Next volunteer day
Saturday January 24th, 2026
We had a great trip on 2nd December, the Blog has been added for your enjoyment. If you want to hear about our other 2025 trips hit the Join Us button (above) to be notified.
36,103
Wilding Pines
Pulled, Cut or Poisoned
864
Hectares under management
213
Volunteer Days
Our Work
Wilding Pine Control
Our core work is to organise volunteer trips to areas of infestation where we can assist the Department of Conservation and other landowners to reduce spread and manage existing infested areas
Raising Awareness
We want the public of Hawke's Bay to be more aware of the prevalence and impact of wilding pines, and what can be done to control them.
Fundraising
We hope to attract funding not only to support our volunteer efforts but also to enable the use of contractors to help private landowners with wilding pine control
Case for Support
Who are HBWPCT (Hawke’s Bay Wilding Pine Control Trust)
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3 local trustees;
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A group of local volunteers who generously give up their time to help control wilding conifers;
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Basically people who care about the environment and have the time / energy / skills to help.
What do we do?
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Pull, cut & past, and cut down wilding conifers which are growing in the wrong places;
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Raise funds, raise awareness and coordinate a volunteer monthly wilding conifer control day;
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Work with DoC and HBRC to identify the areas with the strongest need.​​
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Where is the problem?
What’s the problem?
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Invasive, quick growing wilding conifers in places they don’t belong;
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Reduction of habitat for native species, due to rapid wilding growth;
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Reduction of biodiversity – wilding conifer habitat favours wilding conifers;
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Reduction of recreational and tourist opportunities;
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Increased risk to waterways during storms;
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Increased fire risk in extreme heat;
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Increasing costs to remove the problem as the trees get bigger and the areas grow.
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Why do we need help?
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Not government funded;
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Only functioning on Grants for charitable trusts;
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All time and energy comes from volunteers.
What do we need help with?
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On-going running costs (gear, safety equipment, herbicides);
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Publicity / website / social media costs;
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On the ground physical help with removal of wildings;
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Funding for the future – contractors to help, paid part-time co-ordinator.
What is the best way you can help?
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Donations to the trust;
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Spreading the word about what we do;
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Active users of Forest Parks can help by pulling out small wilding conifers when they see them close to tracks.
What are the advantages of giving support?
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Green credentials for you / your business;
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Knowledge that you / your business are helping to make a difference;
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Tax advantages through donations.
What if we don’t get any help
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Wilding conifers will continue to self-seed, infesting farmland, native ecosystems and sensitive water catchments.