"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much" - Helen Keller

Unsure what you would like to help us with?
No problem, there is something fun for absolutely everybody. No special skills are required, we will show you what to do.

OUR MAIN ACTIVITIES ARE:

Nursery Work
This work involves pricking out native seedlings from seed trays into root trainers or potting up plants into PB's (plastic bags). Root trainers and PBs need to be filled with potting mix before seedlings are transferred into them. Sometimes the potted plants need weeding and the nursery often requires a clean up. A low level of fitness is required. We transport you to our nursery situated at the Rangitoto (western) side of the island near Islington Bay. Through the power of numbers we raise about 20,000 native plants each year. Volunteers have raised over 400,000 plants during the last 15 years! Many of our vols find nursery work very satisfying as this is where the future forest is born!

Tree Planting 
Over the winter months this is arguably our glamour volunteering task. Volunteers have the enjoyable task of putting into the ground native plants which have been produced in the nursery This includes grounding our matured nursery pricked out root trainers ('books' containing 4 plantlings, 50 per basket) and pb's (plastic bagged bigger plants). 

Our planting sites vary, some being on steep hillsides while others are in a valley or in wetlands. Volunteers are encouraged to work in teams of two or three with one digging holes in the amazingly friable, volcanic soil while the others fill the holes with plants and repack the soil. Refer our site planting demo. Of course, once you've grounded a plant on the island you forever have connection with what will one day be the biggest island conservation park in the nation. Once your saplings have been grounded, you will find it immensely satisfying watching how your plants have grown each time you come out to visit and knowing that one day they will be part of a mature native forest.
Planting trees requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Weed busting
Control of invasive weeds is an essential component of native reafforestation. Weed busting plays a vital part in our volunteer programme. Moth plant, woolly nightshade, apple of Sodom, gorse and rhamnus are exotic weeds which threaten the precious native forest planted by volunteers.  Ink weed, gorse, datura, fennel, and climbing dock are also a nuisance. The Home Bay Forest is thoroughly searched by volunteers looking for infestations of moth plant and other weeds. Central Gully is also a focus of moth plant removal. Volunteers complement the work of professional weed teams to ensure that the regenerating native bush is protected from further weed invasion.

Weed control is addictive with many of our volunteers preferring this to other activities. Weed busting requires a reasonable level of fitness and is a great chance to see how the volunteer forests are growing and regenerating. This activity is ideally suited to those outdoors types who like to get stuck in and mix it with these nasties.

OTHER VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

Fencing
As Motutapu is also home to Auckland region's largest pastoral farm, it is most important to maintain, in good condition, the fences separating the stock from the native bush. From time to time, volunteers with fencing skills are required to construct or repair fences around the regenerating native ecosystems. Stock invasions can be an issue if any of the fences are compromised.

Property Repairs and Grounds' Maintenance
Volunteers are required for the repair and maintenance of some of the structures on the island including the nursery, the Reid Homestead, the Red Barn, some heritage military sites, and School House. Ideally suited for the home handymen among us.  

Seed Collection
Native plant seeds for sowing in the nursery are largely collected from remnant and planted forest on Motutapu or Rangitoto. Where seed supply is inadequate for species known to have existed on Motutapu, seed may be obtained from within the ecological district up to a 12 km distance. This means the seeds are ecosourced. Our core volunteers are expert at recognising when seeds are ready for harvest.  

Beach Cleanups
Motutapu is blessed with a long coastline with several attractive beaches. These beaches benefit from a rubbish clean up from time to time to help keep these special places looking beautiful. This activity can happen any time of the year and is suited to adults and children. A lower level of fitness is required. This activity often also provides a good opportunity to explore Motutapu.

Wildlife Monitoring
In the future, we may require help with monitoring wildlife (birds, reptiles and invertebrates).

Maintaining Military Sites
In the future we will be looking for volunteers who are interested in maintaining some of the many military sites on the island.

Set up days ('SUDs')
Each Saturday before a planting day we need a team of up to 6 volunteers to 'set up' for the planting day. This involves moving the plants (in root trainers and pbs) from the nursery to the planting site and requires a moderate level of fitness and a little bit of muscle! Set up volunteers then overnight on the island staying at School House, our volunteer accommodation base alongside the nursery at the Islington Bay end of the island. If you are interested in knowing more about being involved in a 'SUD' please let us know.

Do you prefer weed busting to planting?
The weed team operates every planting day to continue the fight against moth plant and other invasive weeds. If you want to join the winter weed team please let us know when you register so we can ensure we have enough equipment available.