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Archives For 30/11/1999

Connecting with nature at Restoration Day

Department of Conservation —  10/07/2014

By Amy Brasch, Partnerships Ranger in Wellington.

Over 200 people recently attended the Wellington Restoration Day event in Pauatahanui. This year’s theme was “Connecting with Nature” with a particular focus on invertebrates.

Ruud Kleinpaste with a weta on his face.

The Bugman, Ruud Kleinpaste

Restoration Day celebrates the restoration efforts of the local community groups and landowners in Wellington and is a chance to learn new skills.

The event is a collaborative effort put together by DOC, local councils and other organisations and is held annually.

Restoration Day attendees.

Restoration Day attendees

The day kicked off with several inspiring speakers, including DOC’s Director General Lou Sanson, Ruud Kleinpaste (TV’s Bug Man), Dr. George Gibbs from Victoria University, and Hohepa Potini from Ngāti Toa.

Some of the day’s activities included field trips to Pauatahanui Inlet and Battle Hill where we were able to learn about the history of these ecological sites.

DOC Director-General Lou Sanson speaking at Restoration Day.

DOC Director-General Lou Sanson

The workshops during the day covered a diverse range of topics, such as: health and safety of volunteers, visitor experience, involving schools and landowners in projects, restoring special places and creating habitats for native species.

The day was a complete success with an amazing line-up of workshops and a good attendance by local community groups.

Worshop attendees at Restoration Day.

Lunchtime workshop

For more information regarding the workshops and the photos taken at Restoration Day visit the Nature Space website.

In Volunteers, Wellington/Kapiti , , , , ,
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Photo of the week: Snowing in Fiordland

Department of Conservation —  09/07/2014

Snow falling at Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre is today’s photo of the week.

The snow showed up around the country last week just in time for the arrival of the school holidays—the busiest two weeks of the ski season.

fiordland-visitor-centre-snow

The snowy and icy conditions have affected some of the tracks in the Fiordland National Park, so if you are planning on visiting please check the latest Fiordland alerts.

Photo by Caroline Carter, Partnerships Ranger.

In Fiordland, Photo of the week , , , ,
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Kiwifruit crew help planting project

Department of Conservation —  07/07/2014

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…

Tree planting.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In East Coast, Native plants, Volunteers , , ,
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“Rock Star” kākāpō chicks attract adoring fans

Department of Conservation —  05/07/2014

By DOC’s Andrea Crawford, Dunedin.

Over 1,000 people met three remarkable kākāpō chicks during a public viewing in Arrowtown near Queenstown recently.

The three kākāpō chicks together.

The three kākāpō chicks together

The smiles on people’s faces told it all—pure delight at seeing three kākāpō chicks at Arrowtown’s Athenaeum Hall.

Event sponsor Real Journeys’ Chief Executive, Richard Lauder, observed that the chicks were received like “rock stars” by the local community.

Arrowtown Hall was packed with people.

Arrowtown Hall was packed with people

Many people at the ‘Kākāpō Chicks Day Out‘ expressed thanks to DOC, saying they appreciated how special it was to get the chance to see these remarkable, rare and charismatic native birds.

It was great people got to see the chicks and learn about what makes them so special and, of course, raise awareness to assist with their recovery.

Students observing two kākāpō chicks through the glass.

Students meet two of the three kākāpō chicks on display in Arrowtown

Welfare of the chicks was critical, so all steps were taken to ensure they remained healthy and relaxed.

They took all the attention in their stride.

As well as a viewing opportunity, people listened to talks by DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery team, watched an audio-visual display and asked the kākāpō staff plenty of questions.

Kakapo chick looking at the camera.

Kākapō chick strikes a pose

The event raised about $5,000 for the programme, through gold coin donations, merchandise sales, and through the Kākāpō Adoption Programme.

The chicks will soon be moved to Whenua Hou/Codfish Island where they will spend four weeks in an outdoor pen. They will then be released into the wild and monitored closely for the next year while they are particularly vulnerable to misadventure as they learn about their wild habitat.

Watch the video by Real Journeys:

Do you follow Sirocco the kākāpō on Facebook and Twitter? This charismatic kākāpō is an ambassador for his species and New Zealand’s official Spokesbird for Conservation.

In Kākāpō, Otago , , , , ,
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Partnership to save Matai Bay Hut

Department of Conservation —  03/07/2014

By Paul O’Fagan, Inspector based in Wairau.

What happens when you get a passionate group of like-minded locals together? Well, if you’re the Tennyson Inlet Boat Club, you put talk into action and give an old hut a new lease of life.

Club members standing by the Matai Bay Hut sign.

Club stalwarts Peter and Doug with the new sign (note the club’s pirate flag)

The Tennyson Inlet Boat Club recently negotiated with DOC to upgrade Matai Bay Hut. The upgrade was managed and funded by them.

Matai Bay Hut is located only metres from the water’s edge in Marlborough’s stunning Pelorus Sound, and can only be reached by boat.

Builders finishing the deck around the hut/

Tennyson Inlet Boat Club (Callister Builders) finishing the deck

Flood tides had been causing problems for the hut. Luckily, the Tennyson Inlet Boat Club are an enthusiastic, resourceful and practical group—with many seasoned tradesmen in their ranks, including the Callister family who managed the hut renovation—and they hatched a plan to beat the flood tides.

The club got sponsorship for some materials, and got stuck in. After raising the hut 500 millimetres, onto new piles, they then built a massive timber deck and boardwalk around the hut.

Tennyson Inlet Boat Club members outside the Matai Bay Hut.

Tennyson Inlet Boat Club members outside the Matai Bay Hut

Local Conservation Services Manager, Roy Grose, and the Marlborough Sounds DOC team helped by providing guidelines, sharing knowledge and carrying out inspections.

Leanne Schmidt, the Tennyson Inlet Boat Club’s Secretary said

“Our club has invested time and effort. Conservation is an investment in places we enjoy—where you can find solitude and adventure. Our partnership with DOC has been rewarding. A success that benefits all New Zealanders.”

The upgraded Matai Bay Hut.

All completed, ready for you to visit

The club has further plans to improve Matai Bay Hut with a fly screen door, more steps off the deck and are investigating the feasibility of placing a mooring in the Bay.

In Huts, Nelson/Marlborough , , , , ,
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