An iwi and polytech in Nelson are collaborating on research into the deadly native nettle ongaonga, which might hold secrets to new drugs Eric Buenz’s daughter is teething right now – so he jokes, perhaps a little wearily, that the powerful ongaonga he’s studying might help her pain and her parent’s sleep if he rubbed […]
About the author
Naomi Arnold
Naomi Arnold is a Nelson tramper, journalist, and author. She particularly enjoys writing about nature, travel, science and adventure. Some of her favourite assignments have been reporting on dotterels from Rakiura, stoats from Preservation Inlet, ice science from Antarctica, and tramping Te Araroa while writing her 2025 trail memoir, Northbound.
Dirt bike trial on Tongariro Northern Circuit gets approval
The 2026 Wilderness Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
Knockin’ on heaven’s door
The 2026 guide to sleeping mats
Walking through the valley of Hope
Subscribe!
Each issue of Wilderness celebrates Aotearoa’s great outdoors — written and photographed with care, not algorithms.Subscribe and help keep our wild stories alive.
