August Update No Images? Click here An update from Lou SansonTēnā koutou, Welcome to my regular update, where I share conservation stories to give you an inside look at DOC's work, as well as the efforts of others contributing to conservation. Operation Tidy FoxOn 11 August our South Westland team brought one of DOC’s biggest ever volunteer responses to a close. I was able to participate in Day 46 of Operation Tidy Fox on Friday 2 August in what was one of the most remarkable days as my time as Director-General. Collecting the wrong sort of litter from the forest. Leaf litter would be much nicer. Enjoying a cuppa with a view. The team did an incredible job to provide hot drinks and plastic free food for over 100 volunteers each day! I was super proud to see how effective and efficient our DOC staff from all over New Zealand were as they worked so professionally together. The CIMS structure managed 140 volunteers and 68 New Zealand Defence staff deployed to clean up the Fox River after the 26 March major flood event. Still smiles all around despite the bone rattling ride down the riverbed each day. We couldn’t have done it without these Pinzgauers from the New Zealand Defence Force. With rubbish entangled in logs and under rocks, the only way to get it out is people power! With more than 1000 volunteers from all over New Zealand and the world contributing over 3,000 days of clean-up work the real highlights were:
Sue Haupapa and her grandson Cody Haupapa receiving certificates recognising their weeks of non-stop volunteer work cleaning up the Fox River. The Ministry of Social Development committed 20 Task Force Green workers for 8 weeks. MFE, LINZ and DOC agreed to a co-funding model of the total $1million cost. On the final weekend Otago University sent 74 students and Real Journeys sent 23 staff from Dunedin and Queenstown – incredible! “Kia ora from Tidy Fox” group photo taken as evidence of the amazing days the Coast put on for us. (Even the Portaloo wanted its moment of fame). A huge thanks to everyone who made it all happen. ‘Life is like a cup of tea, it’s all in how you make it’. These are some of the amazing volunteers who, despite the miserable rainy weather, started a dance party to keep people warm while waiting for their ride back to base. Kiwi ranger Iain Graham having a change of species – briefing 120 volunteers for Operation Tidy Fox. DOC plans its way to Government Carbon Zero BillAs part of the Government’s commitment to zero carbon, all government departments are being asked to reduce their carbon levels from vehicles by 20% from 2018 levels. The intention is that when agencies replace vehicles, they purchase vehicles that on average have a 20% lower fleet emission than their existing vehicles. DOC is the 10th highest of 72 Public Service agencies in terms of carbon use (equivalent to Fire and Emergency New Zealand) with an average of 203g/KM of CO2 for each 1000km we drive. We have the fifth largest fleet in New Zealand with 795 vehicles. It’s not surprising because we manage nearly a third of the country’s land area and often travel long distances in remote areas to carry out work. However, our emissions have continued to increase since 2018, which is largely as a result of our 4WD fleet (79% of DOC’s fleet is Toyota Hilux) and there’s also been a substantial growth in air travel as DOC has grown in numbers. So to meet Ministers’ expectations, over the next 12 months we are planning to:
Te Hono Boot Camp – Stanford University – TaiaoI was privileged to join 70 New Zealand primary industry board chairs, iwi leaders and natural resource sector CEOs (MBIE, MfE, MPI, DOC) and Minister O’Connor at Te Hono Boot Camp at Stanford University, working on a vision for primary industries which puts the environment at the core of all we do. The central theme of Taiao is the health of our environment that surrounds us and the interconnected relationships to the natural world:
The critical focus was on responding to climate change, the health of our water and the loss of biodiversity in Aotearoa. Traci Houpapa (Predator Free 2050 Limited) pledging her commitments to the Taiao vision at Stanford. New Zealand Biodiversity StrategyMinister Sage (Minister of Conservation) and Minister Mahuta (Associate Minister for the Environment), have launched the Discussion Document for the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, Te Koiroa o te Koiora. This initiated an eight-week consultation period that will run till 29 September. Francie O’Connor and George Hobson talk with Minister Sage at the launch of the Discussion Document for the NZBS. Francie and George are the two youth Reference Group members on the Stakeholder Reference Group. This is a pivotal time for biodiversity with the development of a new National Biodiversity Strategy. The strategy will set out how Aotearoa New Zealand will protect and restore nature, from our mountain tops to the ocean depths, as part of an international commitment to protect biodiversity. To find out more about how you can be involved and learn about the series of consultation events happening around the country, check out the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy page on our DOC website. The Minister of Conservation talks with Bede Bennett from The Hive, a youth engagement platform developed by the Ministry of Youth Development to support youth engagement in government policy development. The Hive is highlighting how young people are engaged in the future of New Zealand’s biodiversity. Ngāi Tai ki TāmakiOn 30 July, SLT had the privilege of hosting Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki (including Iwi Chair, James Brown) to share their views on the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Supreme Court case and the circumstances leading up to their decision to pursue legal action in the first place. Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki shared some important insights about the importance of DOC recognising Treaty Partner relationships before, and separately from, other stakeholders. Understandably, they consider that DOC has a way to go to ensure that we meet our section 4 responsibilities at all levels of our work. We share the perspective that although the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki case dealt specifically with our decision-making over concessions, at its heart it is really all about Treaty partnership. Following the Supreme Court decision, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki is keen to ‘draw a line in the sand’ - and look forward to the future, together, as partners. James Brown acknowledged the significant contributions of Andrew Baucke and Hauauru Rawiri to renewing the Treaty partner relationship between Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and DOC. There is no question that improving our performance as a Treaty partner will require change and investment – in terms of policy development as well as in our organisational culture and capacity. However, I believe that by virtue of DOC’s extensive presence ‘at place’ around New Zealand, and given the many interests we share with our Treaty partners, that this is a unique opportunity for us to lead the public sector – and bring along the wider public – by demonstrating through our work the incredible potential of Treaty partnership. World’s largest parrot discoveredFor those of you that haven’t heard my DOC story, I always talk of “ancient antiquity” and the prehistoric biodiversity hotspots of Te Hiku and the Manuherikia as our most ancient landscapes teeming with biodiversity. Fossil bones of the world’s largest parrot Heracles inexpectatus of 1 metre tall and twice the size of a kākāpō were discovered at St Bathans last week by Flinders University. The parrot lived here 20 million years ago and is as significant as the recent ancient moa track discovery. Heracles inexpectatus. World Ranger DayThree weeks ago we celebrated World Ranger Day, a time to acknowledge the critical work of rangers in front-line conservation across the globe. Rangers sit at the heart of our organisation, supported by many other staff, collectively caring for our natural and cultural taonga. On 31 July each year we recognise the work they do delivering conservation on the ground. While celebrating World Ranger Day we also remember the loss of two remarkable DOC rangers, Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobald. Since the Wanaka tragedy, we have honoured these conservation heroes in many ways. We will never forget them or the huge contribution they made to conservation in this country. Here is an extract from Minister Sage’s message to rangers for World Ranger Day. “As Minister, I’ve had the privilege of visiting many DOC offices around the country and learning first hand of the challenges and diverse work rangers are involved in looking after Aoteraoa’s conservation lands and waters, native birds, fish, marine mammals and maintaining tracks, huts, toilets and engaging with visitors. “I appreciate some of the work isn’t always glamorous or gets wonderful headlines like the successful breeding year for kākāriki karaka, but the work to keep the toilets clean, clear tracks, maintain huts and tracks for visitors who tramp, camp, kayak, or bike through the conservation estate each year are all invaluable. So thank you for your ongoing commitment to conservation. Kia kaha.” Stephen O’Dea Award – WestportIt was great to join all our Westport staff on a stormy Friday night (with some of the biggest seas running I have ever seen on the West Coast!) to present DOC’s Stephen O’Dea Development Award to Suvi Van Smit. Suvi van Smit is a Senior Ranger/ Supervisor Community for the Buller District. She will use the study award to learn about how Parks Canada works with First Nations through a co-management model. The overriding impression of my evening was the high morale of the staff under Bob Dickson’s leadership and the growth in staff at Westport as a result of new Government money for new biodiversity and recreation – heritage investments. Along with the West Coast being a surge region in terms of Government regional investment. Suvi van Smit receiving the Stephen O’Dea Award for 2019 from Lou Sanson. 2018 Stephen O’Dea Development Award outcomesLast year’s winner, John Taylor, Ranger Supervisor Recreation/Historic based in Takaka, used his award to learn about the British Columbia system of Danger Tree Assessment (DTA) in parks and recreational areas and in wildfire situations. John’s key lessons:
John’s work on detailed tree assessment will be incorporated into the training packages for inspectors and rangers, which will improve our assessment and decision-making skills nationally for hazardous trees. It will also be incorporated into our visitor assessment risk process. This is especially timely for DOC given the recent treefall incident in Queenstown. John Taylor (left) with Shane Mackintosh from Parks Canada at Waterton National Park, on the Bertha Lake Track during a Danger Tree Assessment exercise. Ngāti Rangi Claims Settlement ActThe passing of the Ngāti Rangi Claims Settlement Act on Thursday 25 July marks an important step in the Department’s partnership with Ngāti Rangi. Work on implementing the redress is in full swing led by Connie Norgate and is building up to the implementation date in a few months’ time. Te Pae Ao is a central focus of the settlement comprising a joint committee of Ngāti Rangi and Departmental appointees that will administer nearly 7000ha of public conservation land around the southern slopes of Ruapheu and Rangataua. DOC on FacebookBe sure to follow DOC on our new Facebook page, on Twitter, Instagram and more. My team have set up a hub for my social media activity on the DOC website. #DOCBoss shows all my news, views and adventures in one place. Take a look and let me know your feedback by emailing Director-General@doc.govt.nz. Hei konei rā, Lou Sanson |