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News >>> Newsletter >>> September 2008
Newsletter - September 2008
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The Bay of Plenty
Conservation Kõrero
September 2008
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Greetings!
Spring is well and truly in the air, the days are getting longer and there's even some sunshine around after a fairly wet winter. Of course, we knew that's what it would be like when we moved our Conservation Week to September this year. By all accounts the seasonal adjustment worked a treat for everyone and there was plenty of good conservation work done throughout the Bay of Plenty.
Speaking of which, our congratulations need to go out again to the community groups, businesses and individuals who were presented with Conservation Awards back in late July.
Thisfantactically varied bunch doing fantastically varied work is profiled further down this newsletter. Well done and thanks to all of you for your efforts, commitment and results.
Protect, Enjoy, Be Involved
Steve Brightwell
Editor
A Driving lesson
If this is your first encounter with the Bay of Plenty Conservation Korero e-newsletter you may be wondering what it's all about. For some of us it's easy to forget Cyberspace (that's computer land) can still be a mystery to many folk. If that's you then hopefully, a couple of quick pointers here will have you connected and committed to this exciting, quick and easy form of communication in no time.
1. The blue underlined text in the newsletters are links. Clicking on it with your mouse pointer will open up more information for you. This can be a webpage, a photo, a video, a sound file or an email address for someone featured in the article. Whatever it is, we have looked at it carefully and are confident it won't end up with you getting unwanted spam email, or having your credit card skimmed. If you find a dodgy link please let us know.
2. Some (not all) of the pictures in this newsletter are also links. Put your mouse pointer over them and click, just like other links.
3. If you want to send it to a friend just forward it from your email in box, or click on the link at the bottom of this page.
4. Friends and family getting the newsletter from you can subscribe to get it directly.
5. If you would prefer NOT to know what's happening in conservation in the Bay of Plenty you can unsubscribe from this email by using the link at the bottom of the page.
6.Printed copies of newsletters can be picked up from our offices - but the links don't work! |
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Project on track with Mistletoe
 There was not much kissing (that we saw) but certainly plenty of mistletoe about when the Okareka Mistletoe Walk in Lake Tikitapu Scenic Reserve was officially opened last week.The walk is part of a wider project in the reserve known as the 'Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project' which began as a joint community project undertaken over the past five years by the Rotorua Branch of Forest and Bird and the Rotorua Botanical Society, with the support of the Department of Conservation and Environment BoP.
More than40 people turned out for the opening which involved the unveiling of two interpretation panels on the Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project and on native mistletoes - the main focus of the project. Following speeches by representatives from each of the four organisations, during whichHenry Weston (Conservator, Department of Conservation, Bay of Plenty) noted there are "plenty of examples of fauna (animal)projects [but] this is one of the few examples of a threatened plant conservation project being run by community groups in New Zealand," Henry and local resident 
from the Rotorua Branch of Forest and Bird cut the ribbon to officially open the new track.
Rotorua Botanical Society member and DOC botanist
who has been involved with the project since its formation said it was really good to see the four different groups involved and the local community come together to celebrate a significant milestone, "not only for this project, but also for mistletoe conservation both locally and nationally."
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Here's to you!
A care group perched on the edge of Ohiwa Harbour and a very local radio station took home the coveted Conservation Award certificates for 2008. Ohiwa Reserves Care Groupfocuses onWhangokopikopiko island and a couple of Opotiki District Council reserves for its broad-based conservation efforts. With everything from pest control to replanting and public awareness work falling in the group's mandate, the award judges were highly impressed.
Though less hands-on in a sense but equally committed to the cause, Radio Bay of Plenty Ltd (Whakatane's 1XX)also impressed the judges with the breadth and longevity of their support for grassroots conservation across the whole of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The judges also made two commendations and four acknowledgements. Recipients were: Merit - Radioworks Ltd (Tauranga), Mt Ngongotaha Bush Restoration Trust; commendation - Youth Development Pou Whakaaro, Mary Parkinson (Te Puna Quarry Park butterfly house), Wai-Ora Experience and Ngatuhoa Lodge Outdoor Education Society. Read the judges' comments. |
DOC goes on camp with Tauranga families
 Twenty-four families, plus invited guests enjoyed meeting local wildlife and challenging themselves in the outdoorsin the Opuiaki Forest near Tauranga aspart of national Conservation Week celebrations.
