Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation
Learning from Land, River and CommunityWho We Are
Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation (RFF) is cultivating a living model of regenerative education and bio-regional restoration in the South Wairarapa. Our flagship programme is Te Reo o te Wai. This brings together tamariki, teachers, artists, kaitiaki, farmers and others who are passionate about where we live, to care for the awa, wetlands, and bush remnants within the Waihinga Catchment (located in and around the awa close to Martinborough). Through creative writing, art, citizen science, and hands-on conservation, young people are learning to see themselves as part of the living system that sustains them. Our kaupapa is of a local community more connected to each other and the land, and it is growing through collaboration with others, particularly local people and organisations. Along with native plant restoration, we are hosting walking, local food growing and composting groups on the farm.
Find Out More...
In 2021 Liz, Jane and Lucy Riddiford and Rod Sugden first envisaged restoring the wetland that runs through Ruamāhanga Farm and is part of the Wairarapa Moana. Three remaining kahikatea caught our attention. They were barely recognisable, weather beaten and etiolated with few branches, having been on drained, grazed ground, and largely hidden by crack willow for the last 50 years or more. They felt like sentinels for what the land once was and what it might again be.
Rawiri Smith generously gave his time to come, see, discuss and help us dream our way into what might be possible. A kahikatea which Ra planted now stands in the ancient tī kōuka grove close to the farm’s boundary with the Ruamāhanga river, and it marks the beginning of our restoration journey. His encouragement was vital in helping us believe our fledgling ideas could become a reality.
We knew that if we were to restore the wetland, we needed to join hands with others in our local community, including tangata and mana whenua. In our blog posts you can read the stories of what has happened so far.
Latest From Our Blog
Finding My Place in Our Shared Story: Reflections on Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day has become a moment each year for me to reflect on who I am as a New Zealander, and on the long threads that tie my family to this place. I’m a fifth-generation New Zealander on both sides of my family, descended from people who came here seeking...
Volunteering at Ruamahanga farm
Hi there, My name is Mathieu. I’m a traveller from faraway Switzerland, discovering beautiful New Zealand and its people. I’ve been staying at Ruamāhanga Farm for the last six weeks, volunteering on their charity projects and in Jane and Rod's garden in exchange for...
Jack’s Hut Opening New Possibilities
When I was last in Masterton I came across a brass sculpture in one of the town precincts; it was of Russian Jack, who was the last swagman of the Wairarapa. It turns out we had our own Jack here at Ruamāhanga Farm. Our Jack was also a wanderer, who did fencing and...
Awa Kanapa
The culmination of our Te Reo o te Wai journey is an opportunity to share the fruits of the years’ conservation and creative work. This year we decided to do something different for each class; Kahutara year 3 and 4 participated in an Awa After dark celebration....
A message from the Wind
Words by Hella Coenen Over the last few weeks, we and all of nature have been challenged, to say the least, by the continuous wind. The lower North Island is known for being windy but this Spring has been ‘next level’ because there have been lots of low pressure...
Ruamāhanga Farm Walks
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!” Goethe. When asked about the kaupapa / vision for what we are doing here at Ruamāhanga Farm I sometimes say ‘vision is what grows in the footsteps of shared commitment’. In...
All Water Connects
Earlier this year, I sat above the wide swirling waters of the Ruamāhanga. I was with a class of year 3 and 4 students from Kahutara primary school in a new storytelling spot for us on Ongaha Farm. The tamariki were beginning their eight month conservation and arts...
Kahikatea and Community
Words by Jane Riddiford and photos thanks to Jenny Keate When my sisters, Liz and Lucy and my husband Rod and I first envisaged restoring the wetland that runs through Ruamāhanga Farm it was the three remaining kahikatea that caught our attention. They were barely...
Making a path into the Bush
Words by Mary Acton Adams Jane and I walked into the ‘bush’ at Ongaha Farm knowing that soon we would be bringing Mrs Hooper’s year 3 & 4 class from Kahutara School there for a nature drawing session. Ongaha bush is right beside the Ruamahanga river just a few...
Notes from a Centenarian
Words by Yvonne Riddiford It is quite a while since I wrote my initial blog, which in fact opened a few doors for me as a range of people came across it and made contact in consequence. From what I gather and what I have seen, our native restoration in the wetland and...
Matariki Special
This year Matariki provided a good opportunity for us to explore themes of looking back and looking forward with the classes from Kahutara and Martinborough primary schools who are involved in our Te Reo o te Wai education project. As always we began the sessions with...
Sunflower Fest 2025
Last month we opened our farm up to the public over three weeks. Along with raising $5,700 towards the education and wider work of Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation it was an opportunity for people to walk along the restoring wetland, see and harvest the many sunflowers that...