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News >>> News Archive >>> February 2008
Archived Newsletter - February 2008
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Conservation Kõrero
February 2008
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| Kia ora
About this time of year many plants and animals are busy feeding on summer's bounty.
Though probably not thinking about it in any meaningful way, in storing fat or starch they are making plans for the future. Most of us can handle that sort of planning, where the goal (such as surviving the winter) is just in front of us.
Much harder are the long term plans, where we predict what kind of world we want to find ourselves in and what we will do to get there. In the Bay of Plenty Conservancy we've been hard at work making just such a plan. It's called the BOP Conservation Management Strategy 2008 - 2018. It's a plan that will rely on the whole community to be successful, so in March and April we'll be asking what the community can suggest to make it even better. After that we'll make a deal to deliver what the plan sets out - with your help, of course. Talk to you soon.
Protect, Enjoy, Be Involved
Steve Brightwell
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Live music, plenty of fun FREE activities in and out of the water, plus a free barbie at the beach - what more could you ask? Come down to Mount Maunganui Main Beach on Sunday March 9th 2pm-5pm to join the festivities celebrating the ocean.
Try snorkelling, get wet learning how to save a whale , discover what's in the rock pools with local experts, or tackle the Coast Care treasure hunt. Local community groups, and businesses have got together to hold these events to remind everyone how special the ocean is, and how each of us can play a role in protecting that beauty.
If you're keen to take the stage at the Sea Festival, there are still a few spaces for muisic, dance or theatre that connected to the ocean. Please contact stwaddle@doc.govt.nz .
Sea Festival is part of national celebrations for Seaweek - March 2nd-9th. |
Whakatane kiwi project hits the airwaves
We enjoy patting ourselves on the back and just before Christmas National Radio featured our Project on a special 30 minute Insight documentary looking at kiwi recovery. Click here to hear the podcast of this documentary. If you're interested in participating in some upcoming kiwi calling/listening workshops to be held on March 12 and 15, please contact: Tansy Bliss, Whakatane Kiwi Project Manager tbliss@doc.govt.nz |
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World Wetlands Day on February 1 saw Fish and Game team up with the Department of Conservation, Environment Bay of Plenty, Rotorua District Council , More FM and the Hannahs Bay Restoration Group to celebrate in grand style at the Hannahs Bay Reserve More than 70 kids, plus their parents took part in tree planting, listened to stories, checked out displays of mounted native and pest wetland animals, followed guided tours or got up close and personal with some of the creatures that live in the Hannahs Bay Reserve in a "touch pool". This year's theme for World Wetlands day was Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People which emphasises the strong relationship between wetlands and human health. Wetlands act as filters to the rivers on which many towns and cities rely for drinking water. New Zealand Fish and Game Ranger John Meikle said the Bay of Plenty has lost 99 percent of its once expansive 44,000 hectares of wetlands. "We want to generate interest amongst the upcoming generations to protect what we have left and perhaps even reverse that cycle."
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Dammed if you don't
It's pretty simple really - if we don't check, clean and dry anything that comes in contact with waterways we can get used to living with didymo.
With Didymo or rock snot spreading rapidly among the waterways of the South Island, North Island authorities are now keener than ever on getting the "Check, Clean, Dry" message out there. In conjunction with other university students working for Environment Bay of Plenty, Louis Gilmore and Joseph Fraser have donned the Department of Conservation uniform and been helping to spread the word. The guys have spent time at boat ramps around the Rotorua Lakes district, Murupara and Whirinaki over the summer, handing out freebees to get the public's awareness up on, not just Didymo but other aquatic pest issues. They also spent time at kayak and multisport events passing on the word to participants transporting gear between waterways. They even helped accommodation owners set up cleaning stations for their guests and distributed brochures to retailers all in the name of getting the public to join the fight against this invasive organism. Thanks guys for all your hard work over summer.
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Cool off this summer in the Whirinaki
We reckon Whirinaki Forest Park is just fantastic, and judging by some recent blogs we're not the only ones who see it as a place for an edge of civilisation adventure. There are some amazing camp grounds to stay at, including Mangamate Waterfall , Okahu Road end and for those who like solid walls and a roof over your head there is the Recreation Camp. You won't be short of things to do either. From swimming in the river, to short walks where you will see some amazing birds and plant life, to mountain biking through the heart of the podocarp forest, to hunting - there is something to keep everyone entertained.
Make sure you stop off at our information centre and learn about the history of the area and what we are doing to help protect the area for our future generations. See you there soon!
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Attention Scribes and Poets
Are you in awe of the ocean or captivated by the coast? Then let the muse in you run rabid, put pen to paper and enter Tauranga's Seaweek Creative Writing Competition with up to 100 words about the sea and present it as creatively as you can. There are prizes for both creative composition/content and presentation in all three age categories junior (yr 1-6), intermediate (yr7-8) and senior (yr 9-13).
Entries at due March 2nd to the Tauranga DOC office. All entries will be on display at the Sea Festival, March 9th, where winners will be announced. Good luck- and get writing! |
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Something fishy this way comes...
Seaweek, March 2 - 9: get involved in Tauranga.
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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 253 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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