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About Us

Remutaka Conservation Trust is the operating name for The Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust Inc. and is a non-profit community group made up entirely of volunteers and members committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful Remutaka Forest Park located east of Wainuiomata, near Wellington, New Zealand.

We believe that the Trust, in partnership with the local community and Tangata Whenua - and with support from the Department of Conservation (DoC), local bodies and a myriad of interested groups - can succeed in restoring a self-sustaining natural biodiversity where indigenous flora and fauna will flourish and allow visitors to the park unlimited access to the precious taonga o te ngahere o Aotearoa.

The Rimutaka Forest Park Trust was formed in October 1988 to stimulate public interest in conservation areas, encourage interactive research and environmental programmes and to collaborate with DoC in the fullest development of the Park.

The Trust is an Incorporated Society and registered charity, supported by an entirely voluntary workforce.

Recently, due to the Treaty Settlement affecting the name of the Forest Park and mountain range, we changed our trading name to better reflect the nature of our activities in the Park. We now operate as Remutaka Conservation Trust.

Membership Fees - 2023

In 2020 the Trust committee slightly raised the annual membership fees. Applicable to the 2021/ 2023 years, annual subs are as follows:

Individual member: $25
Family Membership: $40
Associate, School or Corporate Membership: $50

(All prices are in New Zealand Dollars)

View or download the Members' Application Form here:

Membership form

President's Annual Report - 2023

View our latest Annual Report here:- RCT_Annual_Report_2023

(Previous year's Annual Reports can be accessed from our Downloads Page.)

The Trust committee meets every six weeks and is always keen to hear from anyone prepared to take a more active role in the Trust's activities, whether physical - with expertise or skills, or willingness to learn - or by supporting the trust as a paid up member - or any combination of the above! Alternatively, you can help to Save Our Kiwi (and other native wildlife) by sponsoring a trap, a kiwi, or tree. (More...)

View our 5MBC data and acoustic recorder analysis here:

5 Minute Bird Count Network

Acoustic Recording Programme - 2016 Report

Wanted!! Volunteers for various roles within the Trust. (More...)

Rock pool at Graces Stream

Rock pool at Graces Stream near the Old Five Mile Track Loop and the old free campsite area. This was a stunningly beautiful camping site where entire families of New Zealanders have been camping for generations - now closed by DOC for safety reasons.
(Photo credit: PC.)

Lowland beech forest viewed from the Orongorongo Track, Rimutaka Forest ParkMagnificent lowland broadleaf forest - mixed with beech and nikau groves - surrounds you as you walk along many sections of the Orongorongo Track to the river in the Remutaka Forest Park, one of New Zealand's most easily accessible and popular bush walking areas. Photo credit: PC.

The beautiful Graces Stream camp site area in the Rimutaka Forest Park.