Ark in the Park

Size: 1843 hectares

Note: Ark in the Park is located in the Waitākere Ranges, much of which is currently closed by a rāhui to minimise the spread of kauri dieback disease. Find open and closed tracks and read about protecting our kauri.

Project description

Ark in the Park is a conservation project in the Waitākere Ranges which began in 1999. The project is a partnership between Forest and Bird and Auckland Council, supported by the local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki.

The vision of the Ark in the Park Open Sanctuary is to enhance indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem functioning within the project area.

Ark in the Park project area.
Ark in the Park project area immediately surrounding the Waitākere dam and reservoir. Huge kauri crowns emerge in the canopy.
Photo credit: Andrew Macdonald, Biospatial Ltd 2019

Ecosystem description

The project area is part of the large tract of native forest in the northern part of the Waitākere Ranges.

It was chosen as a biodiversity focus area because it includes the best remaining example of a mature kauri forest (WF10) ecosystem. It is also located in one of the few areas unmodified by timber milling. 

It has a range of native ecosystem types from mature forest to regenerating scrub. This provides a variety of habitat types and food sources for native species. 

There is a high diversity of plants species and fauna including the at-risk pepeketua (Hochstetter’s frog) and critically threatened pekapeka-tou-roa (long-tailed bat).

Restoration

One of the aims of reducing animal pest numbers is to create safe habitat to reintroduce previously lost native species to the Waitākere Ranges. Species that have been reintroduced to this area include:

  • pōpokatea (whitehead)
  • toutouwai (North Island robin)
  • kōkako

Toutouwai and kōkako populations continue to increase in the area.

Ark in the Park project area showing massive kauri trees in the Waitākere Ranges.
Waitākere golf course at the southern end of the Ark in the Park project area is surrounded by massive kauri trees. Unfortunately, kauri dieback is present in a number of these groves.
Photo credit: Andrew Macdonald, Biospatial Ltd 2019

Threats

Kauri dieback is now widespread throughout the project area. This means that public access is currently restricted in some areas to reduce the risk of spreading the soil-borne pathogen further.

Some public tracks have been upgraded to reduce this risk and have reopened. Find open and closed tracks and read about protecting our kauri. Note that Ark in the Park activities are strictly managed to prevent the spread of kauri dieback. 

When you visit the park, you need to clean your footwear and equipment to avoid transferring disease from one area to another.

Geological features

There are two small Outstanding Natural Features in this area:

  • Waitākere Falls
  • Cascade Falls and conglomerate bluffs.

Both reflect the volcanic history of the Waitākere Ranges.

Related ecosystems

Regenerating ecosystem

Kānuka scrub and forest ecosystem (VS2)

Found throughout New Zealand, kānuka dominated forest establishes readily after fire. It's diverse range of flowering and fruiting shrubs and trees provide habitat for a wide range of invertebrates, birds and lizards.

Threat status
Least concern

Regenerating scrub

Mānuka, kānuka scrub ecosystem (VS3)

This ecosystem is abundant in the Waitākere Ranges and on Great Barrier Island. It establishes after disturbance events, such as fires. It occurs across a wide range of soils, altitudes and latitudes and provides habitat for many native fauna.

Threat status
Least concern

Warm forest ecosystem

Kauri forest ecosystem (WF10)

In the north of New Zealand, dense forests of the iconic kauri occur on hill slopes and hill crests. This long-lived forest ecosystem is significantly threatened through the spread of kauri dieback.

Threat status
Endangered

Warm forest ecosystem

Kauri, podocarp, broadleaved forest ecosystem (WF11)

Once widespread across the Auckland region, this warm forest ecosystem contains a range of podocarp and broadleaf trees on different landforms. It is an ideal habitat for birds, bats and lizards thanks to an abundance of fruit and nectar.

Threat status
Endangered