Families got to try their hand at kiwi tracking, learnt how to trap stoats, listened to native birds like the north island robin, grey warbler, and morepork, and found palatable plants most often eaten by deer and possums. Everyone got their feet wet in the Opuiaki River, as DOC staff shared their knowledge on the wide variety of wildlife while exploring the ecological hotspot.
Many visitors only came for the day but the thirty overnight visitors also met long tailed bats, glow worms, and possums. Ngatuhoa is one of the best places in the Bay of Plenty to see our native bats and the group was treated to an aerial display just on dusk. The small but hardy group who got up before dawn on Sunday to walk into the Opuiaki were rewarded with a pair of kokako, a rare songbird, singing overhead.
(If you missed out on the camp; you canclick on the bird names to hear their calls!) |
The harsh realities of mother nature
Unfortunately, it isn't alwaysan enjoyable job here at DOC - September 2 was one such day. Reports quickly started flowing in from 7.20am that there was a whale stranded along Ohope Beach. Local DOC ranger, Mike Jones rushed to the scene for some quick reconnaissance. 300 metres out, he already knew the answer - dead, and a while from what his nostrils were telling him. It turned out to be a juvenile sperm whale, 8 metres in length and probably still suckling on his mother. The carcass had visible scratches and gouges along the entire body - probably from great white sharks after an easy feed. Karakia were given and an appropriate site was found for burial. Local iwi, Ngati Awa might request the bones for future traditional carving purposes - so some beauty will be seen in this initial gruesome death.
The rest of the week saw dozens of seal pups coming ashore, right along the Bay of Plenty coastline. This time of the year the pups are leaving the rockery and trying to find their way in the world. Unfortunately, only the fit survive, so again it was a busy time for DOC staff. As usual we would like to remind members of the public that these animals are not pets and do not need any assistance - they are usually just resting up from high seas.
For heaps of info click here, or check out what local resident Mandy Hague saw and wrote...
Any seriously ill seals or those being harrassed by members of the public should notify us on 0800 DOCHOT. |
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Take a Hike!
 The weather's warming up, school holidays are loomingand it's time to drag the kids away from the TV or playstation. But where to take them? Fourtunately the smart folks at Sport Waikato and DOC have teamed up to offer you a wealth of FREE guided walks during October. The Waitawheta Tramway near Waihi will be a great walk for families on Tuesday October 7th (no hills or river crossing- honest!).If you've never explored the goldfields near Te Aroha, get your walking shoes on for October 18th.
But you don't have to wait for us.Check out all the great walks you can do in the Tauranga Area onlineor pop in to our office. Sport BOP is also running a busy events calender to keep you activein October. So there's no excuse - get outdoors and have fun! |
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The sad news of a dead baby sperm whale at Ohope has been countered by a couple of much better whale incidents in the past two weeks. Firstly a Southern Right Whale spent a few days in the shallows off Ohope, allowing plenty of folk to see one of these rare and fascinating giants at first hand, then an orca beached at Papamoa from where he was successfully rescued. Both events have thrown a focus on just how amazing the oceans are and offer us a chance to reflect on how little of it is being cared for, managed and protected for the benefit of future generations and the good of the planet. Seems a shame these magnificent creatures have to come ashore to remind us there's a whole lot more in the ocean than waves and snapper. |
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Whakatane youth learn about kiwi
As you will well know, this year's Conservation Week theme was 'Meet the locals' and that is just what a bunch of keen young Whakatane-ites did last week. They spent the afternoon in Ohope Scenic Reserve on the lookout for kiwi sign.
By the end of the afternoon theynot only knew what they look and sound like, but had found probe holes, kiwi foot prints, kiwi eggs and everyones favourite - kiwi poo! So much fun was had by all, it has been decided to repeat the guided walk/treasure hunt during the upcoming BirdsaPlenty Festival
We look forward to seeing you soon. | |
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More useful stuff...
www.destinationoutdoors.co.nz Bay of Plenty public recreation facilities
Tell us what you think about Conservation Kõrero
Take our quick survey or arrange for a hard copy for a friend. |
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Contact us at:
Tauranga Area Office
253 Chadwick Rd
Tauranga
07 578 7677 |
Rangitaiki Area Office
State Highway 38
Murupara
07 366 1080 |
Rotorua Lakes Area Office
99 Sala St
Rotorua
07 349 7400 |
Bay of Plenty Conservancy Office, 99 Sala St, Rotorua. Phone 07 349 7400
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