The Wonder of Trees - April Newsletter
Kia Ora,
There is a particular kind of knowing that only trees can offer.
At Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation in the South Wairarapa, this knowing is being passed - quietly and deliberately - from trees to children, and from children back to land.
Founded in 2021 by Jane and Rod Sugden alongside sisters Liz and Lucy Riddiford, the foundation began with three weather-beaten kahikatea standing sentinel above a drained and degraded wetland. Keepers, as Jane describes them, of what the land once was, and what it might again become.
What began as eight hectares of former farmland near Martinborough has, with the help of local volunteers, mana whenua and schools, become a community-oriented wetland and riparian forest restoration project working to "restore the mauri of this wāhi tapu."
It was in autumn last year that Jane felt those initial aims coming to fruition - new fences and stiles, a path cut by a local Lions Club members through previously inaccessible wetland, and hundreds of native trees and wetland plants put in alongside it by local volunteers and children alike.
At the heart of the work is Te Reo o te Wai - the Voice of the Water - an eight-month education programme bringing together children, teachers, artists, kaitiaki and farmers in the Waihinga Catchment. The foundation also hosts rangatahi from Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre's conservation course.
Last month, nine and ten year olds from Southend School nestled into a quiet hollow in the heart of Waihinga Bush. They sat still. Jane spoke of mosses and lichens - the ancient, patient pioneers that first clung to the edges of streams. Out of that stillness came some of the most creative writing the children had ever produced.
This is the gift Ruamāhanga offers: a felt sense of belonging. A curriculum rooted in wonder, reciprocity, and deep time. "At the end of the three weeks of autumn planting," Jane reflects, "I walked along the path just as the sun was going down, and thanks to the work of many hands the whole area looked and felt like a real wetland."
April is the season of trees. As Aotearoa moves into autumn, leaves fall, roots deepen, and the forest prepares its quiet interior work. A moment to honour those - like the Ruamāhanga whānau - who tend the long, slow, life-giving work of restoration.
Below you will find some highlights from Ruamahanga Farm, and our latest collection of giftee updates and community news.
Ngā mihi aroha
- Biome Trust
Many Hands, One Wetland - Last winter, over 2,000 native trees were planted along the Ōtauira Manga, by around fifty volunteers. More
A Walkway of Stories - Six new stiles along the Waihinga Bridge Walkway are flanked by fifteen 3D art pieces crafted by visiting artist Adrienne Riseley from reclaimed timber - turning wayfinding into an invitation to slow down. More
Volunteering - Swiss raised Mathieu spent six weeks across the wetland, gardens and education programme - writing about his experience in this blog post.
All Water Connects - On a recent Te Reo o te Wai field trip with Mountains to Sea Wellington, tamariki caught and released fifty eels and learned about water-filtering kākahi. "All water connects," one young Kahutara student said. More
The Social Crust Carb Club potato & pumpkin harvest is taking place for the food bank in Martinborough this weekend 2 May. More
The annual PYO (pick-your-own) Sunflower fundraiser at Ruamahanga Farm is a great way for locals to connect with the farm & education kaupapa. More
Giftee Updates
Mangaroa Farms is hosting Pick Your Own Vegetables as part of Organic Week, this Saturday 2nd May. More
Ma Earth Learning Labs ishosting a Worms, Microbes, and the Wild World of Soil webinar with Compost Depot’s Bobby Nicholsonon May 11th. More
Papawhakaritorito Trust’s Dr Jessica Hutchings is hosting a Hua Parakore Soil Health Wānanga, Elevating the Mana of Hineahuone in Wellington 2-3 May. More
Kiwis in Climate wraps its book tour with a final online event on 28 April, 7:30pm NZT, featuring Eliza McCartney, Tessa Vincent, John Lang and Nick Morrison. More
House of Science has secured a $40 million contract to deliver science kits to every state school, scaling from 50,000 to 500,000 students. More
Tu Wairua’s Anna-Leigh Hodge is interviewed by Debate Magazine on the intergration of Rongoā Māori with psychedelic assisted therapy. More
Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey appeared on RNZ asking whether petrol nearing $4/litre could finally accelerate a shift from fossil fuels. More
Organics Aotearoa NZ is campaigning to halt the Gene Technology Bill, warning GMO release could cut primary exports by $10-20 billion annually. More
Kaicycle Urban Farm is hosting Climate Friendly Composting, next Saturday 9th May. More
Garden to Table is now in 309 schools across Aotearoa, with kids collectively eating more than 1 million vegetable-based meals in the past year. More
Tīwaiwaka’s Pa McGowan has released the 2026 Rongoā Māori wānanga dates hosted with Donna Kerridge across Tauranga Moana, Kawhia, & Auckland. More
Underground Festival has announced 10-11 March in Waikato for the 2027 event celebrating soil, food & farming. More
Happen Films co-founder Antionette was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and her family is raising money for her treatment & recovery. More
Toru Education highlights a range of local events & workshops from growing permaculture gardens, planning food forestry, and preserving food. More
Permaculture in New Zealand posted photos from the recent Aotearoa National Permaculture Hui, 10–13 April at Whakatu Marae in Nelson. More
Kōanga Institute reminds us of autumn seed-saving, inviting us to connect with the whakapapa of 800+ heritage seed varieties held at Kōanga. More
Learning Environment invites supporters to become one of 100 Seeds - each contributing $100 per month to sustain the growing kaupapa at Pīwaiwaka Farm in Whanganui. More
On The Land’s latest issue, featuring stories about food forests, homesteading, permaculture, off-grid living & more.
Additional News
On the Land - Aotearoa's only print magazine celebrating people living close to the land, has launched a PledgeMe campaign to raise $40,000 and secure its future. More
Organic Week,1st - 10th of May, celebrates organic soil, food and ecosytems with a range of events and webinars across Aotearoa. More
Science & Non-Duality highlights award winning film The Wisdom of Trauma featuring Gabor Maté. More
Forest & Bird has welcomed the Avatar Moth (Arctesthes avatar) as the 2026 Bug of the Year - also a critically endangered species. More
Pure Advantage compiled the Our Regenerative Future series, exploring whole-system science, soil health, economics of land use, and farmer’s mental health. More
“We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world.”
