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In this newsletter:
- Operations - rounding up 2023/24 and getting 2024/25 underway
- Conference in the North Island
- Meet Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) team
- Safety matters
- Research update
- Webinars, people in the news and handy links
Sherman says...
We hope you have made it through winter safely and enjoying the signs of spring.
There is a lot of interest in wilding management at the moment which can only be a good thing! The collective team (here at BNZ more broadly across the programme) have had a busy quarter, with plenty of opportunities to share information about wilding management with interested people, alongside operational and business planning for this new financial year, within a slightly new look Pest Management Directorate at BNZ.
Sherman Smith, National Wilding Conifer Control Programme Manager at Biosecurity New Zealand
Looking back over the year and seeing what has been achieved, the efficiency of our control operations stands out. It's an impressive feat that our operations consistently are on forecast, or better. Cost estimation is a challenge for any industry where time, equipment and supplies are involved - let alone factoring in large and varied operational areas within vulnerable landscapes, with multiple control methods and weather mixed in. Together we are delivering excellent value for every dollar.
The credit for the quality results we deliver belongs to everyone involved in our collaborative planning and decision making work, with a shared focus on our common goals, and the expertise of our contactors in designing, planning and delivering operations.
I’m looking forward to the conference and having some good conversations around this year’s theme: Wilding Free Aotearoa – The Hikoi. The importance of looking and walking (hikoi) forward, seeking solutions together, is what got the National Programme started! It will be good to regroup around this and discuss the next stage for the National Strategy.
See you around, Gavin!
Before going on, a shout out and mihi to Gavin Udy at Otago Regional Council. With a change in role, your time as part of the wilding control programme is up but its great to know you'll still be on the case of other pests!
See you at the conference in Taupō
It will be great to get together in the North Island, see some familiar and new faces and get out to view some important local work. Choosing between the three field trips on offer may be a challenge – thanks to our local partners for your support in making these happen.
Conference exhibits: Community Poster Space
The conference venue will have a dedicated space to feature poster displays - a chance to showcase your project to everyone. Ask for details when you register.
Team updates
It's been a while since we introduced everyone from the team here at BNZ. We'd love to introduce more faces from around the programme partners, send us pics of your team (with their permission to share of course).
Alan Tinnelly
Operations Lead
Adam Ross
Operations (South)
Randall Milne Operations (North + Southland)
Sarah Fish
Policy, Strategy and Programme Lead
Jen Agaldo,
Research and Good Practice
Johno Tunnell
Health & Safety, Good Practice
Sarah Vernon
Coordination, Finance, Reporting, you name it!
Leigh Strange
Engagement & Communications Lead
A new face is soon to join us in the Wilding Conifer Information System (WCIS) team at LINZ. Still on long term leave are Simon Heddle-Baker (Business Analyst) and Lynn McIlveen-Lees (Programme Lead)
Operations update
2023/24 delivery
Our collective crews of fantastic contractors and project managers around the country have delivered the planned control work for the year and maintained strong safety standards.
Over $18 million was spent on control operations through the last financial year, through a combination of BNZ baseline funding, Conservation (International Visitor Levy) funding, NZDF funding and contributions from other partner agencies, councils and landowners.
There has been investment in activities such as WCIS, good practice, engagement and awareness raising.
Of course on top of this are many highly valuable hours contributed by volunteers, without whom many more landscapes and special places would be at greater risk from the impacts of wilding spread.
Safe Start
In August, Robin and Rich from ECAN, Adam and Johno from BNZ, Zac from Zolve Environmental Ltd and local Rangitata MP James Meager talked safety and wellbeing with contractors ahead of the upcoming season.
Thanks to Kate at ECan for the story and photos - see them online
Investing in contractors is an important part of the national programme partners' shared focus on safety as well as operational excellence.
Thinking safety beyond numbers
Johno shared some food for thought after attending a roadshow Proving Safety, hosted by the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM).
Management Unit round up, end 2023/24
Te Ika-a-Māui - North Island
A successful and safe year of operations, a credit to everyone involved.
Northland: In Te Hiku MU in the Far North, planned drill and fill and felling work was completed at Te Paki Station and Great Exhibition Bay.
Coromandel: Ground control in the Coromandel MU was completed to plan.
