world/virtual-nature-trail/