awhitu peninsula landcare inc. :: welcome to the awhitu peninsula :: what is the awhitu peninsula?
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HAERE MAI : : NAU MAI : : HAERE MAI
WELCOME TO THE AWHITU PENINSULA:
What is the Awhitu Peninsula?
protecting our past : : planning our presence : : feeding our future
Coming to live here? Looking for land or a home here? Just visiting?

Awhitu Peninsula Landcare welcomes you, and invites you to use the information on these pages:

  Introduction
Land, Wind and Water
Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Animal Pests
Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Plant Pests
If you would prefer to download the document in PDF format, please click here
What is the Awhitu Peninsula?

A giant sand dune. A place of history and heritage, arts and adventures; a source of food, fibre and fun. A place with unique landforms, special plants and birds, wild winds, gentle wetlands, and sea - the sea, always the sea.

We're hoping you'll join us in nurturing what's special - when you read Welcome to the Awhitu Peninsula: Land, Wind and Water you'll know why, and how. Other ways you can help are described in Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Animal Pests and Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Plant Pests.

One meaning of Awhitu is "Longing to Return''. Many people have loved this place and come to live here. Ngaati Te Ata are the traditional people - mana whenua - of the area. Settlers from the British Isles - missionaries and farmers, loggers and gum-diggers, cheese-makers and shopkeepers - arrived in the mid-nineteenth century.

Today there are farmers, artists, builders, writers, teachers, musicians, and technology experts - people of all kinds, from many different cultures. Perhaps you, too, will live here. There are lots of strong community groups, and growing economic development in the area, as you'll find on this website, and that of Awhitu Enterprise: http://www.awhitu.com
What you can do to help maintain the special character of this Peninsula - and how we can help

Awhitu Peninsula Landcare and Awhitu Enterprise jointly support the Awhitu Information Office at Matakawau, next to the garage. Phone: (09) 235-1616, email: landcare@awhitu.org.nz or call in for further information on any of these suggestions:


  • Consult mana whenua, Ngaati Te Ata, about the history of your land, and any special sites to protect
  • Cherish any native bush and wetlands on your land
  • Participate in the Peninsula Pest Control project for advice and practical assistance in managing animal and plant pests
  • Talk to Landcare about free native seedlings for erosion control, and financial assistance with fencing, planting, weed control
  • Compost your house and garden scraps, and use the Matakawau Community Recycling Centre and the Waiuku Transfer Station and Recycling Centre for disposal of other re-usable resources
  • Join Awhitu Peninsula Landcare for information about field trips, planting projects, pest control, community recycling and farm safety courses
  • Join Awhitu Enterprise if you have a business enterprise or wish to establish one on the Peninsula, and use local businesses wherever possible - this keeps our community alive, and services available for us all

Awhitu Peninsula Landcare and Awhitu Enterprise jointly support


Awhitu Information Office - Matakawau

Main Awhitu Road, next to the Awhitu Garage
Phone: (09) 235-1616
Email: landcare@awhitu.org.nz


You can pick up from the Awhitu Information Centre a full set of these pamphlets:

Welcome to the Awhitu Peninsula: What is the Awhitu Peninsula?
Welcome to the Awhitu Peninsula: Land, Wind and Water
Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Animal Pests
Towards a Pest-Free Peninsula: Plant Pests


and other useful information about the land and the community here. Awhitu Peninsula Landcare has already published a series of research papers on special aspects of the Peninsula environment, and will continue to produce information on matters of interest to residents and newcomers.

In the Awhitu Information Centre you will also find a wide range of publications from the Auckland Regional Council and other resources on land, wetlands, plants, and other environmental matters.

The office is staffed four mornings a week, and our office manager can provide lots of information on employment, businesses in the area, and services available.

For the latest news watch the noticeboard beside the office, and keep looking at our websites:

http://www.awhitu.org.nz  for Awhitu Peninsula Landcare information and activities
http://www.awhitu.com  for Awhitu Enterprise businesses and events
The Future of the Awhitu Peninsula

During the period 2003-2005 Peninsula-wide discussions were led by Enterprise Franklin, and by Awhitu Peninsula Landcare, about the future of the Peninsula. People of all kinds agreed on:
  • the need for honouring our different heritages, and celebrating the strengths of each
  • planning the way land is used and businesses are established here in such a way as to protect the special rural character and environment of the Peninsula while encouraging innovation and economic growth
  • for the future, encouraging the growing of food (farming, horticulture, viticulture) and fibres (wool, flax, timber) with an emphasis on sustainability in growing and processing methods; and also encouraging food for the mind and the spirit (film, e-commerce, the arts, environmentally-friendly outdoor fun and adventure)
Most of all, we want to continue to nurture strong communities where each person is treated with respect, differences are enjoyed, conflict is resolved peacefully, and support is given when needed.

We welcome newcomers to join us in
protecting our past…planning our presence…feeding our future

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