Finding the Land

For two decades, Lisa and Dave looked at this stretch of forest on their horizon.

It was simply part of the backdrop to daily life — a sweep of native bush rising beyond their home in Nelson Creek. They knew the contours of the ridgeline. Watched the weather move across it. Saw how the light shifted across the canopy in winter and summer.

In October 2018, the opportunity came up to purchase it.

They didn’t hesitate.

The idea of a treehouse had already been forming through years of travel and design inspiration. But inspiration means little without land. This was the missing piece.

The property offered native forest, elevation, privacy and proximity to home. It wasn’t manicured. It wasn’t cleared. It was raw West Coast bush — layered, resilient, alive. Not for the faint of heart.

With the land secured, the project became real.

The name Te Aka was chosen carefully. In te reo Māori, “aka” refers to a vine — something that climbs tree trunks, weaving its way upward through the forest. It spoke to connection. Interdependence. The way plants and people are intertwined. The way vines reach and climb toward the light resonated deeply — a symbol of hope.

For Lisa and Dave, the name also represents responsibility. Not ownership in the conventional sense, but guardianship — kaitiaki — caring for the land alongside their family and ensuring it remains healthy for generations to come.

After 20 years of looking at it from a distance, they were finally part of it. And so the legacy began.

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