Wetlands surround us as we make our way to the birthplace of Mana Manu Trust, a conservation group with as much warmth as the seaside settlement of Whangapoua where it operates.

Across our region, a vast number of farmers and landowners are protecting their backyards (which are a little bigger than most!) and the taonga species that live there. We chatted with Kapowai Kiwi Group (KKG), a community conservation group located just outside of Coroglen who have been doing just that.

Follow the songs of Tui, Kākā and Korimako down the unpaved road from Coromandel Town to the endearing sanctuary that is Tuateawa. The warm embrace of native flora such as Harakeke, Nikau, and Rātā paint a moving picture of the wild and lively Aotearoa New Zealand that we yearn for.