Newsletter - July 2026
- Jul 31
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Contents
August Programme
Review of July's Events
1st - Wanderers' Walk – Lead - Alan Jellyman
14th - Wanderers’ walk. Lead - Tony Burrell
23rd - Thursday’s Meeting. Speaker - Allan Stancliff,
Bird Flu Info
From the Zoo - Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys - Small Primates, Big Responsibilities
Help Shape a 10 year plan for our district. NPDC survey
August Programme
4th Wanderers’ Walk. - Lead Jenaya Munro and Mark Henderson
Meet at Bellringer Pavilion - 10.30am
Predator Control in the Park
11th Committee meeting
18th Wanderers’ Walk. Lead Eve Cozzi
Meet at the Zoo car park - 10.30am
We will be visiting the Zoo for a walk and tour with Eve Cozzi, Zoo Lead. Please note Eve contributes to our monthly blog – you may have seen her articles.
29th - Brass band Competition
Pukekura Park Band Rotunda 1pm - 2.30 pm
Bring a picnic, grab coffees from the Tea House and enjoy the music resonating through the Park.
27th Thursday Speaker evening. Speaker - Alan Metcalfe.
Citizens Advice Bureau, next to the Y.M.C.A. - 7pm
Alan will share his and June's memories of their recent trip to the UK and Singapore, during which time they visited several notable gardens including: Kew Gardens, The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Review of July's Events
1st - Wanderers' Walk – Lead - Alan Jellyman
A group of 19 assembled at Bellringer Pavilion eager to hear Alan’s talk and walk. The main theme was succession plantings, and Alan started by covering the early history of the park. From the sports ground he pointed to the Norfolk Island pines on some of the raised backgrounds like Fort Herbert and said these were deliberately planted to provide a dramatic height background, and also provided protection to under plantings. Looking across the sports ground to the right, three surviving ancient early Radiata pines also graced the horizon. They were old but they had visual impact and a certain beauty that comes with age. (With age maybe I am a bit biased.) Alan said he hoped they were allowed to remain for as long as possible.
When the original pine plantings on the southern terrace side above the sports ground were removed, the park apprentices were used to gather the pine cones. Seed was then extracted and sent to a nursey in France. We walked up the Horton Walk and Alan pointed out the plantings of Rimu, Totara and Kauri that Thomas Horton planted around 100 years ago to replace the pines. We observed the regenerating natural plantings occurring under these trees. Alan said the many tall tree ferns gave the area a sub-tropical appearance.
Alan took us up the eastern hill lookout area where the early pines removal allowed new plantings with a range of conifers from the southern hemisphere and southern America. Many other unusual trees are now also gracing this hillside area. Alan’s knowledge of the plants in this area was outstanding.
Alan joined the Park in 1962 and witnessed the pine removals on the western side of the main lake. He said removing the pines was controversial at the time. There was a hard underpan on areas of the hillside which required dynamiting to form a planting hole and then refilling with good soil.
The early plantings were carried out in a more open environment. This has now changed and some are now having to deal with a competitive more shaded and humid environment. In contrast some of the more exposed hillside plantings are thriving.
Some of the paths winding through the more shaded humid areas have now been planted with Parataniwha (Elatostema rugosum). Its purple and green leaves make it an excellent ground cover. It prefers shade and damp conditions, and where these conditions exist the plantings look outstanding. In fact Pukekura Park would have the best feature plantings of these of any park in NZ. These are featured along the path beside the stream coming down from Goodwin dell.
Another shade loving plant Alan pointed out, was the shining spleenwort fern (Asplenium oblongifolium or Huruhuru). These are also planted along many of the shaded paths and although they look like natural regeneration, it is known the park has planted hundreds of these. The wise park staff recognised early on that these plants are extremely low maintenance; at the same time the shining leaves gives them a good appearance. They can grow as epiphytes, so can handle dry ground conditions. When we have very dry conditions in the park and many plants look stressed and miserable, the spleenwort keeps on shining. You would think the shining spleenwort would be a popular nursery plant but it is almost impossible to obtain.
It was very apparent that Alan was still as passionate as ever about the park and this came out in his excellent presentation during this walk.
14th - Wanderers’ walk. Lead - Tony Burrell
14th July saw 15 friends gathered for Tony Burrell’s Wanderers Walk in Pukekura Park. The theme was tree shapes and form.
Tony kept us interested explaining how trees adapt to their environment in different ways creating a balance between maximising energy production, managing water use and withstanding local weather conditions. He talked about different shapes of trees and the purpose served by each particular shape. We were told how genetics dictate a tree’s basic framework but it’s shape is highly “plastic” meaning it can change in response to local conditions.
We began in the car park where Tony pointed out the Rangiora Tree Daisy (Brachyglottis repanda). It is native to New Zealand and one of the worlds largest tree daisies, having massive papery green leaves with hairy white undersides. The matted hairs trap still air which acts like a shield preventing the leaf drying out in the wind. Also known as bushman’s friend by early European settlers because the soft leaves make great toilet paper.