Central North Island: The largely ABBA-based control programmes were completed in the Tongariro and Kaimanawa MUs, with some drill and fill control also in the Tongariro. Rangitaiki MU saw aerial and ground control work continued through to the end of June.
Te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Maui - Top of South Island
Marlborough: Planned drill and fill work in the Sounds MU was completed as was ground and aerial work in the Waihopai. In Molesworth, ABBA operations continued into June, focused on the Alma Tarndale and Saxton Severn Muller operational areas.
Tasman: The Mount Richmond MU received ABBA work, finishing up around the Gordons, Starvell and Red Hills operational areas.
Te Wai Pounamu - rest of South Island
Canterbury: Ground control and ABBA operations continued across Canterbury well into June, focused in the Mackenzie Basin and Craigieburn MU, with some additional control in the Godley MU to support the transition pilot. These areas will be closely monitored over the upcoming seasons. Mechanical work got underway at Ferintosh Station.
Otago: ABBA and ground control has been delivered across the Whakatipu Basin and Central Otago MUs. Of note was the removal of a Pinus contorta shelter belt from the Upper Taieri catchment. This was a small operation but an important step in changing attitudes to wilding seed sources and will help protect large tracts of vulnerable land in the Lammermoor MU.
Southland: The planned ABBA programme in the Takitimu MU and some additional ground control undertaken in the Mid Dome MU.
Preview of 2024-25 control operations
The map below shows the Management Units where we expect control work will be funded through BNZ from now until end June 2025.
Despite the changes most governance agencies have seen this year (some still ongoing), its pleasing that the baseline funding for the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme has been retained.
Still, increasing funding for control remains a key focus, and exploring opportunities with partners for additional control funding is now part of our business as usual for the foreseeable future.
All spending is undergoing some extra scrutiny, which means a longer process to get the 'green light' to start control operations for the 2024/25 year.
Learn more about:
> Management Units and ops planning
> How control work is prioritised
Research & Technical Advisory Group update
New Good Practice Guides coming up
Two new Good Practice Guides, for post-control monitoring and spot spraying, are in the final stages. Jen is currently incorporating feedback from the Technical Advisory Group. Once the guides have been reviewed by the Operational Advisory Group and finalised, we will make these available.
Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
The TAG is one of several groups that advise on National Programme work. The TAG meets several times each year to advise on the wilding management monitoring framework.
Members provide technical input into research projects, good practice guide development, policy work and key information resources like the Wilding Conifer Quick ID Guide.
The group is made up of subject matter and technical experts from across all the sectors involved in the National Programme.
2024 TAG meetings
In early May, the BNZ team and Scion hosted TAG members on site at several key wilding management operations and trials around Canterbury. The trip provided an overview of the research that underpins the work by all involved in the National Programme towards the aims of the national wilding conifer
^ A very cold group of TAG members and VLR researchers take shelter between field trip stops in May. Photo: Thanks Jo Ritchie for photo.
management strategy. The large group (above) visited Flock Hill, to see current control methods and a historic burn site; examples of native regeneration post-wilding control at Craigieburn Forest Park; and use of spot spraying by hand and using drone.
The TAG met again for half a day in August. Following updates from BNZ, the Wilding Pine Network, the Vive La Resistance researchers and Department of Conservation, this meeting included:
- Presentations from suppliers on potential new herbicide formulations for wilding control;
- Scion presented on updates to the Wilding Tree Risk calculator, in progress with Te Uru Rākau – NZ Forest Service (MPI);
- Reviewing control options in buffer zones around water; and
- New good practice guides.
TAG members have also been supporting ongoing work to assess the potential for greater use of grazing as a control (or post-control) tool to inhibit seedling development.
News and useful links
Great people, great projects, good reads!
It's great to see the mahi (work) of partners around the country making the news:
Webinars collaboration
Scion and the Wilding Pine Network kicked off a new series of webinars in August. If you missed it, you can watch the recording of the first webinar, 101 Gene editing and Douglas fir. Glenn Thorlby does a great job of explaining the science in plain English.
Next up: Register for 24 September webinar: Tom Carlin of Scion on how animal pests may help slow wilding regeneration some places.
Past newsletters now online
If you’ve missed a past newsletter or want to look up something we shared, these are now all online within the news section at wildingpines.nz.
Suggestions, feedback and your contributions are always welcomed.
90 second explainer video
