When the current owners purchased this property north of Waihi Beach in 2016, it was covered with mature pine trees which were due for harvest within five years. The logging was completed in June 2021, and the owners’ renewed vision for the land is to restore it into a native forest, creating a habitat for native birds and establishing a permanent carbon sink.

To date, the owners have planted an impressive 15,000 native plants, with over 2,500 of these funded by generous individuals and businesses through Trees That Count. The project has also received support from a diverse group of volunteers, including friends, family, workawayers, and students from Otago Polytechnic.

The 25-hectare property, which is very steep and extends down to the sea, requires careful planting to prevent erosion. Located near Orokawa Reserve, with its mature pōhutukawa, pūriri, nīkau, and rewarewa trees, the project benefits greatly from the natural seed dispersal from these trees. To ensure their vision endures for centuries, the owners are in the process of establishing a QEII covenant on the land.