The natural life of the Ark | Ark in the Park

Forest view

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:14:41 +1300

The Cascades area is one of the places where the veins of rock from old undersea lava flows are evident. On the ridges groves of kauri rise up, and in the lower, more moist regions, giant podocarps such as rimu have their place.

Kauri tree

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:52:35 +1300

Majestic giants of the forest, rising up from the surrounding trees like adults standing in a playground (and giving a ride on their shoulders, too!). Massive, old, strength, stillness: the embodiment of the Ents described in Lord of the Rings.

kiekie fruit

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:28:35 +1200

As well as the prized delicacy of the bracts, the pulp of the ripened fruit was also eaten by Maori.

The plant was used for more than just food. Ark volunteers were not the first to notice the tensile properties of kiekie thickets - Maori used the leaves to weave baskets, and the aerial roots as a tying material.

(Photograph: Grant Capill)

Kiekie flower

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:16:24 +1200

Kiekie is one of the less popular plants, to most volunteers, forming impenetrable thickets of twining stems, laced with razor-edged leaves. But the flowers are spectacular, and the white bracts are delicious (just ask the rats, who clean these out in non-controlled areas).

(Photograph: Ralph and Lyndell Lyon)

Rata flower

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:35:16 +1200

Rata can be found as creepers and as forest giants. All have beautiful flowers, and are thriving in the absence of browsing by possums.

(Photograph: Karen Colgan)

Robin

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:34:40 +1200

One of our batch of robins, transported from Mokoia Island, and now thriving in their new home.

(Photograph: Maurice Colgan)

Waitakere falls

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:32:58 +1200

The Waitakere Ranges are an uplifted area of sea floor and under-sea volcanoes. Amongst the sedimentary rocks and clays are charactistic bands of volcanic rock, often with waterfalls like this one below the Waitakere dam.

(Photograph: Maurice Colgan)

Stream scene

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:29:59 +1200

Typical Waitakeres stream; time for a breather.

(Photograph: John Sumich)

Hihi release

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:22:35 +1200

A Hihi leaves the box in which it travelled from Tiritiri island, and heads for the bush of its new home.

Waitakere Dam

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:12:33 +1200

The Cascades area is rain forest, with abundant rain fall. Some of this flows into the Waitakere dam, which sits at the centre of the Ark.

(photograph: John Staniland)

Hihi

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:07:53 +1200

In 2007 the Ark had its first release of the beautiful Stitchbird, or Hihi.

(Photograph: John Staniland)