Land critical for conservation purchased by Greater Wellington

Greater Wellington has purchased Gollan’s Valley Station for $9 million, a 1366-hectare block of land in the hills above Eastbourne that borders two separate sections of East Harbour Regional Park.

Chair of Greater Wellington Daran Ponter says the purchase connects the Northern Forest to Parangarahu Lakes, making the park whole.

“With over 1000 hectares of precious native bush including old-growth, environmentally significant wetlands and stunning coastal views, the station has been purchased for the people of our region,” Cr Ponter says.

“From Wainuiomata saddle to the sea at Pencarrow, the entire eastern backdrop behind Wellington Harbour is now in public ownership or protected through covenants.”

Penny Gaylor, the regional council’s Environment Committee chair, says the land will be managed by Rōpū Tiaki, a co-governance group of Taranaki Whānui and Greater Wellington overseeing the Parangarahu Lakes.

“On the open market for the first time in more than 50 years, the station’s purchase was a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure land rich in biodiversity of significance to Mana Whenua,” Cr Gaylor says.

“We look forward to working with our partners to unlock the land’s potential whether it be for conservation, recreation, carbon sequestration and maybe even power generation.”

The purchase was made possible by a $1m gift from the estate of John Marsden Nankervis, a Wellingtonian who was a prominent mountaineer and nature conservationist.

Environment Committee deputy chair Quentin Duthie says Greater Wellington is humbled by the estate’s contribution to conservation.

“As champions of te taiao, we have forged a partnership based on common values to secure land that has the potential to become a major public amenity for the Wellington Region,” Cr Duthie says.

“We hope the estate’s generosity fosters further philanthropy towards the council’s environmental goals.”

In July 2025, Greater Wellington will take ownership of Gollan’s Valley Station, about 400 hectares of which is being used for sheep and beef farming.

The land’s future will be planned through public consultation and the council’s Toitū Te Whenua Parks Network Plan. The public will not be able to access the land until the planning process is complete.