Threatened Plant Conservation

Mature Olearia gardneri in the Eastern Wairarapa

Pukaha Mount Bruce is involved in recovery work for a regionally threatened shrub, Teucridium parvifolium, a nationally endangered tree, Pittosporum obcordatum and a critically endangered tree, Olearia gardneri. These plants are growing in the park and can be pointed out by staff. Seeds and / or cuttings are collected from wild populations of these species and are grown to establish breeding populations. This acts as an insurance policy if the wild plants are lost. When seed is produced on the plants at Mt Bruce, it can be collected and propagated. The seedlings will be planted back in the wild to bolster the original populations. This is essentially the same approach that we use in many of our bird breeding programmes. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the survival of natural wild populations.

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