WELCOME TO THE CONSERVATION BOARDS' NEWSLETTER 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Keep up to date with the activities of Conservation Boards around Aotearoa. In this issue discover highlights from Northland, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Nelson Marlborough, Canterbury Aoraki, and Southland Conservation Boards. 

Issue 24: March 2022

Red-crowned parakeet/kakariki on flax on Matiu Somes Island
  | Image by Leon Berard  (leonberardphotography.co.nz)

A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Tēnā koutou katoa

Looking back at the last Conservation Boards’ Newsletter, I can’t help but reflect on yet another round of flooding that has ravaged the East Coast. As both the Local MP for the East Coast and Minister of Emergency Management, my involvement has led me to reflect further on the consequences of climate change and the effect that it has on our communities.

At the same we have the 1370ha fire on Department of Conservation land on the Awarua-Waituna Wetlands, south of Invercargill, the second significant fire on New Zealand wetlands this summer. Seeing it from the air was gutting and a stark reminder of the fragile nature of our biodiversity.

As I am sure that you are all aware, World Wetlands Day was last month. Our beautiful wetlands are vitally important to our ecosystem and the 10% that remains post-human habitation must be protected. Not only are our wetlands significant for the protection of our taonga species and mahinga kai, they also help to mitigate climate change and some of its effects – sequestering carbon and providing natural defences against flooding, drought, and sea-level rise.

Back in 2020, I co-launched a National Policy Statement on Freshwater with Minister Parker. Protecting and restoring wetlands is key to these Essential Freshwater reforms, and we will be setting out long-term visions alongside tangata whenua and communities to prioritise protection for the health and wellbeing of water bodies, the essential needs of people, threatened species, and mahinga kai.

Additionally, the Government is supporting numerous projects to restore our wetlands via the Jobs for Nature programme and the Nature Heritage Fund, in collaboration with regional councils, iwi and hapū, communities, and landowners. To date, 192 freshwater restoration projects have been approved to receive Jobs for Nature funding and many of these specifically involve wetland restoration as a core objective.

Of course this is also the first year we will be celebrating Matariki with a public holiday. It’s a time that is intrinsically linked with conservation; a time that the environment and its care are at the forefront of celebrations, whether that’s planting a tree, clearing a riverbank, or just taking a moment to enjoy nature. With all of the significant events and changes going on in both the world and the conservation field, I hope you can all find the time to mark the occasion in some way.

I want to extend my gratitude for your continued commitment to looking after ‘our place’ so that future generations can connect and revel in what makes it so very special.

Nāku noa, nā

Hon Kiri Allan

Minister of Conservation | Minita mō Te Papa Atawhai

UPDATES AND HIGHLIGHTS

NORTHLAND

The Northland Conservation Board is delighted with its new logo, reflecting its Kaupapa of ‘hope for the natural world.’

The new logo of the Northland Conservation Board  | Image by Bradley Pratt   

Te Rūnanga Papa Atawhai O Te Tai Tokerau/Northland Conservation Board is currently championing an exciting pilot project, Arohatia Te Taiao. The initiative is centred around ensuring that strong community voices are clearly articulated within regional strategy, planning and action. The aim is to develop a benchmark or, in effect, put a stake in the ground of what we want our backyard to look and feel like in, say one hundred years. This independent, community-led initiative, endorsed by the Minister of Conservation Hon Kiritapu Allan, recognises that whether we consciously think about it or not, we are all affected by the health and wellbeing of our Taiao/natural environment

Arohatia te Taiao – Kai – Te Reo  | Image by Blah Blah Marketing Ltd 

Society often doesn’t consider the impacts of change on Papatūānuku, even though we wouldn’t be here without her.  We eat from her, inhale her, swim in her, heal from her, walk on her, build on her, the list goes on. Stage one of the project, an online survey that closed in February, asked Northlanders about their aspirations, their hopes and their fears for the future of our Taiao/natural environment. 

