Kia ora, gardeners! This winter, as the stars of Matariki ki te Wai rise, we honour the life-giving power of water in all its forms. Matariki isn’t just a time to celebrate the new year in te ao Māori—it’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan for the seasons ahead. This year’s focus on wai (water) reminds us that, beneath the snow-kissed boughs and frosted lawns of winter, water works quietly to nourish our gardens and sustain life.
As the first frosts settle in, Kiwi gardens enter a quiet season – but there’s still plenty to do now to reap rewards come spring. Winter is a great time to clean up, enrich the soil, and get a head start on next season’s garden. By tidying and feeding your garden beds through the colder months, you set the stage for lush growth, bigger blooms, and better fruit yields. The following blog is full of tasks for home gardeners in New Zealand to tackle over winter
