Waitoru Project

03/08/2026

30/07/2026

🦋 WHERE HAVE ALL THE BUGS GONE?

Have you noticed it?

There was a time when driving through Te Henga Valley at night meant hundreds of moths, insects and tiny flying creatures swirling through your headlights. You couldn’t miss them.

But these days… there seems to be almost nothing.

No clouds of moths.
Far fewer insects around the lights.
And that wonderful nighttime abundance that we once took for granted seems to be disappearing before our eyes.

So, where have they gone?

We don’t want to jump to conclusions and there are undoubtedly many factors that can affect insect populations, habitat changes, climate, artificial light, predators and agricultural chemicals among them.

But when we are also seeing the increasing use of herbicides and other pesticides in and around our precious wetland and waterways, shouldn’t we be asking some serious questions about what impact these chemicals may be having on the tiny creatures that underpin this entire ecosystem?

Because insects aren’t just “bugs”.

They are food for our birds, bats, frogs and fish. They pollinate plants. They break down organic matter. They are an essential part of the food chain that keeps our wetlands and native forests functioning.

And when the insects disappear, everything above them in the food chain is potentially affected too.

🌿 We need to start paying attention.

If you’ve lived in Te Henga for 10, 20, 30 or more years, we’d love to hear from you.

Do you remember the abundance of insects and moths in the valley at night?

Have you noticed a decline?
When did you first notice it?
Are there particular places where the change seems most obvious?

We’d especially love to hear from anyone with old photographs, observations, records or stories that might help us understand how much our insect life has changed.

And perhaps it’s time we started properly monitoring what is happening.

Because if we don’t measure it, we can’t understand it. And if we don’t understand it, how can we protect it?

💚 Te Henga is a living ecosystem, not a chemical experiment.

Please share this post with anyone who has lived in the valley for years. Let’s start a conversation and see what our community remembers.

Where have all the bugs gone?

Bethells Bongo Bethells Beach/Te Henga Community Group Te Henga Wetland Collective

02/06/2026

New signs ready to install…

05/11/2025

Exciting News from Earthbound & Waitoru! 🦇🌿

After several weeks of careful monitoring using specialised bat-detecting equipment, we’re thrilled to confirm that rare native bats have been recorded right here at Earthbound & Waitoru!

These fascinating little creatures are an important part of our local ecosystem and their presence is a wonderful sign of a healthy natural environment.

We’ll continue to look after their habitat and work to ensure they can thrive safely alongside everything else that makes our whenua so special. 💚

Stay tuned for more updates as we learn more about our nocturnal neighbours!

29/08/2025

Somethings been spotted at Waitoru …

Our beautiful native bush sanctuary is alive with energy this season. The bees are busy gathering nectar, the stream is flowing clear and the birdsong is stronger than ever among the trees. From tūī and kererū to the pīpīwharauroa, the ngahere is humming with life.

Every day reminds us why protecting and nurturing this special place is so important. Waitoru truly is flourishing – a taonga to be shared and cared for. 💚

26/08/2025

Our Spring - Fed Waterfall at Waitoru

At the heart of Waitoru flows a spring - fed waterfall, a place of mauri and renewal. Fed by the wai māori that rises from the hills of The Bethells Valley, the stream tumbles year round over mossy rock into a cool, shaded puna. Even in times of maroke, the puna continues to flow, carrying the waiora of the whenua.

Around the wairere, ponga, mamaku and kānuka stand as silent kaitiaki, sheltering the awa iti as it journeys through the ngahere. The air is fresh with the scent of stone and fern and manu fill the valley with their waiata. At night, titiwai light the banks like whetū, while koura dwell in the clear waters – tohu of a thriving, healthy ecosystem.

The wairere is more than a feature of the whenua – it is the manawa of Waitoru. It nourishes the three streams that give this place its name and embodies the wairua that connects people, land and wai.

30/07/2025

Nestled in the wild beauty of Bethells Valley, Waitoru is a privately held piece of land rich in native biodiversity and deep spiritual significance. Named for the three streams that converge on the land, Waitoru is a sanctuary of natural wonder: a waterfall tumbling into cool bedrock pools, glowworms that light the night, pekapeka in flight, koura in clear waters and an abundance of native birdsong echoing through the bush.

Our vision for Waitoru is to tread lightly, protect fiercely, and share generously. We hope to enhance and preserve its natural features through careful stewardship and regenerative practices ensuring this taonga thrives for generations to come.

We believe that connection to nature should be accessible. As we develop Waitoru with restoration and preservation in mind, we invite collaboration from our local community. Whether it’s helping plant native trees, monitor wildlife, or simply bringing school children and local groups to learn and be inspired. We want Waitoru to be a living classroom and a place of belonging.

Waitoru is not a commercial venture. It’s a heartfelt project, grounded in kaitiakitanga, aiming to honour the whenua, awa and all living things that call it home.