Kia ora koutou and welcome to the second edition of Queenstown Lakes District Council's newsletter on Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens. We'll provide updates a couple of times a year on activities and developments happening in this space.
Update on 60 year plan to protect Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens
Earlier this year Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) developed a tree succession plan for the gradual replacement of Douglas fir wilding conifers within the Gardens.
Around five hectares of aging wilding conifer trees are currently located within and around the Gardens. Although these conifers play a crucial role in acting as a windbreak to shield this public space from wild weather, the dense tree canopy blocks sunlight, suppresses understory growth and disrupts natural regeneration processes of native flora and fauna.
The succession plan details how we intend to manage the staged removal of wilding conifers and replant with native and suitable exotic trees and plants over the next 60 to 80 years. This will help restore biodiversity and ecology in the area, enhance how people use this space, and ensure it flourishes for future generations to enjoy.
We received 45 submissions during public engagement in April-May 2025, with 52% in support of the plan. Feedback generally showed strong support for native revegetation and the use of southern rātā and kōwhai, along with the gradual removal of pest trees in the area. Most opposition was in relation to landscape effects and concerns around the potential loss of shelter, especially in relation to the role conifers play in acting as a windbreak.
Several changes have been made to the Plan in response to community feedback. You can read the final plan and engagement summary here. One key change is that trial planting sites will be established before any trees are removed, helping to demonstrate what the replacement plantings will look like ahead of future works (see images of these sites below).
Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Conifer Succession Plan was adopted by elected members on Thursday 14 August 2025. QLDC will now enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Queenstown Gardens Stakeholders and Whakatipu Wilding Control Group (WCG) to record agreed high-level principles of the conifer succession plan.
We'd like to thank the many interested parties that attended our engagement events, checked out the draft conifer succession plan and its supporting information, and those who shared their feedback to help inform a final approach.
Images below showing trial planting sites
An invitation to planting site blessing
You're warmly invited to mark the first tree succession planting in Te Kararo, Queenstown Gardens.
Join us on Monday 24 November 2025 at 9.00am at the southwestern point of
Te Kararo, Queenstown Gardens (see site map below).
The morning will include a blessing from Iwi and a project overview from QLDC to mark this special occasion. Following this, we'll be sharing kai at the rotunda.
We’d love you to join us in celebrating this meaningful step toward enhancing our natural environment.
Please confirm your interest in attending by Thursday 20 November 2025, by emailing parksrequest@qldc.govt.nz.
Site map
Spotlight on pest control
As part of our ongoing commitment to controlling pests that damage plantings, thirty-five rabbits were removed during the night rabbit shoot operation on Tuesday 14 October. We used thermal imaging to monitor the area and identify the locations of burrows. No possums were observed that evening, although a few mice and rats were detected.
We'll be keeping the pressure on by doing follow up night shoots and using other controls like the Ferret and Dog team. This is an additional method to target the rabbits, using the scent and tracking ability of the dogs, while the ferrets help flush out the rabbits.
Trapping
We lost a trap or two with the spring rain so we're planning on doing a trap audit before the end of year and moving traps as needed to increase catches. We are always on the hunt for volunteers so if you'd like to be involved in checking the Gardens trapline, please contact Parks Officer, Yvette Ridley at Yvette.Ridley@qldc.govt.nz
Image below from Trap.nz showing the Queenstown Gardens trapline catch from November 2024-2025. The trap line has a total of 42 traps: 17 traps for possums and 27 traps for rats and mustelids.
Our green fingered gardeners!
Our Gardens Team have been busy pruning roses and shrubs over the winter months and spreading many cubic metres of compost and mulch, concentrating their efforts around some of our larger tree specimens.
Spring planting is well underway, enhancing borders and shrubberies throughout the Gardens. The team have also been planting a variety of natives, focusing on the area near Hotops Rise. Our floral display beds are set to put on a vibrant summer display with a mix of annuals and bulbs that have been planted. However, with the recent wet weather they may be a bit sulky until flowering takes off!
A special shout out to Senior Gardener, Leo Cheng, on a well-deserved win for Premier Bloom at the Arrowtown Spring Flower Show this September - for the second year in a row! Leo took first prize for a beautiful large Rhododendron. He also won Premier Cut Flower with a Camelia and Premier Daffodil with a Double Daffodil with a stunning orange centre. Congratulations Leo, you have an amazing eye for flowers and how to present them!
Image on left: Senior Gardener Leo Cheng with trophies won at the Arrowtown Spring Flower Show - Leo also got two first prizes for another Rhododendron and a Magnolia, three second prizes for Camelias and a Magnolia, and two third prizes as well.
Centre image: Magnolia's which got first and second placings
Image on right: Rhododendron which won First Prize Premier Bloom
Investing in community spaces
A fresh upgrade to fencing around the skate bowl has been completed along with new post-and-chain fencing in several spots around the Gardens to help improve safety (see images below). The next stage of work will focus on Coronation Drive, where post-and-chain fencing installation is scheduled to get underway soon.
We’ve also installed a new light pole and bulb by the carpark near the bowls club to improve lighting and safety in this area.
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