'Te toto o te tangata, he kai; te oranga o te tangata, he whenua' - While food provides the blood in our veins, our health is drawn from the land

Initial findings from the surveyare insightful; of the thousand-odd responses, the following preliminary results have been identified:

• 78% are worried about our current Taiao (natural environment);
• 54% worried for the future of our taiao, and 44% were hopeful;
• 33% rated whanau and community as most important, followed by our Taiao at 30% and then economic wellbeing;
• Growing/collecting kai (food) placed as number one for now and future generations;
• The biggest fears were around pollution, pests, loss of our Taiao and climate change; and
• Over 60% do not believe that our seas/waterways are healthy

Arohatia te Taiao – Beach – English | Image by Blah Blah Marketing Ltd 

Next steps are to undertake discussions with Northland communities to better understand what these results mean to people on the ground and also identify key solutions to moving forward. The final report will be completed by the end of June 2022.  Details on the Arohatia Te Taiao project can be found on the Board's Facebook page, just follow the links below.

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Northland Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

BAY OF PLENTY

The Bay of Plenty Conservation Board is excited towards getting major items ticked off their workplan in the coming month.

Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, | Photo by Chloe Riddell  

The Board is currently finalising and updating its workplan, to be in effect for the coming 18 months.  The core priorities include advocacy in the marine and coastal environment, the progression of reclassification of Stewardship Land, the draft Conservation Management Plan (CMS) and their biodiversity concerns around wallaby and deer numbers and Kauri dieback. 

Kaimai Summit Loop Track, Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park | Photo by Rebecca Knapman 

The Stewardship Land Review has been a priority for the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board over recent months.  The Bay of Plenty region has a huge amount of Stewardship Land with great conservation values and much time has been dedicated to identifying the priority and high risks sites in preparation for the Review role out through the motu.  The Board is in a great position to assist the review process as soon as the region has it’s turn to progress and looks forward to being a priority area, once the review panel is available.  

The recent February Board meeting saw elections for the Board Chair and Deputy Chair Positions.  Anne Mackersey has been in the position of Board Chair for the past 3.5 years and a Board member since 2014.  Anne will be stepping down from the Conservation Board later this year and the time was right for her to pass on the Chair baton.  Dr Paul Kayes was unanimously elected Board Chair for a period of 12 months with Dayle Takitimu elected into the Deputy Chair position for the same period.  The Board members and DOC staff offered their huge thanks for the massive amount of work that Anne has put in over the years and congratulated both Paul and Dayle on their new appointments.

The Board has recently put a great deal of effort in developing a long-term workplan, extending past the usual 12 month timeframe. In doing this the Board has reviewed and considered all of its priorities and goals for the next 18 to 24 months, and incorporated into their revised work plan. The Board held a Board only workshop on 22 February to discuss the current draft CMS.

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Bay of Plenty Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

WELLINGTON

The Wellington Conservation Board has a busy year ahead and is set to progress many core items from its work plan, which should make for an interesting year of regional conservation work.    

View from Kapiti Island, Kapiti Island Nature Reserve | Photo by Yang Gan

In November 2021 the Board held a combined in person and virtual meeting at the Copthorne Hotel in Palmerston North and via MS Teams. Dave Carlton, DOC Project Lead in the Biodiversity Threats Unit, attended the meeting and gave an update on Wild Animal Control Project Ti Ara Ki Mua, which primarily focuses on deer management. Tim Gale, General Manager of the Game Animal Council also attended and spoke to the Board about the work they do.

The Board's first meeting of the new year in February was another combined in person and virtual meeting at the Copthorne Hotel in Palmerston North and via MS Teams. At the meeting the Board welcomed new member Jim Cook to the Board, who was appointed  in November 2021. The Board also took the time at this meeting to conduct a workshop on refining their annual work programme for the year ahead. Matt Kavermann, Senior Officer and Research Scientist at Fish & Game attended the meeting and gave a presentation updating members on work that is currently under way.

February also include a field trip for members to Lake Wairarapa Moana, led by Matt Kavermann from Fish & Game and accompanied by James Harbord and Paul Gasson from DOC. Board members were met on site by Paula Gillett and her mother Jane Donald, who are restoring a wetland near Wairarapa Moana in the Tauherenikau delta. This wetland is adjacent to the JK Donald Reserve looked after by DOC and Fish & Game.

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming East Coast Hawke's Bay Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

NELSON MARLBOROUGH

The Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board place a great deal of focus on Te Ao Māori at its meetings, alongside maintaining interactions with communities to help understand wider conservation concerns, and keeping up to date on progress regarding the Stewardship Land Re-classification process.     

 Bark Bay, Abel Tasman National Park | Photo by Andy Dennis 

At its October 2021 meeting the Board reviewed the implementation report for the Nelson Lakes National Park Management Plan.  Board members expressed how much it appreciates these reports and the effort staff put into producing them.  The reports are a good opportunity for the Board to get an overview of conservation work happening in national parks within their rohe.  The Board confirmed both its strategic plan and its work programme for the year ahead, and accepted the move to adopt a co-chair model.