Turning off Smith Walk we saw a specimen of Lord Howe Kentia palm, a tree of incredible beauty and resilience, tolerant of light and low humidity making it suitable as a houseplant. It was a favourite of Queen Victoria, fuelling feverish popularity around the world.
Tony talked about apical dominance giving interesting examples throughout the walk. Apical dominance is trees natural tendency to grow tall and straight with the topmost bud suppressing the growth of side branches. This ensures the tree reaches sunlight for optimal energy. Trees have different strengths of apical dominance governing how they look. Conifers like pines and spruces will always grow straight whereas hardwoods such as maples and oaks direct branches twigs and leaves towards the light.
By the fountain lake stands an Ulmus glabara 'Camperdownii', a tree noted for it’s short stature, contorted branches and weeping habit. Every one of this variety of tree is a genetic clone derived from a single tree.
The original tree was grown from a sport (a sudden genetic mutation) found in the forest at Camperdown House in Dundee about 1835-40. It was transplanted into the house garden where it remains today, it grows on its own roots, is less than 3 metres tall, with a weeping habit and contorted branch structure.
What are commonly known as Camperdown elms today are formed by grafting a cutting to the trunk of a wych elm. The weeping mutation lacks a vertical leader branch and so a seed planted from this tree would simply crawl along the ground like ivy.
On the hatchery lawn Tony explained how karaka trees are gynodioecious with female trees which produce large crops of bright orange berries and male trees producing pollen and rarely setting fruit. This helps prevent self fertilisation.
We stopped at the native garden where Tony explained how divaricating trees such as Kowhai spend their early years as a tangled shrub growing into a normal leafy tree once they reach about three metres.
I’m sure other members were fascinated by the many other examples Tony gave us during our walk.
Thanks to Tony for an informative and interesting walk.
23rd - Thursday’s Meeting.
Speaker - Allan Stancliff, Senior Field Officer, Taranaki Fish and Game.
We had a full house to listen to Allen's beautifully illustrated talk about the waterways, fish and fowl in Taranaki. It was interesting to hear the history of the Fish and Game Council and its role in environmental management.
We saw how many weirs and dams had been constructed across rivers, some for dairy factories, resulting in barriers to migrating fish. The work on fish passes, or even the removal of structures, shows how the the restoration work has improved the migratory pathways and habitat. Allen gave us many fascinating facts and views of bird banding, electric fishing, invertebrate monitoring, and habitat restoration.
We also heard how important it is to be aware of biosecurity issues like Golden Clams and Bird Flu. We were most impressed by the body of work undertaken in Taranaki by Fish and Game and their community partners.
BIRD FLU
With the threat of bird flu in our midst, below is a pamphlet describing some of the symptoms, and whom to contact if you suspect that you have spotted a bird with the symptoms.
From the Zoo
Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys -
Small Primates, Big Responsibilities
Written by Red Brown - Brooklands Zookeeper
Bolivian squirrel monkeys are lively, intelligent primates known for their expressive faces, quick movements, and tightly bonded social groups.
Native to the forests of South America, they live in large troops and depend on constant interaction and enrichment to thrive. While they may appear cute and manageable, these monkeys are not suitable as pets. They have highly specialised dietary and social needs that are extremely difficult to meet in a home setting.
One behaviour that often surprises people is urine washing. Squirrel monkeys will urinate on their hands and feet and then rub it over their bodies and surroundings. This natural behaviour is used for scent marking and communication, but in a household, it can create strong odours and significant hygiene challenges.
Combined with their tendency to be noisy, unpredictable, and sometimes aggressive—especially as they mature—this makes them very difficult to manage outside of professional care.
There are also important health considerations. Squirrel monkeys, like all primates, can carry diseases and parasites that are transmissible to humans. These risks make close, informal contact unsafe without proper precautions and training.
Our bachelor group of squirrel monkeys undergo frequent health checks and parasite screenings to ensure they are in the best health possible. Keepers also require certain vaccinations and undertake both formal and on the job training to safely interact with the primates that call Brooklands Zoo home.
Protective items are important when working on-site, such as keepers wearing face masks when working inside the den to minimise the spread of airborne illness between humans and monkeys.
Regular health checks, controlled environments, and an understanding of their behaviour allow us to safely care for the troop while maintaining high welfare standards – something that is extremely difficult to replicate outside of a zoo setting.
Help Shape a 10 year plan for our district. NPDC survey
What Matters to Parks and Open Spaces?
Our early engagement survey is now open for our community to have their say to help inform the draft 10-year Plan (2027-2037). No decisions have yet been made so it’s vital we hear from as many people in our community as possible .
For your reference the key messages are:
This is the first stage of the LTP process – no decisions have been made.
We want to know what services matter most to you
How satisfied you are with current council services
The choices and trade-offs between service levels, fees and charges, and rates
Where we should priorities investment over the next 10 years
To have your say Click here . Then select Shape a 10 year plan for our district.
Friends of Pukekura Park Membership Application Form
To apply for membership, either click on the link to our website page or download a pdf application form
Copyright © 2024 Friends of Pukekura Park, All rights reserved.
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