The community goal for the Glenside reserves is to protect, restore and promote them. The historic Halfway House is on the main Glenside Reserve.
Safe Haven for Birds strategy & landscape plan
In 2025, the Glenside Progressive Association Inc. was granted funding to engage Wildlife Management International Ltd to develop a community driven strategy and landscape plan to Create a Safe Haven for Birds in Glenside Reserve. This will be the overarching plan for the reserve. Workshops will be undertaken in March 2026. WMIL will carry out the following work:
- Engage with group members, Ngāti Toa, local community and wider stakeholders to identify project objectives and aspirations, and to understand motivations for involvement with Glenside Reserve through an on-site half-day workshop.
- Undertake an on-site survey of the site to identify key habitats for birds and requirements for each area (including weed management, foraging planting, wetland development, predator control, etc.).
- Review historical and current bird records at Glenside Reserve and determine long-term options for enhancing and increasing bird numbers and numbers of bird species into the area.
- Work alongside other experts (freshwater, botany, etc.) as required.
- Produce a strategy document incorporating all feedback and aligning with local and Regional Government requirements for the site.
Glenside Reserve water plan
In 2025, Wellington City Council commissioned Morphum Environmental to develop a Water Plan for the Glenside Reserve. This work includes the following:
- Site walkover to identify, categorise and map (in GIS) existing freshwater values, stream classification, and key areas for restoration activities to improve freshwater health. This will include consideration of permanent, intermittent and ephemeral areas and their riparian margins.
- Produce overview site plan map showing existing freshwater and associated riparian habitat across the reserve.
- Produce high level enhancement opportunity plan map showing provisional restoration/enhancement opportunities relating to freshwater values (noting this is will inform a later detailed operational restoration plan)
- Provide brief summary report outlining key definitions, the basis of the assessment, existing site conditions and key freshwater enhancement opportunities for the reserve.
- Present to iwi / hapū, community, and council stakeholders via a community group hui on the findings of site assessment and opportunities presented. This will likely include discussions on the existing ford, undermining of wastewater infrastructure and implications of existing and ongoing residential development in the headwaters.
Glenside Reserve discussion document
In 2023 and 2024, the Association hosted three walks on the main Glenside Reserve to obtain feedback from local authority officials and the community on what needs to be done to protect the wildlife (birds and fish) and enhance the reserve for public access. A link to the Discussion Document is below.
Discussion Document - Glenside Reserve Walk -(2023, 2024) PDF (3.8 MB)
This document builds on earlier reports.
In 1991 Wellington City Council commissioned a Glenside Reserve Recreation Study.
In 2004, Wellington City Council commissioned a Glenside Reserve Future Options report.
In 2004 the Glenside Streamcare Group prepared a Vision report with their ideas for the Reserve.
In 2008 the Wellington City Council prepared a draft Northern Reserves Management Plan for consultation. The Glenside Progressive Association was active in bringing the community together to make submissions on these reports and plans.
Wellington Botanic Society Inc. plant identification
On 16 February 2025, a team from Wellington Botanic Society Inc. undertook a study of existing species on the Glenside Reserve.
Wellington Botanical Society study - PDF (190 KB)
iNaturalist NZ - Glenside Nature
All the cool things that live in Glenside.
Glenside Nature [External Site]
Christopher Stephens moth discoveries in Glenside Reserve
Christopher Stephens Mothcapade in Glenside {External Site]
The Glenside Reserves
The Glenside Reserves consist of three areas of land. Westchester Drive dissects the main reserve.
The largest reserve area is beside the former Twigland Gardeners World site. It is where the Halfway House and Newlands/Paparangi Pony Club are.
The second area of reserve was the Glenside Estate developer contribution in 1930. It is located on the corner of Middleton Road and the north side of Westchester Drive. Back in 2005, the community vision for this area, was for it to be developed as a village green. This never eventuated, as the community effort went into the restoration of the historic Halfway House and gardens on the main reserve.
(Full village green concept sketch)
The third area of reserve is a small walkway off Glenside Road. It once had a bridge across to the main road, however the stream has been diverted and access has been lost. The walkway now enables contractor access to infrastructure.
