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News >>> News Archive >>> December 2007
Archived Newsletter - December 2007
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The Bay of Plenty
Conservation Kõrero
December 2007
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Kia ora
The return of the Godwits/Kuaka comes as a pleasant reminder of the circular nature of the seasons and life's ebb and flow. No sooner had we realised we were missing them than they have once again arrived in the in-box of the Bay of Plenty's natural heritage landscape. Hopefully, too, it will be that way with this edition of Conservation K õrero; an old friend returned - albeit a little changed by her travels.
We're still bringing you the news of what's happening, what's planned and things to note, but we're also embracing a new ethic of sustainability and reduced carbon footprint.
This change to an electronic format is just one of the small adaptations we can all make to effect a major improvement for the environment and conservation in the long term.
We hope you like the new product and the reasons for doing it, but, just in case you don't, we'll still have print copies available at our front desks or for distribution through the time-honoured channels.
Protect, Enjoy, Be Involved
Steve Brightwell
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 If you've already got your Freeview set-top box in action you will have seen the first of a great series of mini-documentaries featuring the work the Department of Conservation around the country.
The series producers have been visiting our patch to film stories with our locals at Karangahake and several sites in the Rotorua Lakes Area.
If you're not ready for digital TV yet, click to find out what it's all about. |
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There's more beneath the sea than meets the eye, and the Eastern Bay of Plenty has had a real eye-opener in its waters of late. A cruising Blue Whale, the largest living animal on Earth, was seen by tourists aboard one of the Department of Conservation-licensed marine mammal watching vessels operated by PeeJay Tours. The encounter seems to have been handled in accordance with marine mammal regulations which all boaties are required to know and observe. Still at sea, it's worth reminding folk that fantastic creatures of the like just mentioned need a bit of a hand to avoid extinction. The Bay of Plenty has two marine reserves; at Tuhua/Mayor Island and at Te Paepae o Aotea/Volkner Rocks. Fishing in these is a definite no no and boaties are reminded to check their maps and get familiar with the boundaries if going near these special places. |
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 One of the most historically significant sites in the Kaimai ranges was opened up to community when Mayor John Tredgida (Hauraki District Council) formally opened a new bridge in the Waitawheta Valley, near Waihi, before a crowd of more than 80 people on November 24. Multiple river crossings have limited visitors to the industrial history of the Waitawheta Valley to hardy trampers until now. The family friendly track extends approximately one hour into the bush through the dramatic gorge scenery and features historic tramway track, interpretive signage, and reconstructed logging bogeys all painstakingly brought up to standard by DOC staff who have been camping in the valley on and off for the past two years.
The Waitawheta Track follows a historic tramway that was used to log kauri in the valley until the late 1920s. John Stace, the son of a kauri bushman who worked in the Waitawheta, and his family joined the Department to explore their family history with the excavation of a logging bogey remains on the river bank below the new bridge. John's father was involved in a minor accident where the bogey came off the bridge in 1928. The bogey remains were only discovered in 2006 by DOC ranger Warren Geraghty.
For visitors who enjoy getting their feet wet, multiple river crossings are still required beyond the new bridge and the reconstructed logging bogeys. The Waitawheta Hut is approximately two hours from the bridge site, and is located near the original Waitawheta Sawmill remains. |
Tahi, rua, toru, RIMARAU!
From an organisation that's very good at counting their chicks after they hatch, comes the great news that Kiwi Encounter has now birthed its 500th kiwi!
We ighing in at a healthy 344.9 grams, Rimarau (Maori for 500) entered the world while the Kiwi Encounter kiwi husbandry team and customer staff kept a close eye on proceedings .
This special kiwi hails from Taranaki and will be re-released back into the wild when it reaches its goal weight of approximately 1 kilogram. DNA testing of its feathers will be used to determine its gender.
Kiwi Encounter staff are delighted to reach this important milestone as they dedicate their lives to saving our national icon and every kiwi hatched in captivity means a greater chance of survival when it's released back into the wild. The average survival rate for a kiwi hatched in the wild is only about 6%, whereas it's around 65-70% through the kiwi recovery programme. |
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Useful stuff:
How to make it wet and wonderful
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More useful stuff...
Department of Conservation National Website
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Contact us at:
Tauranga Area Office Rangitaiki Area Office Rotorua Lakes Area Office Chadwick Rd State Highway 38 99 Sala St Tauranga Murupara Rotorua 07 578 7677 07 366 1080 07 349 7400
Bay of Plenty Conservancy Office, 99 Sala St, Rotorua. Phone 07 349 7400
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