Mangamingi Bush Reserve

The Mangamingi Bush Reserve is approximately 5.7 hectares located on Rawhitiroa road in Eltham. It is a native bush reserve. Surrounded by sheep and beef paddocks on all sides, it is also encircled by a stock fence. Although the reserve was grazed by stock until about 2004, all stock have been excluded since then. A major native tree planting also happened around this time, with native trees provided by the Taranaki Tree Trust. This is the first predator control program to be in place in the reserve.

The old forest area of the Mangamingi Bush Reserve canopy is dominated by tawa with occasional matai, rimu, rewarewa and titoki. The understory is recovering and includes kawakawa, kanono, pigeonwood, mahoe, turepo and tree ferns. Native jasmine is particularly abundant and is scrambling on the ground and into the lower canopy. Native ferns are well established and dominate the ground cover. The planted margins of the reserve are a mix of well established natives such as koromiko, karamu, corokia, lacebark, kohuhu, marble leaf, lemonwood, broadleaf and wineberry. Rank grass dominates the groundcover in the open areas and native ferns are establishing under the plantings.