The Board has a significant interest in this work as the Northern South Island region is one of the first to be undertaking the value assessments of stewardship land. The following day the Board had the privilege of a cultural tour along the Kaikōura coastline with Maurice Manawatu from Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura.  Maurice showed the Board the Pou which are placed at strategic points along the coast, and spoke about the cultural interpretation installed along the coastal highway following damage caused by the Kaikōura earthquake in 2016.

The Board's first meeting of the year was in February and held in Nelson. It was a hybrid meeting with half of the members present in person and with half joined virtually. Sally Gepp, the Board’s NZCA liaison, was also able to attend.  Discussions were held on a number of topics, including the Board’s carbon emissions.  Murray Poulter, the Board Chairperson, presented some scenarios and calculations of the Board’s emissions for travelling to and conducting meetings. Continuing the Board’s commitment to car pooling and using the DOC vans as transport to meetings was demonstrated as good practice.  Nicky Eade is the Board’s representative on the Molesworth Steering Committee and she reported back to the Board on the recent Steering Committee meeting.  She was pleased to report on the progress being made on the review of the management plan for Molesworth Recreation Reserve. Following the meeting, members present in person went on a short field trip to the Nelson Boulder Bank Scenic Reserve (Te Taero a Kereopa /Te Tahuna a Tama-i-ea) to view baches located on footprints of Recreation Reserve.  The licences for the baches expire in June next year.   

Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board members on Te Taero a Kereopa /Te Tahuna a Tama-i-ea
(Nelson Boulder Bank Scenic Reserve) | Photo by Jo Gould 

Individual members and Board subgroups have been very busy between meetings.  The Board lodged a submission on the Aquaculture Variation to the Marlborough Environment Plan.  The Board has placed considerable focus on stewardship land reclassification, as well as the establishing a working group to review the proposed changes on Conservation Law Reform with the aim of drafting a submission containing the Board's stance. Nicky Eade has attended two hearings on the bylaw proposed by Marlborough District Council to prohibit all vehicles on the beach and unformed legal roads to and along Marlborough’s East Coast in support of the Board’s submission.  A working group receives regular updates on the Ōpārara Upgrade Project in Kahurangi National Park.  

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

CANTERBURY AORAKI

The Board continues to work towards ensuring the review of the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Management Plan is progressed effectively, is co-designed with kaitiaki rūnaka, and reflects full partnership with mana whenua, recognising and enabling Ngāi Tahu rights and interests.

Limestone escarpment, Kakahu Bush | Photo by Marie-Louise Grandiek

The August 2021 meeting in Timaru included discussions on the completion and ratification of the Board’s 2020/2021 Annual Work Programme and Annual Report, the Board’s Annual Conservation Awards, the protection of indigenous fish species in relation to stock water-races, and mahika kai in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.

Further highlights from the meeting included, recommendation on the pre-publication on the draft Central South Island Sports Fish and Game Management Plan; Project Tāwhiki – partnership between Te Rūnanga o Wairewa and Te Taumutu Rūnanga and the Crown at Kaitōrete, to protect and rejuvenate the environment and develop aerospace activities, and research and development facilities; kakī release at Mt Gerald Station, Tekapo, and potential water use effects from adjacent land on scientific reserves.

A fieldtrip in the same month saw Board members venture to Lower Rangitata and Kakahu Bush Tracks. This was to familiarise themselves and increase their understanding of the Department’s work on Jobs for Nature and the Kakahu Bush Tracks. Rangitata Island is a Jobs for Nature – Mahi mō te Taiao project, which includes the Ngā Awa- Lower Rangitata Waterway Restoration Project, led by Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua.  The project focuses on the braided fairway, berms next to the main river channels, wetlands, and intensively farmed riparian margins within the lower catchment of the Rangitata River.

Whilst at the Kakahu Bush Tracks DOC staff from the Raukapuka/Geraldine office gave Board members information around the context of the project before proceeding to a site visit.  Kakahu Bush is jointly managed by DOC and the South Canterbury Conservation Trust and is protected by a QEII National Trust Covenant.  The bush is one of the largest remnants of lowland podocarp hardwood forest in Canterbury, and geologists regard the area as being of national importance with interesting and unique geological features including an impressive limestone escarpment, mushroom rocks, and huge rock pinnacles.  There is evidence of early Māori occupation including rock drawings, shelters, ovens, and rubbish pits.  Historically, other activities carried out in this area include sawmilling, coal mining the establishment of lime kilns, and brickmaking.

