Paekawakawa Reserve honey fundraiser 2023

Paekawakawa Reserve Honey Fundraiser 2023

Project 2023-03-09 15:15:23 +1300

Following on from the success of the 2022 Paekawakawa Reserve honey fundraiser we have increased this year's honey harvest and are looking to raise more funds to support native regeneration, pest management and track maintenance in the reserve.

Walking through the Paekawakawa Reserve in Island Bay has become increasingly popular now the track connects the valley to Tawatawa and Manawa Karioi Reserves. 

This PledgeMe fundraising campaign is your opportunity to support our hard-working volunteers in return for a jar or two of locally harvested bush honey.

Wait. Honey? How does honey come into it?

Last year a local beekeeper (Jason who lives on Ribble Street) introduced a couple of beehives into the lower valley of Paekawakawa. This year, with help from students studying Level 3 Apiculture via Otago Polytechnic, he doubled the number of production hives, meaning we had double the amount of honey to harvest.

This year all of the honey will be in 500gm glass jars with a wider opening than last year. The honey is a natural raw bush honey with a fantastic flavour. The honey is dominated by Pohutakawa nectar and sets brilliant white with a firm creamy texture.

Last year we sold out early so get in quick!

OK. Tell me more about Paekawakawa Reserve.

The reserve forms part of the prominent ridge in Island Bay and takes its name — meaning the place of many Kawakawa — from the Māori name for the local area. The entrance to the reserve is off Derwent Street. The public can explore the lower valley tracks or traverse up the valley to connect with Manawa Karioi Reserve and onwards to Tawatawa Reserve.

The 1.4 ha (3.5 acres) area of land was purchased by the Island Bay Natural Heritage Charitable Trust from a property developer in 2006 and is now protected under an Open Space Covenant with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. The Reserve is owned by the community and administered by the Trust thanks to a small army of volunteers who clear the weeds and plant trees.  

The Trust has the support of Wellington City Council for several activities however external funding is required to pay for tools and materials to cover the ongoing costs of maintaining and managing the reserve. 

You can learn more about the history of the reserve here.

Sounds great. What can I do to help?

The honey fundraiser is a great for people who love the reserve but dont have the time help with weeding or pest control duties.

Show your support for the reserve by clicking to offer your pledge now. We are offering rewards of honey as a sweetener but there are also some feel-good cash donation rewards available for super supporters.

This season's honey has already been harvested, extracted by a commercial extractor, tested and labelled for food safety purposes in accordance with the Food Act 2014. You should expect delivery of your honey as soon as the campaign closes and the funds are cleared. 

Our local beekeeper (Jason Bragg who lives on Ribble Street) has volunteered his time to manage the beehives. Delivery in Wellington city is free. All other destinations will incur a postage fee to be calculated later.

Thanks to Steve Unwin from Clockwork Creative for producing last year's video for us.

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