Four Air New Zealand competition winners enjoyed a surfing lesson from pro surfer Paige Hareb before exploring the coastline of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.
Continue Reading...Archives For 30/11/1999
During the winter months, DOC Ranger Joe Waikari, goes around the East Coast region talking to schools, kohanga, early childhood centres and marae about the need to protect native wildlife from predators.
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By Richard Wagner, Partnerships Ranger based in Te Urewera
The New Zealand Army recently held a two-week exercise training in Te Urewera National Park. After the exercise had finished, the army arranged a day to give back to DOC and the local community.
Te Urewera National Park
Working alongside DOC rangers ten soldiers cut and marked six kilometres of the Whakatakaa Hut Track and another three kilometres was cut and marked by another seven soldiers.
Soldiers from Victor Company, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Biodiversity Team also had ten soldiers cutting and marking whio traplines and another ten building a new kōwhai ngutukaka / kakabeak enclosure along the Ngamoko Track.
This was a great way for the army to work with DOC. The army were also able to visit the local Te Kura o Waikaremoana School, where the tamariki/children put on kai / food for their manuhiri / visitors.
Having a go in the driver’s seat
The children thoroughly enjoyed the army visit, especially jumping on and in the Pinzgauer six-wheeler truck, looking at the weapons and eating the army ration packs.
Ko enei whakaahua, ko ngaa tamariki harikoa mai Te Kura o Waikaremoana, me nga hoea i awhi mai nga kaimahi a Te Papa Atawhai.
An enthusiastic bunch of Tongan kiwifruit workers learned some new skills and lent a helping hand to a planting project on Motu Trails’ Dunes Trail cycleway recently.
DOC Ranger, Steve Brightwell tells us more…
Many hands make light work
The Project Crimson tree planting followed a karakia, official speeches, and the unveiling of two six metre pou on a magnificent new section of the Motu Trails’ Dunes Trail cycleway.
The 60 or so people present sheltered from passing showers in a Bay of Plenty Regional Council marquee.
Once the planting was underway it was realised that the size of the task was huge and it became evident reinforcements would be needed to plant the 5,000 trees on hand.
Enter Dave Emslie, Chairman of the Motu Trails Charitable Trust, who also has a finger on the pulse at Opotiki Packing and Coolstores, which processes much of the district’s kiwifruit.
Thinking on his feet, when Dave took a call saying crews had been rained off for the day, he quickly had them into a van and out to Tirohanga, where they were welcomed like the cavalry.
Kiwifruit crew ready for action
After a quick planting lesson with Project Crimson’s Gordon Hosking and Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Land Management Officer, Tim Senior, the kiwifruit crew added some very welcome grunt to the planting project.
OPAC staff get planting instruction from Bay of Plenty Regional Council Land Management Officer Tim Senior
DOC Ranger, Pete Livingstone, said the workers arrived at a good time, as many of those who had been there for the 7 am karakia were starting to wilt and there was still plenty to be done.
Project Crimson’s Gordon Hosking (bending down) explains the finer points of planting
He said although most had only limited English, they enjoyed the opportunity, appreciated the barbecue, and left for their lodgings around mid-afternoon, having given the job a pretty good nudge towards completion.
It was great to see people from all walks of life coming together to help.
The 11 km Dunes Trail runs parallel with the coastline of the Bay of Plenty, starting at the Pakowhai Bridge (Memorial Park Reserve) in the East Coast township of Opotiki.
This is an easy (grade 2) trail that caters for cyclists of all abilities and fitness levels, providing an ideal family day out. The trail has an easy gradient that is enjoyed by walkers, runners and cyclists. The return journey of 22 km can be comfortably ridden in one day from either end – with plenty of time to stop for a swim and a picnic along the way.
Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Today we profile Trudi Ngawhare, Partnerships Ranger, Gisborne…
At work
Me and my partner Bennet at the Auckland Nines
Some things I do in my job include:
Working with the community, events, education, volunteers, community groups, iwi—whenever, wherever… even at netball or while watching rugby.
This helps achieve DOC’s vision by:
The more people that engage with conservation, the more people participate in recreation…
The best bit about my job is:
The passionate people I meet and the cool places and species work DOC people are privileged to be a part of. It’s very, very awesome!
The awesome-est DOC moment I’ve had so far is:
Seeing the return of tuatara to the East Cape—a translocation project from Ngāti Kōata to Ngāti Porou.
It was a privilege to be part of history and see the return of tuatara to the East Cape area
On a personal note…
Most people don’t know that:
I am a twin, so if you see my lookalike in Hamilton, don’t worry. We are quite accustomed to people carrying on a conversation with us before realising that they may be talking to the wrong sister.
The song that always cheers me up is…
Anything by Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder.
My stomping ground is:
“The promised land” Te Araroa, East Cape!
If I could trade places with any other person for a week it would be…
Beyonce. That way I wouldn’t have to pretend.
My best ever holiday was…
Anywhere with my family, where there is no cellphone coverage and where you don’t have to spend heaps of money, because there are five or more kids to get into everything.
Awesome DOC moment to take my kids along to lift kiwi eggs to be taken to Kiwi encounter
My greatest sporting moment was:
Actually, that I am still playing competitive netball at 36 (nothing seems to recover fast any more). My osteopath shakes her head disapprovingly.
If I could be any New Zealand native species I’d be:
A kārearea—travel would be cheaper and faster.
My secret indulgence is:
Horoera pumpkins (kina) with a side of sautéed paua off the BBQ.
My first community event dressed as a ‘Paua’
Before working at DOC I was…
A youth career coach working with early school leavers to transition into productive pathways.
I learnt many life lessons, such as talk to your kids from primary level about their interests and possible pathways that stem from them; don’t do everything for your kids, let them suffer a little bit to learn; expose them to different role models, even undesirable ones so that they know where they don’t want to be; and (not the easiest concept to sell to teenagers). STAY IN SCHOOL …everything is free!
Deep and meaningful…
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is:
“Get outside and play.”
In work and life I am motivated by:
My whānau.
My conservation advice to New Zealanders is:
Enjoy and learn about our natural heritage, that way we are better equipped to protect what we love.
Question of the week…
I never go anywhere without…
That’s easy… my gumboots, (a Coasties main apparel). If it weren’t for your gumboots where would you be?
