The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act which came into force in 2008 represented a milestone in the life of the Society. Wayne Thompson documents WRPS’s dedicated efforts by several generations of volunteers and experts in ensuring the Ranges’ survival tracing back to early conservation efforts in the Waitākere Ranges to the Act’s passing in 2008.

For 53 years, Wayne Thompson was engaged in a wide variety of newspaper and magazine journalism. As a reporter for the New Zealand Herald he covered the citizen movement for permanent protection of the Ranges, his favourite place for recreation.

Although this was produced as an e-Book, a limited number of copies have been printed for anyone who wishes to purchase a hard copy, which is offered at cost price ($20) while stocks last.

Anti bird-strike window stickers alert birds to the glass before they try to fly through!

The only anti bird-strike stickers with native New Zealand fauna. At just $25 per pack of 7 large stickers on two A4 sheets, it includes a beautiful poster.

Sales support restoration of the wetland, benefitting all native species including our endangered duck pateke (brown teal) at Matuku Link.

By Don Binney

Hardback, 256 pages, New Zealand, 1 April 2010

In 2008 painter Don Binney completed a suite of 24 coloured pencil drawings

In 2008 painter Don Binney completed a suite of 24 coloured pencil drawings of Auckland’s West Coast, from Huia to Te Henga (Bethells). They are evocative of the coast so many New Zealanders love and they are magnificent works in themselves. They are accompanied by text that takes the reader on an imaginary journey from Huia to Te Henga, commenting on the landmarks shown in each of the drawings. They also draw on Binney’s extensive contact with this coast and with the Waitākeres in general: in early adulthood he tramped and camped throughout the area, he was a founder member of the Waitākere Ranges Protection Society and he has often used his art to underpin his conservation-activist work.

Soft cover,   77 pages, generously illustrated with b&w & colour photographs

 The history of the field hut built by a ‘syndicate of five’ University of Auckland Field Club students at Anawhata in the 1920s.  The hut on its 7 ha of land on a headland above Fisherman’s Rock (White’s Beach) was gifted to the University in 1966 by its surviving owners.  Unfortunately the hut was burnt down by an arsonist on 11 April 1998.  All that remains is the fireplace’s concrete hearth adorned by a kiwi outlined in pebbles, and a large memorial stone from the Te Henga Quarry erected by the University’s School of Biological Sciences. The land is still owned by the University, but it is managed under an agreement with Auckland Council.

The story of the Waitakere Ranges is written by many authors who tell us from various points of view, what it is about the Ranges that they love and value.

The book contains essays on the natural history, asserting the fascination and intrinsic value of the wildlife and proposing ideas to enhance it. Other essays tell the history, both the destruction and conservation of the great forest and the lives of the people who settled here. Maori past is presented as a poetic essay about the place names in history and legend. The Ranges environment has inspired some of New Zealand’s most celebrated poets writers and artists, so the book concludes with the reproduction of works of art, poetry and prose that are identified with the area.

This book has over 50 contributors and covers the natural history, history and culture of the Ranges area.

Over 500 pages, hard-covered, in full colour and lavishly illustrated with wildlife photographs, drawings and maps, historical and contemporary photographs and paintings from the nineteenth century to the present, the book tells the story of this place in many voices, an encouraging story of recovery of an area once nearly devastated. this book has something for everyone who loves the beautiful Waitakere Ranges.

Edited by Bruce and Trixie Harvey, the book is a collection of essays, articles, art and writing from over 70 contributors.

Sponsored by Waitakere City Council, Auckland Regional Council, ASB Trust, Lotteries,Watercare Services Ltd and the Waitakere and Portage Licensing Trusts, the book was a long-term project that was finally realised in 2006.

Size:  29cm x 42 cm.

Unframed.

Size:  46cm x 58cm.

Unframed.

Size:  63cm x 44cm

$30.00   unframed      

$75.00   framed (white or brown)

Edited by Bruce and Trixie Harvey

The book tells of the many people who have contributed to the conservation and protection of the Ranges and makes it clear that the work of the Society would not have flourished without the hundreds of members who have given their support.

All T-shirts are 100% cotton except the grey marle which is 85% cotton/15% polyester