A Rocha’s Wellington Local Group had their annual Easter retreat at the Abbey in Kopua from 4-6 April this year. We had a great weekend together, taking part in the rhythm of prayer at the Abbey, and helping the team of Associates in their working bee on the Kopua-riki restoration site on Saturday. We also completed the annual 5-minute bird count, which is an A Rocha Wellington contribution to monitoring the impact of the restoration project on bird life.
It was great to see the growth in the trees planted over the past three years. The Associates who initiated the project on 13.5 ha of former Abbey farmland, were inspired by the records of the former great 70-mile bush (or Te Tapere nui o Whatonga) that once covered the area. Thousands of trees have been planted already, and survival rates have been around 90%. A Rocha Wellington has partnered with the Associates of the Abbey since the early stages of the project. The aim is to covenant the restored bush area with the QE2 Trust.
If you would like to join the A Rocha team at the Abbey’s Matariki planting weekend (20-22 June 2025), please let me know. Not only is it a contribution to a restoration project, it is also an opportunity to be blessed as you participate in the spiritual life of the Abbey, and enjoy the peace of the countryside. Warm accommodation and all meals are provided. Email me on [email protected] if you are interested. Thanks to those who have already registered.
We are also booked in to the Abbey Guesthouse for the 23-26 April in 2026 for next year’s annual Easter retreat.
