Our projects: Restoring Aotearoa's natural beauty
Explore the impactful work we've done across Northland, from large-scale community restoration to tailored private land regeneration. See how we're making a difference, one resilient landscape at a time.
Matapouri & Tutukaka coastline restoration
The scope: Nine-year grassroots community landcare leadership (2016–2025), Coastcare group (2018-2026)
The location: Whale Bay, Matapouri along the Tutukaka Coast, Whangārei District.
"Turning a passionate volunteer vision into a permanent, structured ecological legacy."
This project was our ultimate catalyst. Alongside my partner, I co-founded and project-led this grassroots initiative from its absolute infancy. For nearly a decade, we managed the strategy, coordinated complex coastal restoration, and built deep community engagement.
We conducted pest control management, biodiversity protection, biodiversity monitoring, advocacy work from shorebirds, such as NZ Dotteral, through to North Island Brown Kiwi And little blue penguins. We conducted North Island Brown Kiwi Avoidance training for dog owners, for the local community and brought educational awareness.
We successfully received WWF (World Wildlife Funding), our grant gave our Community Landcare Group $10,612 to continue the much needed predator control operations and operational goals, over 3 years. The ultimate success of this project culminated in a proud, structured handover to local iwi and the Tutukaka Landcare Trust (TLC) for long-term guardianship.
The environmental result: Transformed a vulnerable stretch of Northland coastline into a resilient, community-backed conservation ecosystem with established native pathways and enduring local structures. This project was carried out for the local hapu - Rangiwhakaahu and community members, demonstrating our commitment to collaborative environmental action.
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Shared Guardianship: Restoring Matapouri
The restoration plan wasn’t just a document filed away on a shelf—it was a living agreement written directly for the community.
Sitting down alongside Laura Shaft, Coastal Biodiversity Manager for the Northland Regional Council, the path forward for Matapouri had to be grounded in both environmental rigor and genuine partnership. Every detail had to align the resources of the Northland Regional Council and Whangārei District Council with the deep, unbroken ties of the local hapū, Rangiwhakaahu whānau.
Together, they mapped out the coastline's future. The written plan laid down clear, practical directives: establishing dedicated zones for backdune and foredune planting, building protective fencing along fragile dune toes, marking exact photo-monitoring points, and carving out safe corridors for native fauna.
When the plan moved from paper to the sand, the whole community showed up.
Throughout the crisp winter months, local tamariki from Ngunguru School’s Earthed program got their hands directly in the dirt, taking an active, proud role in restoring their local ecosystem. Along the main beachfront of Matapouri Beach, community planting days brought together the Department of Conservation, Rangiwhakaahu Hapū, and local residents side-by-side.
Standing on the dunes, watching kids plant native spinifex and pingao alongside hapū elders and council team members, the strategy took its truest shape. It proved that lasting coastal restoration isn't just about plants and fences—it's about passing the torch of kaitiakitanga to the next generation.
Te Uri o Tai Hapu
- Project Scope: Sacred Site Preservation: Pest Weed Management & Operations Safety Framework
- Partner: Te Uri o Tai Hapu
"Providing the technical frameworks required to safely restore and protect culturally significant wāhi tapu and historic pā sites."
- The Project: I was engaged by Te Uri o Tai Hapu to develop a specialized pest weed management strategy and a comprehensive Health & Safety framework for their ancestral pā site and wāhi tapu hill. The primary focus was to deliver an expert operational roadmap that targeted invasive weeds threatening these sacred spaces, while ensuring the team could execute the work safely. With the strategy and safety protocols delivered, the hapū was fully equipped to implement the plan on the ground.
- The Strategic Value:
- Wāhi Tapu Protection: Formulated a highly respectful, targeted weed management plan designed to eradicate invasive plants without disturbing the historical and cultural integrity of the landscape.
- Customized H&S Guardrails: Engineered a comprehensive Health & Safety framework specifically tailored to the unique terrain, steep contours, and operational risks associated with working on a historic hill site.
- Operational Autonomy: Delivered a definitive, standalone master plan that successfully transitioned full implementation ownership to the hapū, allowing them to manage their heritage land at their own pace.
Testimonials
Catherine - Russell
Kayla from Nikau Consulting was an absolute pleasure to work with on our garden design and planting plan. From the very beginning, she took the time to really listen to our ideas and requirements, and she translated them beautifully into a thoughtful, well-considered plan for our section.
Her knowledge of native plants was impressive, and she selected a wonderful range that not only suits the space perfectly but also complements the overall look and feel we were hoping to achieve. The planting plan feels cohesive, practical, and perfectly suited to our environment.
Kayla was professional, creative, and incredibly easy to work with throughout the process. We’re so pleased with the result and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and knowledgeable garden designer.
Lynnette Gordon and Steve Latty. Whangaroa. Northland.
"We’re very grateful Kayla was recommended regarding direction and management of our Whangaroa property. Though not vast (one hectare) it has terrain challenges; and to date we’ve been puddling along with minimal knowledge, but lots of enthusiasm."
"In a short ‘walk and talk’ visit she acknowledged our ‘opportunities’, and gave precise advice regarding not only extension of native plantings, but vegetable/fruit trees, waterway and coastal strip, and pest eradication."
"And provided written plant suggestions/information to identify next stage plantings."
"Kayla’s relative plant study, combined with practical plant propagation and in-depth knowledge of the Far North conditions and planting possibilities, has set us on a good path to gardening success. We very much appreciate her input.
Vanessa, Paihia
"Kayla’s planting plan was exactly what I was after. She translated my ideas into a thoughtful and
achievable design, using native species suited to the site conditions. Her approach balances
aesthetics with ecological integrity, helping me create a space that supports native biodiversity while remaining manageable."
Louisa, Haruru
"Working with Kayla on our new garden design was seamless. She delivered a tailored, low-maintenance native planting plan that met our practical needs while enhancing habitat value.
Her understanding of local ecosystems and ability to integrate that knowledge into residential spaces is impressive."
Regeneration & pioneer species establishment in Marble Bay
The client: Adam — Marble Bay
"Kayla brought a wealth of ecological knowledge to our regeneration project. Her guidance around establishing pioneer species and enriching existing native vegetation was grounded in a deep understanding of biodiversity principles. The plan she developed is not only practical, but sets our property on a strong path toward long-term ecological resilience and native species recovery."
The focus: Regeneration & pioneer species establishment
"Setting a rugged coastal block on a clear trajectory toward long-term ecological recovery."
This project required a deep understanding of natural succession—knowing exactly how to introduce tough "pioneer" species to protect the land before trying to plant fragile canopy trees. We stripped away the guesswork for the client, delivering a highly practical blueprint that enriches the existing native vegetation.
The result: The property is now on a strong, self-sustaining path toward long-term ecological resilience and active native species recovery without requiring overwhelming maintenance. This project highlights our ability to deliver tailored solutions for private landowners, ensuring their land thrives with minimal intervention.
