Join Christchurch City Council Rangers for planting and maintenance days across the seasons in our unique and stunning Port Hills and Banks Peninsula parks and reserves.

The volunteer programme restores and maintains native forest in designated areas of the Port Hills. Volunteers plant native trees each winter and maintain them in spring and autumn to reduce competition from grass.

Maintenance is the most critical part of ecological restoration success. Without regular maintenance for the first three years, plants wouldn't survive due to grass competition.

Port Hills volunteer days

Spring maintenance

Where Date Time
186 Bridle Path Road, Heathcote
(Port Hills red zone)		 Friday 8 November 1.30pm-3.30pm

Where to meet

  • Barnett Park: Meet at the end of Bay View Road, Redcliffs. On-street parking is available but please keep accessways clear for residents.
  • Dry Bush: Park at the top of Huntsbury Avenue and walk up Huntsbury 4WD track to the site, or park on Summit Road and walk down Huntsbury Track to Dry Bush. There is no parking on Huntsbury Track. Check out our walking track map for more information on accessing these tracks.
  • Latters Spur: Meet in the car park behind the Victoria Park Visitor Centre, next to the Ranger HQ.
  • Mt Ada: Meet in the grassy car parking area at Hoon Hay Saddle.  At the top of Dyers Pass Road, turn south onto Summit Road at the Sign of the Kiwi café (right turn when travelling from Christchurch). Follow the Summit Road for 2.5 km to Hoon Hay Saddle.  It is a 1 km uphill walk to the planting site.  

On the day

Come prepared for all weather and wear sturdy footwear for hill work.  

For more information, please contact fiona.fenton@ccc.govt.nz

Banks Peninsula volunteer days

Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay

Join Wairewa Rūnanga and Christchurch City Council for a planting day at Te Kāio / Tumbledown Bay.

Stay tuned for more dates.

For more information email: alison.evans@ccc.govt.nz

Halswell Quarry volunteer days

Look for directions outside the single-storey stone cottage on the main driveway of Halswell Quarry Park.

Contact Nigel.Morritt@ccc.govt.nz if you have any queries.

Stay tuned for new dates.

What to bring

We recommend:

  • Weather-appropriate clothing and lots of layers – rain jacket, hat etc.
  • Sturdy footwear for rough and uneven ground.
  • Gardening gloves.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Water bottle and a snack.