Jamie Stewart
@pareraho.bsky.social
Pareraho Forest. Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Runner, walker, re-wilder, re-localist. Dad. Learning from and loving our non-verbal boy. Nature every day.
Pinned
Jamie Stewart
@pareraho.bsky.social
· Jan 5
Home. Pareraho. The little, previously neglected, public forest that for the last seven years we have walked in, created tracks and picnic spots, cared for and shared.
Exploring the idea of ‘What if we put the forest at the centre of our community
Exploring the idea of ‘What if we put the forest at the centre of our community
Our walk to the corner store occasionally amazes.
April 13, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Our walk to the corner store occasionally amazes.
We made this bench in a rush one afternoon when our youngest could only sit and watch and perhaps crawl.
It was constructed from a pile of fencing debris left sometime previously. We just stood it up.
We make benches as invitations to linger.
We passed by today and it’s holding up.
It was constructed from a pile of fencing debris left sometime previously. We just stood it up.
We make benches as invitations to linger.
We passed by today and it’s holding up.
April 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
We made this bench in a rush one afternoon when our youngest could only sit and watch and perhaps crawl.
It was constructed from a pile of fencing debris left sometime previously. We just stood it up.
We make benches as invitations to linger.
We passed by today and it’s holding up.
It was constructed from a pile of fencing debris left sometime previously. We just stood it up.
We make benches as invitations to linger.
We passed by today and it’s holding up.
Long autumn walks on the tops. Gentle sun. Retreating grass revealing stock trails and surviving seedlings. Views up to the Tararua, across to Pauatahanui and back to Te Awa Kairangi.
Eyeing up efficient and beautiful routes for traplines for the boy and I to wander while my legs hold up.
Eyeing up efficient and beautiful routes for traplines for the boy and I to wander while my legs hold up.
April 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Long autumn walks on the tops. Gentle sun. Retreating grass revealing stock trails and surviving seedlings. Views up to the Tararua, across to Pauatahanui and back to Te Awa Kairangi.
Eyeing up efficient and beautiful routes for traplines for the boy and I to wander while my legs hold up.
Eyeing up efficient and beautiful routes for traplines for the boy and I to wander while my legs hold up.
Sharp calls greeted us as we crested the Pa ridge, and two falcons launched into space, one dramatically returning to land just metres from us.
March 30, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Sharp calls greeted us as we crested the Pa ridge, and two falcons launched into space, one dramatically returning to land just metres from us.
Yesterday evening, looking down on a grazed forest remnant in the headwaters of Speedys stream.
We explored there previously and found gnarled, characterful trees, survivors some of 150 years of farming, perhaps next year this valley will be grazed for the final time.
#rewild
We explored there previously and found gnarled, characterful trees, survivors some of 150 years of farming, perhaps next year this valley will be grazed for the final time.
#rewild
March 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Yesterday evening, looking down on a grazed forest remnant in the headwaters of Speedys stream.
We explored there previously and found gnarled, characterful trees, survivors some of 150 years of farming, perhaps next year this valley will be grazed for the final time.
#rewild
We explored there previously and found gnarled, characterful trees, survivors some of 150 years of farming, perhaps next year this valley will be grazed for the final time.
#rewild
We stumbled today onto a worn but characterful old giant in an obscure valley of the eastern hills.
Pukatea. Laurelia novae- zelandiae.
Pukatea. Laurelia novae- zelandiae.
March 22, 2025 at 7:54 AM
We stumbled today onto a worn but characterful old giant in an obscure valley of the eastern hills.
Pukatea. Laurelia novae- zelandiae.
Pukatea. Laurelia novae- zelandiae.
A stream-side glade cleared of blackberry, montbretia and honeysuckle. A spot I have eyed up for years catching sun in the middle of winter.
We will weed further, grass, fashion a bench seat and plant-up further this winter.
We will weed further, grass, fashion a bench seat and plant-up further this winter.
March 14, 2025 at 8:08 AM
A stream-side glade cleared of blackberry, montbretia and honeysuckle. A spot I have eyed up for years catching sun in the middle of winter.
We will weed further, grass, fashion a bench seat and plant-up further this winter.
We will weed further, grass, fashion a bench seat and plant-up further this winter.
Monday evening running group. Parents from the street briefly escaping domesticity to touch the sublime.
March 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Monday evening running group. Parents from the street briefly escaping domesticity to touch the sublime.
Just lately, tradescantia, a weed which infests shady and disturbed niches in our stream, has dramatically yellowed, potentially the result of a new fungal biocontrol.
I feel both excited and nervous. There is something primal and powerful about fungal outbreaks and how they overcome space.
I feel both excited and nervous. There is something primal and powerful about fungal outbreaks and how they overcome space.
