Field Reserve is a three hectare reserve of mature coastal and lowland broadleaf forest on the hills behind Paraparaumu growing on sandstone. It is part of the Paraparaumu Bush Reserve system, and enables some connection to parts of DOC’s Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve. The Reserve was donated to Forest and Bird in 1973 by Lydia Pharazyn, daughter of Rt. Hon. Willie H Field, who originally owned the land and was at one stage the largest landowner of the district. WH Field was careful to leave some of his land to allow native flora and fauna to flourish. The reserve is mature kohekohe forest with a nīkau palms, māhoe, tawa, rātā and a number of podocarps. It is reasonably similar to the Barry Hadfield Nīkau Reserve near Lindale a kilometre further south (which has good tracks).
Field Reserve © Gavin Klee
Getting there
Field Reserve is located south of the Otaihanga Roundabout on Old SH1,1.6km north-east of Paraparaumu and 3km south-west from Waikanae. The reserve is about 4kms from the coastline at (Paraparaumu Beach). There is no parking at the Reserve. The closest safe place to park is the rest area near No.150 Old SH1 about 300m south of the reserve on the opposite side of the road. Please take care on the road due to traffic and the deep ditches. Note that there are no tracks through the Reserve.
The locals
Common bird species found in the reserve include tui, grey warbler, silvereye, NZ pigeon, North Island fantail and morepork.
The three-hectare reserve contains mature kohekohe forest with a mix of nikau, tawa, mahoe, totara, kahikatea, rata, miro and matai. More than 50 species of flora have been identified there.
What can you do
It is hazardous to walk in the Reserve as there are no tracks, and parking is awkward, however the Reserve is trapped for mustelids and other predators, and bird counts are undertaken regularly.
