On the evening of Friday 28th February 2025, a group of 15 enthusiastic individuals gathered at the Kaipātiki Project Eco Hub that backs onto Eskdale Reserve for a guided walk with our Regeneration Team Leader and expert Derek Craig. The topic of the walk ‘Auckland Flood Resilience’, was timely and relevant, drawing a mix of curious locals and committed conservationists.
The event kicked off with a short kōrero about the recent fruit fly situation, including updates on Kaipātiki Project’s tree gifting initiative and how people could support it through donations. Participants were also introduced to Auckland Council’s Flood Viewer Map, which was displayed on a screen and sparked plenty of discussion. Questions were raised about its accuracy and a possible equivalent for land slips. Derek highlighted how the map is a powerful tool for those house hunting or wanting to understand the risks in their own backyards.
As the group made their way into the reserve, Derek shared stories of past flooding events that had affected the area. Participants were shown just how high the water levels had risen during peak events and could clearly see the lasting impact, damaged banks, displaced vegetation and signs of erosion. An unexpected highlight? The presence of Japanese chestnut trees, likely spread along the stream by floodwaters from nearby gardens.
One notable stop along the way was a water weir hidden just out of sight, overgrown with grass but still playing a role in the water system. The conversation turned to a surprising contributor to erosion: dogs. Derek explained the concept of “Dog Slides,” where dogs repeatedly enter and exit the stream, loosening soil and allowing debris to flow into the water during heavy rain. Restoration planting is planned for seven known Dog Slide areas to reduce this impact over time.
The group also asked a flurry of questions about native trees, invasive weeds, trapping and other conservation topics. The walk became more than just a lesson on flood resilience, it became a community kōrero about stewardship and connection.
One participant, who admitted she had “dragged along” her tree-loving husband, shared a heartwarming story: “I’m not an enviro person, but I loved coming to Kaipātiki Project. Last year, I bought five gifting trees for an elderly friend who loved gardening. I later joined a tree planting day, thinking I’d only be planting those five, but there were 200! It rained, but it was great because I could show my friend where her trees were planted.”
She also revealed that after more than 40 years living on the North Shore, she had never visited Eskdale Reserve before and now planned to return and bring others.
Another attendee had found the event online and said, “We love walking and trees. We thought it would be great to learn more about what we see on our walks.”
The evening wrapped up with a washdown of footwear to help prevent kauri dieback, informal sharing of reflections and warm goodbyes. Smiles all around, it was a great example of learning in action and the power of community-led environmental education.
Inspired to learn more about your local reserves, flood resilience or connect with like-minded nature lovers? Visit here for upcoming guided walks and events.