Kakī release, Mt Gerald Station | Photo by Eila Gendig

Several Board members in September 2021 were able to attend one of DOC's annual kakī releases at Mt Gerald Station, on the eastern shores of Lake Tekapo.  Members were thrilled by the experience of watching the release of one of the world’s rarest wading birds, and very much appreciated the opportunity to be present.  The efforts of DOC’s Kakī Recovery Programme and associated stakeholders is vital in protecting this endangered manu and the Board thanks those involved for their valuable mahi.

In October 2021 the board met in Rangiora to discuss the annual implementation monitoring and reporting from Te Papa Atawhai on the Canterbury (Waitaha) Conservation Management Strategy, and the Aoraki Mt Cook and Arthur’s Pass National Parks Management Plans.

Topics discussed at the meeting included a summary and review of the Board’s Annual Conservation Awards and consultation on wider rollout of on-board cameras and further protection measures for Hector’s dolphin. The Board also discussed the University of Canterbury Geography Students Groups Conference Day with a focus on grazing on Public Conservation Land (PCL) – “What are the implications of intensive grazing on public conservation land alongside the Rangitata River" and the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1988, Part 12, requiring Conservation Boards to have particular regard to Ngāi Tahu values and to consult with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

October included another fieldtrip for Board members to Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) and Kaitōrete. The focus for the trip was to understand DOC’s work on the margins of Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) including a briefing on some of the issues which arise from the complex natural and social relationships.  A number of sites were visited, including the Billion Trees Project at Lakeside where the project has seen over 90% survival rate of trees to date. The Lower Selwyn Huts are fishing huts at the mouth of the Selwyn River and adjacent to a DOC reserve. The huts reside under a licence to occupy, all of which expire in 2024, and DOC is working towards carefully reviewing the occupation whilst ensuring the values of the reserve are preserved, and the relationships with other stakeholders are maintained and strengthened. They also visited Powells Road drain/water course which is a living water project and partnership between DOC, Fonterra, and the landowner. The lengthy section of waterway (previously a drain), has been re-battered and undergone extensive conservation planting.  This work has shown significant improvement in freshwater biodiversity in the waterway with a range of species now present, including both longfin and shortfin eel, bullies/toitoi and inanga. Kaituna Valley Scenic Reserve is roughly a 6-hectare reserve of bush remnant with a few large matai and kahikatea, whre the outstanding feature is the healthy even-aged stand of New Zealand ash/titoki, which dominates the forest.

At Kaitōrete the Board received presentations on the Project Tāwhaki - Aerospace proposals, Predator Free Banks Peninsula and biodiversity in the Canterbury Plains.

The Board also held public forums on the retention of the park headquarters and visitor centre in Arthur’s Pass National Park, and biodiversity offsetting of gecko in Hanmer Springs, alongside streamlining the stewardship land reclassification process.

Each year the Board acknowledges and celebrates the considerable conservation work being delivered by community and school groups across Canterbury (Waitaha).  The Te Waka o Aoraki trophy (in rimu and pounamu) is awarded to the first-place recipient along with a grant of $3,000 from sponsor, the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust.  The 2021 winner is Predator Free Port Hills, a backyard and community trapping project which aims to eventually eradicate pest predators from the Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour areas to support and grow native biodiversity in the urban fringe.

Glentanner Park (Mt Cook) Ltd sponsors a $500 Schools Award, presented this year to Hurunui College Nina Valley Restoration, an ongoing high school student project over the last 13 years, installing and maintaining extensive predator trapping lines for pest control in the Nina Valley.

 2021 Annual Conservation Awards Winner – Predator Free Port Hills, Left to Right:  Rob Clarke (Chair, The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust); Jeremy Agar (Founder, Predator Free Post Hills, Summit Road Society); Marie Gray (Manager, Predator Free Port Hills); Paula Smith (Chairperson, Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board) | Photo by Jane Demeter

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

SOUTHLAND

The Southland Conservation Board has started its year with a list of priorities that includes making a start on the Fiordland National Park Plan Review, establishing the Southern Rakiura Wilderness Area, and protecting the Southern New Zealand Dotterel. The Board views these priorities as urgent and have been actively advocating on these matters.  

