Te Ruruhau ō Hinetearorangi - Nature Connection

Join us for a fun day of nature activities for the whole whānau.
Kōrero with local experts and take action for nature.

- Go on guided nature walks and help restore the remnant native forest.
- Meet the mokomoko and make your own clay mokomoko.
- Explore one of our local awa and find out how healthy it is.
- Discover how the past affects the present and the future: learn more about fault lines and local mātauranga.
- Find out what ākonga across the Wairarapa are doing to take action for nature.
- Get creative with arts & crafts nature activities.
….. and more!

Please check back closer to the event for an updated programme with more details!

Brought to you by Ruamāhanga Restoration Trust in collaboration with local organisations and experts to give you a fantastic day at the Solway Showgrounds Farmers Market.

Collaboration partners include Wairarapa Farmers Market, Kahungunu Ki Wairarapa, Potangaroa Education, QEII National Trust, Chris Hollis PhD, Aratoi, Enviroschools, Department of Conservation, Mountains to Sea Wellington, Waiawa Botanicals, Mauri Tūhono, Predator Free Masterton, The Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance, Greater Wellington, Forest & Bird, and others.

This event is part of Conservation Week 2024 - www.doc.govt.nz/conservationweek

The name of the event means "The shelter (like a ruru) of Hinetearorangi". This is inspired by the old name of Solway showgrounds - Purakau o Hinetearorangi, and where we hope that in a future where more people take action for nature we will see an abundance of ruru (morepork) sheltering in the trees around Whakaoriori/Masterton. Purakau refers to an old large tree under which people could find shelter. One of these trees, a large totara, grew on a bank of what we now know as the Solway Showgrounds. The tree had grown on an angle and over time part of the soil within the roots had eroded as had the underside of the tree trunk so that the base of the tree was like a cavern. When tipuna Hine Te Arorangi and her husband Te Ua were foraging in the area they were surprised by a storm and sheltered under this purakau. The name was given to the place after this happened.