Regeneration Dream
PRIORITY
A young family in the catchment is setting out to create a sanctuary where they can connect with nature and build a future together.
When Hanna Brockbank-Smith and Danny Paulsen purchased land from Danny’s parents in 2021, they were continuing a family connection that spanned three decades. The land had been in Danny’s family for 35 years; his grandparents farmed there, followed by his parents, and Danny spent his childhood on the property. When the farm was sold, Danny and Hanna bought 4.3 hectares that they now call home with their nearly 3-year-old son, Arlo.
Aware that some of the land, impacted by pine harvesting, was now ecologically fragile and unsuitable for grazing, Danny and Hanna saw an opportunity to rethink the future of their land. With sections of the Mangangarara and Kaiparahoura streams—both feeding into Taurekaitai (the Pōrangahau River) —running through the property, they chose not to graze bulls to protect the waterways.
“So, we thought we’d plant it up and turn it into a bit of a forest. The idea is to create a sanctuary for our families to come and still feel like they’re in the country,” says Danny.
The couple’s end goal is for their land to have thriving bush and birdlife, with clean and protected waterways that can one day be opened up to the public. They’ve been busy planting since 2022 and have had two rounds of PCG's Priority Project funding.
"After getting 1,200 plants in the ground that first year, I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve bitten off a very big project here.’ At that pace, it would’ve taken me a lifetime to finish. But now, with the progress we've made by being able to plant over 4,500 plants and trees, largely because of the funding, everything’s going to be established pretty quickly, and we can start focusing on other projects like walkways,” says Danny, a fencing and planting contractor.
The couple is keen to acknowledge Danny’s parents for their contribution to the ongoing project. “We wouldn’t have achieved as much as we have, or so quickly, without support from Danny’s parents. Linda and Neil have come out numerous times to help us plant and develop the land,” says Hanna.
Maddy McLean, PCG Priority Project Coordinator, is impressed by what she’s seen happening at Danny and Hanna’s property.
“They’re putting in all the work themselves to transform what were old pine trees, pampas, and willow back to natives,” says Maddy.
Hanna, who has a background in youth work and early childhood education, was raised by a single mother who took her on overnight bush trips whenever they had the chance. 
“I’ve always loved the bush,” she says.
Danny adds, “When you head out into the bush, maybe you’ve got cell coverage, maybe not, but it just resets you. Even just one night out there, and you come back feeling refreshed—even if you’ve had a rough night camping on the rocks. Your body might still be worn out, but your mind is totally reset.”
Danny and Hanna hope to learn from the land they now have and share that knowledge with their son and others who might be curious. The PCG community workshop they attended in September highlighted just how much of the catchment’s ngahere (bush) has been cut down over the years, leaving stretches of bare land in its place. Seeing what the landscape used to look like gave Danny and Hanna even more reason to stick with their vision, making them even more determined to bring the whenua and wai back to life.
As they crack into their third year planting and planning their bush reserve on the land, Danny and Hanna are keen to collaborate with fellow nature enthusiasts—particularly those who can help them build a few bridges (both literally and metaphorically) and keep the pests at bay.