March 12, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Just lately, tradescantia, a weed which infests shady and disturbed niches in our stream, has dramatically yellowed, potentially the result of a new fungal biocontrol.
I feel both excited and nervous. There is something primal and powerful about fungal outbreaks and how they overcome space.
I feel both excited and nervous. There is something primal and powerful about fungal outbreaks and how they overcome space.
Above the forest the public land is grazed, but this is planned to be phased out from 2026.
Today we walked a trapline, imagining forest recloaking these bare hills.
Today we walked a trapline, imagining forest recloaking these bare hills.
March 9, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Above the forest the public land is grazed, but this is planned to be phased out from 2026.
Today we walked a trapline, imagining forest recloaking these bare hills.
Today we walked a trapline, imagining forest recloaking these bare hills.
Kiekie and kiokio drape over our local swimming hole, and our boy tests its waters.
The season is turning and one extended southerly system could freeze our favourite nature immersion until next summer, but so far the extended forecast looks settled.
The season is turning and one extended southerly system could freeze our favourite nature immersion until next summer, but so far the extended forecast looks settled.
March 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Kiekie and kiokio drape over our local swimming hole, and our boy tests its waters.
The season is turning and one extended southerly system could freeze our favourite nature immersion until next summer, but so far the extended forecast looks settled.
The season is turning and one extended southerly system could freeze our favourite nature immersion until next summer, but so far the extended forecast looks settled.
Memories of last weekends adventure up an obscure Tararua stream, the Panatewaewae.
Easter orchid, nertera depressa and toropapa fruiting. Fresh water, cascades to work our way around as a team, old logging tracks to test the boy’s endurance heading home.
Easter orchid, nertera depressa and toropapa fruiting. Fresh water, cascades to work our way around as a team, old logging tracks to test the boy’s endurance heading home.
March 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Memories of last weekends adventure up an obscure Tararua stream, the Panatewaewae.
Easter orchid, nertera depressa and toropapa fruiting. Fresh water, cascades to work our way around as a team, old logging tracks to test the boy’s endurance heading home.
Easter orchid, nertera depressa and toropapa fruiting. Fresh water, cascades to work our way around as a team, old logging tracks to test the boy’s endurance heading home.
The nitty gritty of community conservation, clearing weeds from a new space to be cared for.
March 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The nitty gritty of community conservation, clearing weeds from a new space to be cared for.
Ripe tākawa (kawakawa fruit). Zingy forest treats through summer.
February 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Ripe tākawa (kawakawa fruit). Zingy forest treats through summer.
If you take the correct turn off the Forgotten Highway and persevere down the steep track, you will, as long as you don’t mistakenly stay on the steep ridge leading to the Lost World find yourself eventually at the stream.
Head upstream to the Tiny, then Mighty, Kelson Waterfalls. Wild in suburbia.
Head upstream to the Tiny, then Mighty, Kelson Waterfalls. Wild in suburbia.
February 9, 2025 at 6:43 AM
If you take the correct turn off the Forgotten Highway and persevere down the steep track, you will, as long as you don’t mistakenly stay on the steep ridge leading to the Lost World find yourself eventually at the stream.
Head upstream to the Tiny, then Mighty, Kelson Waterfalls. Wild in suburbia.
Head upstream to the Tiny, then Mighty, Kelson Waterfalls. Wild in suburbia.
Kapokapowai. NZ Bush Giant Dragonfly. Perhaps in its last hours. Damaged or old. Able to throttle wings, but not achieve flight. Scaring only our four year old from the edge of the pool.
February 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Kapokapowai. NZ Bush Giant Dragonfly. Perhaps in its last hours. Damaged or old. Able to throttle wings, but not achieve flight. Scaring only our four year old from the edge of the pool.
Cloudy day. Family walk around the coastline of Whitirea. Lovely feeling of remoteness. More seagulls nesting than I remembered from climbing days.
Just one week of the summer school holidays left.
Just one week of the summer school holidays left.
January 24, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Cloudy day. Family walk around the coastline of Whitirea. Lovely feeling of remoteness. More seagulls nesting than I remembered from climbing days.
Just one week of the summer school holidays left.
Just one week of the summer school holidays left.
Summer has finally arrived in Huttvana/ Te Awakairangi. From ridgeline suburbia we can descend to the forests and streams of the canyons to hide from the worst heat.
Trees and freshwater, the best air-conditioner.
Trees and freshwater, the best air-conditioner.
January 23, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Summer has finally arrived in Huttvana/ Te Awakairangi. From ridgeline suburbia we can descend to the forests and streams of the canyons to hide from the worst heat.
Trees and freshwater, the best air-conditioner.
Trees and freshwater, the best air-conditioner.
Kererū, our wood pigeon, lurking quietly near the Confluence. An arms length from the track. More concerned about the local kārearea, bush falcons, than passing people.
