Willow

Committee Member

MAGESTIC GIANTAWESOME YET THREATENED

Willow has worked and played in the Hunua Ranges for many years and contributes to the conservation of this special place. Here he shares his connection with one of New Zealand's iconic trees that is currently under threat...

The Hunua Ranges must be one of my favourite sanctuaries.

I spend quite a bit of time there as part of a volunteer pest control group while looking after all the Trigene Footwear Cleaning Stations. I'm always in awe of the mighty Kauri and there are quite a few pockets of excellent stands of them in the Hunuas, mostly in remote areas.

With a pleasant walk via the Massey Track you can get right up close to some big specimens. It is like looking at the pillars of the Cathedral of Heaven! A boardwalk protects their roots from being trampled on.

A walk through Waharau Regional Park leads you through a stand of young Kauri (Rickers) and at the Mangatangi Dam you can behold and marvel at the sheer size of the Kauri Forest there.

Please note that the mighty Kauri is under threat from a miniscule fungus which interrupts the feeding system of the Kauri roots once it's established. Make sure you use the Trigene Footwear Cleaning Stations wherever you see them to disinfect any possible spore-carrying soil particles on your footwear.

Enjoy the Hunua Ranges and revive your spirit for free!

Our People

Willow
Committee Member
Willow has worked and played in the Hunua Ranges for many years and contributes to the conservation of this special place. Here he shares his connection with one of New Zealand's iconic trees that is currently under threat...
Louis Ingle
Committee Member
Louis is the FoHR secretary and lives adjacent to the Hunua Ranges. He shares with us his favourite aspects of this area.
Mary
Committee Member
Living in Clevedon close to the Hunua Ranges Mary has worked and played in the Hunua Ranges for many years and contributes to the conservation of this special place. We ask her what is one of her special connections with the ranges...
Gabb
Committee Member
Gabb has been enjoying the ranges for many years, both riding and creating the network of mountain biking (MTB) tracks in the Moumoukai Valley with the Auckland Mountain Bike Club...
Merv and the Kohukohunui Trig
Friends of Hunua Ranges Chairman Merv Hood knows this part of Auckland well, having tramped around there for decades. he shares with us his favourite walk, the epic Kohukohunui Trig...

News & Events

Stories from the Kōkako Management Area

by Lenny van Heugten

Read the remarkable story of the recovery of a very special, at-risk native bird, the North Island kōkako.

Author Lenny van Heugten, an enthusiastic environmentalist working in the South Auckland and North Waikato regions, brings to life this remarkable story.

Weta Hotels with Friends of Hunua Ranges

Help the Weta - order your own or sponsor us

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

If you would like to be informed of activities, volunteer opportunities and general news about the Hunua Ranges, then subscribe to our eNewsletter...

Farewell Ranger Scotty

Ranger Scott Kusabs moves on

Ranger Scotty opens Fred Flintstone track

Departing Ranger for Hunua Rangers Scott Kusabs joins us to reflect on his 13+ years at the job...

Track Closures in Hunua Ranges - Help Keep Kauri Standing in Your Backyard

Higher risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park are closed from 1 May 2018.

A number of higher risk tracks in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park are closed. A Controlled Area Notice (CAN)* is in place across the forested areas of the Hunua Ranges as well as the Waharau Regional Park.

SCRUB | SPRAY | STAY on the track

Click to expand list

Willow

Committee Member

Our People

Willow

Committee Member

Louis Ingle

Committee Member

Mary

Committee Member

Gabb

Committee Member

Merv and the Kohukohunui Trig

News & Events

Stories from the Kōkako Management Area

by Lenny van Heugten

Weta Hotels with Friends of Hunua Ranges

Help the Weta - order your own or sponsor us

Subscribe to our e-newsletter

Farewell Ranger Scotty

Ranger Scott Kusabs moves on

Track Closures in Hunua Ranges - Help Keep Kauri Standing in Your Backyard

Stories from the Kōkako Management Area

by Lenny van Heugten

Weta Hotels with Friends of Hunua Ranges

Help the Weta - order your own or sponsor us

Subscribe to our e-newsletter
If you would like to be informed of activities, volunteer opportunities and general news about the Hunua Ranges, then subscribe to our eNewsletter...

Farewell Ranger Scotty

Ranger Scott Kusabs moves on

Kiwi in the Hunua Ranges The re-introducion of Kiwi to the Hunua Ranges has begin - exciting times...

The FoHR Mistletoe Project Normally associated with Christmas, this interesting plant is now regionally threatened in Auckland. The Mistletoe Project has seen us work with Auckland Council to help recover it's propagation in the Hunuas...

Parks in Europe - an interesting perspective

by Merv Hood

50 Years of Auckland Regional Parks

by Merv Hood

Hunua Ranges Mountain Biking Promo

by Matthew Neary

Moumoukai Valley Willow Removal Moumoukai River south of the dam was a busy place through winter of 2014 as decades old willow trees were removed in the interests of the area

Working on the MTB Tracks We joined some energetic folks from the Auckland Mountain Bike Club to see what goes into their regular Working Bees at Hunua...

Hunua MTB Skills Area Opening Day It was a beautiful mid winters day that marked the official opening of the new MTB Skills Area and the Friends of Hunua Ranges group.

Our supporters

Willow

Committee Member

Our People

Committee Member

Committee Member

Committee Member

Committee Member

News & Events

by Lenny van Heugten

Help the Weta - order your own or sponsor us

Ranger Scott Kusabs moves on

by Lenny van Heugten

Help the Weta - order your own or sponsor us

Subscribe to our e-newsletterIf you would like to be informed of activities, volunteer opportunities and general news about the Hunua Ranges, then subscribe to our eNewsletter...

Ranger Scott Kusabs moves on

Kiwi in the Hunua RangesThe re-introducion of Kiwi to the Hunua Ranges has begin - exciting times...

The FoHR Mistletoe ProjectNormally associated with Christmas, this interesting plant is now regionally threatened in Auckland. The Mistletoe Project has seen us work with Auckland Council to help recover it's propagation in the Hunuas...

by Merv Hood

by Merv Hood

by Matthew Neary

Moumoukai Valley Willow RemovalMoumoukai River south of the dam was a busy place through winter of 2014 as decades old willow trees were removed in the interests of the area

Working on the MTB TracksWe joined some energetic folks from the Auckland Mountain Bike Club to see what goes into their regular Working Bees at Hunua...

Hunua MTB Skills Area Opening DayIt was a beautiful mid winters day that marked the official opening of the new MTB Skills Area and the Friends of Hunua Ranges group.

Our supporters

Subscribe to our e-newsletter
If you would like to be informed of activities, volunteer opportunities and general news about the Hunua Ranges, then subscribe to our eNewsletter...

Kiwi in the Hunua Ranges The re-introducion of Kiwi to the Hunua Ranges has begin - exciting times...

The FoHR Mistletoe Project Normally associated with Christmas, this interesting plant is now regionally threatened in Auckland. The Mistletoe Project has seen us work with Auckland Council to help recover it's propagation in the Hunuas...

Moumoukai Valley Willow Removal Moumoukai River south of the dam was a busy place through winter of 2014 as decades old willow trees were removed in the interests of the area

Working on the MTB Tracks We joined some energetic folks from the Auckland Mountain Bike Club to see what goes into their regular Working Bees at Hunua...

Hunua MTB Skills Area Opening Day It was a beautiful mid winters day that marked the official opening of the new MTB Skills Area and the Friends of Hunua Ranges group.