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Castle Hill - Canterbury Photo: Tasha Sharp
Welcome to the Conservation Boards' Newsletter
March 2017
Kia ora
Great to see articles from so many different regions, thank you. As we lead into the New Year everyone is busy and involved in doing a range of important conservation work.
Highlights from this newsletter include: Northland’s involvement with kauri dieback and ‘Save the kukupa’ programmes; Auckland’s approval of revised Conservation Management Plan for Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island; Nelson Marlborough’s proposal to NZCA to extend Mountain Bike season on Heaphy Track; Southland’s involvement with the Tourism Forum and discussion with Fish & Game Council on water quality; Bay of Plenty’s approval of Conservation Management Plan for Whirinaki Te-Pua-a-Tāne; Wellington’s meeting with Minister Barry and Rimutaka Forest Park Trust to discuss pest management and wilding pines; and East Coast/Hawke’s Bay’s initiative for each Board member to represent a chosen DOC Community funded project with assigned DOC personnel to support and monitor progress - fantastic work. All this and more is being addressed by Conservation Boards across the country.
The annual Conservation Boards appointments process is in full swing, with NZCA and DOC providing me with a shortlist of recommendations to fill the 38 membership positions due to start on 1 July 2017 and 6 other positions that are available due to recent resignations. The final list of proposed appointments will go before the Appointments and Honours Committee in early May.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kyle Davis (Southland), Dr Benita Wakefield (Canterbury), Sue Brown (Nelson Marlborough), John Twiddle (Southland), Darren Edwards (Northland), Kura Paul-Burke (BoP), whom have recently resigned, for the contribution made to their respective Conservations Boards. I understand the commitment and effort required by all members to be part of the Conservation Boards system and realise in our busy lives circumstances can change, so I thank all members for their continued dedication to the important work of Conservation Boards and positive outcomes this delivers for conservation in New Zealand. We live in a special, unique and beautiful country and all have a responsibility to look after it.
I look forward to my involvement with Conservation Boards in 2017.
Best regards
Nicky
Hon Nicky Wagner
Associate Minister of Conservation
NZCA Field Trip to Christchurch February 2017
The NZCA held their February meeting in Canterbury, with a day set aside for a Field Trip. They were joined by Ngai Tahu representatives, Canterbury/Aoraki Conservation Board members, and local DOC staff. They visited key sites around Canterbury, including Kura Tawhiti, and the Waimakariki Valley looking at issues around tourism, tenure revue, wilding pines, and irrigation.
Updates from the conservation boards
Northland
Discussions about Kauri dieback continue by the Northland Board, with a field trip to Bream Head showing the precautions taken around this issue. The 'Save the Kukapa' posters are now being distributed all over Northland in both English and Te Reo by the Board.
Auckland
The Auckland Conservation Board share some higlights of their November meeting, were given a presentation at Auckland Zoo and celebrated the approval of the revised Hauturu-o-Toi Little Barrier Lsland Nature Reserve Conservation Management Plan in February
Nelson Marlborough
In December, the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board made a recommendation to the NZCA on the proposed extension of the mountain bike season on the Heaphy Track. Discussions at the February meeting included updates on the Kaikoura earthquake recovery and the recent whale stranding at Farewell Spit.
Southland
The Southland Conservation Board share some updates from their October and December meetings, including the Tourism Forum co-hosted with the Otago Conservation Board.
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty Conservation Board share some highlights from the end of year meetings and November field trip to Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
Wellington
Jenny Rowan, Chair of the Wellington Conservation Board, attended the Rimutaka Forest Park meeting with Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry on the 25th January 2017
East Coast/ Hawkes Bay
The East Coast/Hawkes Bay Conservation Board share information about their recent meeting, field trip to Longbush Ecosanctuary, and community interactions.
Consultations open for your comment
Intention to grant a lease/licence concession to New Zealand Transport Agency
Have your say on the Minister of Conservation's intention to grant a concession to New Zealand Transport Agency on the Milford Road. Submissions close : 18 April 2017Intention to grant a concession to Goldfields Limited
Have your say on the Minister of Conservation's intention to grant a concession to Goldfields Limited at the Kawarau Gorge Mining Centre. Submissions close : 31 March 2017Draft Wellington Conservation Management Strategy consultation
You're invited to make a submission on the draft Wellington Conservation Management Strategy (CMS). This is an opportunity for you to influence how the Wellington CMS region is managed over the next 10 years. Submissions close 4 April 2017Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan review
Have your say on the review of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan.
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Email rmcgovern@doc.govt.nz
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