January 21, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Kererū, our wood pigeon, lurking quietly near the Confluence. An arms length from the track. More concerned about the local kārearea, bush falcons, than passing people.
Family camping. Off the beaten track in the hills behind Days Bay.
A known spot, but not well-known
We left it as we found it, sharing it with those that have passed through before and those that will.
A known spot, but not well-known
We left it as we found it, sharing it with those that have passed through before and those that will.
January 21, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Family camping. Off the beaten track in the hills behind Days Bay.
A known spot, but not well-known
We left it as we found it, sharing it with those that have passed through before and those that will.
A known spot, but not well-known
We left it as we found it, sharing it with those that have passed through before and those that will.
The un-seasonal southerly continues to chill our summer.
Our boy and I climbed Belmont Trig high above Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Our boy and I climbed Belmont Trig high above Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
January 12, 2025 at 7:01 AM
The un-seasonal southerly continues to chill our summer.
Our boy and I climbed Belmont Trig high above Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Our boy and I climbed Belmont Trig high above Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Ecological restoration is hard.
Walking today up Titoki Spur, the sharp rise at the foot of the arete-like ridge of Pareraho Pa.
Over the years as we have removed invasive weeds such as Darwin’s Barberry and Gorse natives such as kowaowao (bottom) and turutu (top) have spread. Persistence crucial.
Walking today up Titoki Spur, the sharp rise at the foot of the arete-like ridge of Pareraho Pa.
Over the years as we have removed invasive weeds such as Darwin’s Barberry and Gorse natives such as kowaowao (bottom) and turutu (top) have spread. Persistence crucial.
January 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Ecological restoration is hard.
Walking today up Titoki Spur, the sharp rise at the foot of the arete-like ridge of Pareraho Pa.
Over the years as we have removed invasive weeds such as Darwin’s Barberry and Gorse natives such as kowaowao (bottom) and turutu (top) have spread. Persistence crucial.
Walking today up Titoki Spur, the sharp rise at the foot of the arete-like ridge of Pareraho Pa.
Over the years as we have removed invasive weeds such as Darwin’s Barberry and Gorse natives such as kowaowao (bottom) and turutu (top) have spread. Persistence crucial.
Gollans Stream. Wander off the back of many front-country ridges in Te Upoko-o-te-ika-a-Maui and you enter nature primeval.
What struck me today was the moss at stream level. An intact catchment soaking up precipitation preventing the flooding that scours most streams. Centuries of intricacy.
What struck me today was the moss at stream level. An intact catchment soaking up precipitation preventing the flooding that scours most streams. Centuries of intricacy.
January 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Gollans Stream. Wander off the back of many front-country ridges in Te Upoko-o-te-ika-a-Maui and you enter nature primeval.
What struck me today was the moss at stream level. An intact catchment soaking up precipitation preventing the flooding that scours most streams. Centuries of intricacy.
What struck me today was the moss at stream level. An intact catchment soaking up precipitation preventing the flooding that scours most streams. Centuries of intricacy.
Near Rusty Forks the side stream was discoloured through pollutants in the stormwater coming from the suburb above.
Some places have “drains to sea” plaques on footpaths, we are trying to arrange “drains to swimming holes”.
So much carelessness, so many substances sold that require care.
Some places have “drains to sea” plaques on footpaths, we are trying to arrange “drains to swimming holes”.
So much carelessness, so many substances sold that require care.
January 9, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Near Rusty Forks the side stream was discoloured through pollutants in the stormwater coming from the suburb above.
Some places have “drains to sea” plaques on footpaths, we are trying to arrange “drains to swimming holes”.
So much carelessness, so many substances sold that require care.
Some places have “drains to sea” plaques on footpaths, we are trying to arrange “drains to swimming holes”.
So much carelessness, so many substances sold that require care.
Our boy led me off a familiar path into a hidden flood-course of the creek.
I was pleased to find a putaputāwētā riddled with holes. The name translates as “to emerge, wētā (a native insect)”. In a young recovering forest there are many less spaces for invertebrates, and hole-nesting birds etc.
I was pleased to find a putaputāwētā riddled with holes. The name translates as “to emerge, wētā (a native insect)”. In a young recovering forest there are many less spaces for invertebrates, and hole-nesting birds etc.
January 8, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Our boy led me off a familiar path into a hidden flood-course of the creek.
I was pleased to find a putaputāwētā riddled with holes. The name translates as “to emerge, wētā (a native insect)”. In a young recovering forest there are many less spaces for invertebrates, and hole-nesting birds etc.
I was pleased to find a putaputāwētā riddled with holes. The name translates as “to emerge, wētā (a native insect)”. In a young recovering forest there are many less spaces for invertebrates, and hole-nesting birds etc.