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Kia ora tātou
There are two exciting events coming up for the Dunes Trust. One is we are going through the process of re-branding ourselves as the Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand and the other is our annual conference in Christchurch on the 22nd, 23rd & 24th of March 2017 and because there is so much to see and do in Canterbury we are adding two bonus field trips; on Saturday the 25th we are going to visit Banks Peninsula and the nationally significant dunes at Kaitorete Spit, and on Sunday the 26th we will travel north visiting interesting sites along the North Canterbury coastline including the rare dune wetlands at Ashworths Beach and the historic site of Port Robinson where a local group have been restoring a coastal forest.
Our re-branding is acknowledging that the coastline of New Zealand is not all sand dunes and it is the same with our conference; we will be looking at and discussing a diverse range of coastal issues including sand dunes, coastal wetlands, shellfish, shore birds, rocky shores, estuarine environments, katipo, lizards, climate change, coastal geology, earthquakes, coastal communities and urban issues. There will be weaving workshops and opportunities for everyone to contribute, have a say and share their own successes.
If you have not yet been to a one of our conferences I invite you to come. You will meet a whole new bunch of coastal enthusiasts like yourselves and be in for a wonderful, friendly and informative experience. I also invite everyone to please stay on for the extra days and whilst you are in the region it is a perfect opportunity to visit Kaikoura and maybe assist the local branch of Forest and Bird and the Huttons Shearwater Charitable Trust who are doing amazing things in a very dynamic but gorgeous coastal environment. Find more information on our website.
I'm sure most of you will be holidaying at one or more of New Zealand's stunning coastal places this summer. Be safe, look after those dunes and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Ngā mihi nui
Greg Bennett
Chair Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand/Tāhuna ora
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