William Upton Hewett Memorial Reserve

Native Forest Restoration Trust stewardship. The Reserve is a 242ha block of regenerating shrubland on the upper slopes and Kauri/Podocarp/Broadleaf forest in the gullies with a large kahikatea swamp along the eastern stream boundary.

The diverse vegetation habitats provide for a correspondingly diverse wildlife. The North Island fernbird is a regionally threatened species and is declining nationally; the reserve appears to have the best population in the Whangarei area. There is a small kiwi population as well as grey warbler, kingfisher, native pigeon, pied tit, morepork, pukeko, spotless crake, fantail and a large tui population which is very noisy when the kowhai are in flower.

As a habitat for threatened species the reserve has been classified by the Department of Conservation as having outstanding value, particularly the swamp area. Very little of original native habitat remains in the district and many regenerating areas are unprotected. Much of the reserve contains vegetation that is unique in the area.

Walking tracks are open to the public and additional infomation can be viewed at https://www.nfrt.org.nz/reserves/william-upton-hewett