About Friends of Arataki

We are based in Auckland , New Zealand . The Arataki Visitor Centre in the Waitakere hills - in the west of Auckland – came into being in 1994 and the centre’s manager, along with two local volunteers, had the foresight to see the need for a volunteer group, to assist and promote the newly opened Centre.

Our volunteer group “The Friends of Arataki” was thus formed as an incorporated society in February 1995. We have since been instrumental as a volunteer group in supporting the Arataki Visitor Centre and the Waitakere Regional Park , with the community related assistance and projects. “The Friends of Arataki” have raised funds for many amenities around the centre and in the Regional Park ; such as picnic sets, live animal display cases, taxidermy of birds and mustelids for educational purposes, plant labelling, artwork, signage, plant propagation and tree plantings.

Within the Waitakere Regional Park , we have financed mustelid traps, park seats, water fountains and Te Kawerau a Maki pou at several locations.

Friends keep contact with their members through their quarterly newsletter .. the kauri cone-xion.. and through the events that are organised on a monthly basis throughout the year. Such events include walks, soup lunches, informative talks and trips to historical places in and around Auckland . We have a monthly sausage sizzle (last Sunday of each month) at the Arataki Visitor Centre to raise funds. The annual “Friends of Arataki Kids Day” in November is one of our most popular events!

Friends have an executive committee which meets monthly on the third Wednesday of each month at 7.30p.m.  Members are always welcome at our monthly meetings. Please contact us about the venue.

In February 2005, we celebrated 10 years of our incorporation!

	Some of the contributions made by the Friends of Arataki, at the Arataki Visitor Centre.
Insect Enclosure		A Display board