News

Conservation Innovation Awards are now open

WWF-New Zealand is searching for big, bold ideas that will benefit Aotearoa’s unique environment. So, if you have a fantastic idea, enter it into the Conservation Innovation Awards from 25 September to 15 October.

WWF will be awarding prizes of $25,000 to the most exciting entries in three categories:

• Engaging young people and communities
• Predator Free New Zealand 2050
• Open Category

You can enter your idea through the innovative crowdsourcing website, which brings to­gether inventors, conservationists and inquiring minds to propose and refine ideas in real time.

Posted on: Thursday, 28 September 2017

Give Yellow Eyed Penguin a Hand

Exciting times at Curio Bay for people and penguins! The South Catlins Charitable Trust is delighted to see it’s plans coming to fruition as the final stages of the new information centre are being done. DOC has assisted with the new development and recently put in a track from the information centre along the cliff top amongst the flax to the steps down to the petrified forest. The old carpark is now gone and this is the area the Trust will be planting out with natives next week (11th - 15th September - check out under Events) enlarging the area available for the Yellow eyed penguins to nest, in peace and quiet. So if you have the time and would like to check out the latest developments at Curio Bay, come along and join the working bee to give the penguins a helping hand with their breeding there.

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 September 2017

Kiwi and Pāteke returned to Dusky Sound

The Fiordland Conservation Trust, supported by the Fiordland Lobster Company and the Department of Conservation have recently released Pāteke (brown Teal) and Little Spotted Kiwi to Dusky Sound.

Twenty pāteke were released in May onto Resolution Island/Mauikatau. Pāteke are New Zealand’s rarest waterfowl and until recently were listed as Nationally Endangered. Thanks to projects like this one, pāteke numbers are beginning to increase and the population is beginning to recover. Despite the recovery there are still very few sites on the South Island with wild populations of Pāteke so it is great to have them back in Dusky Sound.

Little Spotted Kiwi were first released on to Anchor Island in Dusky Sound in 2015. The recent release of another 12 birds is an important milestone as it brings the founding population to 40 individual, this will help keep the genetics of the population healthy and increase their chances of long term survival. The birds appear to have settled in well with the first chick found in February 2016.

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Matariki - Tree Give Away

Trees That Count are having a Matariki inspired give away. They are looking seven groups across New Zealand to receive 300 trees each.

To enter your project in the draw, complete the application form at https://www.treesthatcount.co.nz/matariki

Entry Information:

• Only community groups, schools or non-profit organisations are eligible

• Trees planted must be capable of reaching a minimum height of 5m.

• Trees must be planted this year

• Trees That Count will liaise with winning groups on which nursery will provide the trees, and the species and size required. Trees That Count will pay the nursery direct, not the group

• Trees That Count may require additional information for you to confirm your eligibility for the prize

• Winning groups must create a project page and register their trees with Trees That Count

• Trees That Count reserve the right to reverse our decision and allocate the trees to another group if we are not satisfied that the site preparation, planting and maintenance will be of a satisfactory standard

• Winning groups will be profiled by Trees That Count using their name and photographs for publicity purposes which will include digital, social media, marketing material, as well as external media outlets

• Judge’s decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into.

• Entrance into this competition constitutes acceptance of these conditions

• Entries close 30 June. Winners will be notified in the first week of July.

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Three funds offering grants for environmental work are now open and waiting for your application

The Department of Conservation, Environment Southland and QEII all have funding schemes that are now open for applications.

The DOC Community fund has approximately 4.6 million dollars a year to help support priority conservation work. The project funds on-the ground practical work such as pest control and weed control initiative. Several of our local projects have benefited from this fund in previous years, including the Omaui Landcare Trust, Stewart Island/Rakiura Coummunity and Environment Trust, Pomona Island, Forest Hill and The Hollyford Trust.

Expressions of interest are due on the 23rd June so now is the time to get your application in. See http://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/funding/doc-community-fund/ for more details.

The Environment Southland Environmental Enhancement Fund has recently been revamped. It is now easier to apply and the fund covers a wider range of restoration projects, from protecting significant habitat to creating areas of new habitat. There is no closing date for applications but the fund is first come, first serve so getting your application in now will help avoid disappointment http://www.es.govt.nz/council/funding-and-support/Pages/Environmental-Enhancement-Fund.aspx.

And finally, the Stephenson Fund is a new contestable fund recently set up by the QEII trust to help covenanters who are battling against damage from increasing pest numbers, regional weed issues or damage from natural disasters. The fund covers practical conservation work such as revegetation as well as infrastructure repairs and procurement of specialist advice. The fund is only available to people with a QEII covenant. Talk to your QEII rep or visit http://www.openspace.org.nz/Site/Managing_your_covenant/The_Stephenson_Covenant_Enhancement_Fund.aspx for funding details.

Posted on: Monday, 12 June 2017