Southland Conservation Board Members, Department support staff and Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust members at Stirling Point, Bluff | Photo by Julieanna Little 

The Board's October 2021 meeting included a hui with mana whenua at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff/Motupohue, along with a visit to the Bluff Hill/Motupohue Environment Trust to see their gains and learn about their Jobs for Nature project. As always, a hui with whanau is an immensely valuable experience and the Board were very glad they could still have that time with whanau while the usual noho stay isn't an option.

November 2021 saw continued work being done on monitoring the implementations and milestones of the Rakiura CMS and National Park Plan, the Murihiku/Southland CMS, and the Fiordland National Park Management Plan. The Board determined that some of the milestones are now irrelevant, and decided to review the milestones in conjunction with DOC. The Board is now also receiving DOC's thirdly business reporting summaries which gives members a much greater appreciation of budgeting processes.

Southland Conservation Board and Awarua Rūnanga Representatives at Te Rau Aroha Marae, Bluff | Photo by Julieanna Little 

This meeting covered off a lot of work that was carried over from the Boards November meeting. However, it also included a session on developing a communications strategy for the Board. The Board has held off on media releases in the interim whilst this strategy is being worked on. During the past few meetings the Board has had some
thought-provoking presentations from the Whenua Hou subcommittee, The Milford Opportunities Project, and from the Department on Stewardship Land reclassification and the Subantarctic visitor allocation process.
 

Bluff Hill Motupōhue Environment Trust members conducting a health & safety briefing
with the Southland Conservation Board members | Photo by Julieanna Little 

The Board is concerned that opportunities for members to visit areas within the Board’s jurisdiction may continue to be  unavailable to them.  The need to reduce both costs and carbon footprint can make field trips an easy target for ‘savings’, but the ability of Board members to speak from the perspective of having an affinity with ‘place’, and respecting the wairua or spirit of that ‘place’, is central to the Board’s effectiveness. 

Over the summer break members got out and about in nature, visiting places like Ulva Island, Whenua Hou, Mason’s Bay and the Paparoa Track making the most of the unusually dry southern summer.  Board member Bill Watt was pleased to be able to assist the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust as ‘dinghy boy’ on a routine monitoring visit in Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island

Southland Conservation Board Members (Left to right) Stewart Bull (Ngāi Tahu Board Representative),
Estelle Pera-Leask (Ngāi Tahu Board Representative), Alison Broad and John Whitehead,
enjoy the serenity and bird song along the Tōpuni Track, Bluff Hill / Motupōhui. | Photo by Julieanna Little 

Board members are in regular contact via email, in particular in relation to concession applications and applications under the RMA. A submission was lodged on the Fiordland Trails Trust application to extend the cycleway in the Te Anau area, passing through conservation land. The increasing deer numbers in Murihiku/Southland and  Rakiura is causing the Board much concern and fear, as signs are appearing of ecosystem collapse in surrounding forests. The Board is trying to raise the profile of ecosystem health and the potential for increasing native biomass to counter rising carbon dioxide levels.

Our long-term Chair (John Whitehead) vacated his role as Chair as part of the Board’s succession plan. His leadership, vision and hard graft were acknowledged by the Board members and Department staff, and he was heartily thanked for his years of work. The new Chair is Shona Sangster from Rakiura, but John is remaining involved to ensure a smooth transition.

GET INVOLVED - attend a meeting, details of upcoming Southland Conservation Board meetings can be found on the website.

CONSULTATIONS OPEN FOR YOUR COMMENT

Concession application by Kiwi Can Do Limited: Have your say on an application by Kiwi Can Do Limited at Local Purpose Reserve – Ōtaki Beach Health Camp. Submissions close 15 April 2022.

Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve: Have your say on a proposal to change the current legal name of “Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve” to “Te Whanganui-O-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve”.
Submissions close 26 April 2022.

New assessment of the conservation status of New Zealand freshwater fishes: Have your say on any changes in status of New Zealand freshwater fishes.
Consultation closes on 9 May 2022.

Keep up to date with more public consultations here.

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING TO OUR NEWSLETTER 

Next time in the Conservation Board Newsletter, we hear from Te Hiku o Te Ika, Auckland, Waikato, East Coast Hawke's Bay, Taranaki/ Whanganui,  Tongaririo/Taupo, Chatham Islands, West Coast Tai Poutini, and Otago Conservation Boards!