News • Southland Ecological Restoration Network

Bushy Point Restoration takes a big leap forward

Thanks to the Rugby World Cup Living Legends team, the Otatara Landcare Group’s restoration project at Bushy Point has achieved in one day what they hoped to do in five years. On Sunday 11th September over 200 people came to help plant 5,000 locally sourced and grown native plants to finally bridge the gap between the two remnants of forest on the western edge of the estuary. This project resulted from a report to Invercargill City Council in 1998 by David Norton, recommending that the best ecological outcome for this area would be to restore the corridor between these two areas. He noted that the forest present here was nationally significant, being podocarp forest on sanddunes, rarely found around the coast of NZ. A great effort by the Living Legends team and OLG.

Posted on: Monday, 12 September 2011

Environment Southland Recognises Restoration Work

There was a prestigious gathering of Southlanders involved in restoration work across the Southland Plains at the recent ES annual Environment Awards. Congratulations to all those people/groups who were put forward for the Awards, but especially those that took out the top place for their extra special work. Congratulations to Brian and Chris Rance for winning the Individual Award, for their work with the Community Nursery and the Otatara Landcare Group; to the Oraka-Aparima Runaka’s Raratoka Project for the Community Group Award; the Commercial Award went to Southern Discoveries for their support of the Sinbad Sanctuary Project; and the School’s Award to Fiordland College and their Kids Restore the Kepler project.

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Green Ribbon Award for Pomona Island Trust

Congratulations to the hardworking volunteers of Pomona Island Trust who were well recognised for all their efforts with the presentation of a Green Ribbon Award last week. This recognised their work in the protection of biodiversity, with the removal of pests from Pomona and Rona Island and the reintroduction of the the threatened bird species, mohua or yellowhead. Pomona Island is also playing an important part in the Haast kiwi breeding programme, acting as a nursery for the young kiwi until they are large enough to be released in to their natural West Coast territory, which isn’t so predator free. For more information on the Pomona Island Trust check out their website at www.pomona-island.org.nz.

Posted on: Monday, 13 June 2011

WLG Gravel Pit celebrates World Environment Day

The Gorge Road School will join the Waituna Landcare Group to assist in the restoration of the Gravel Pit with the planting of red tussocks in celebration of World Environment Day and Arbor Day. The event will also mark the unveiling of the first interpretation of the wetland restoration, thanks to DOC’s Arawai Kakariki team. The WLG are grateful to the Honda Tree Fund for assistance with the purchase of plants for the day.

Posted on: Monday, 6 June 2011

Mohua Move to Pomona Island

A major milestone for the Pomona Island Charitable Trust was reached with the release, in February, of 42 mohua on Pomona Island. “This was the first transfer of a threatened bird species to the island” said Chair of the Trust John Whitehead “so it is a significant achievement for us”. The birds were caught on Breaksea Island off the coast of Fiordland, with financial support for the operation being provided by the Meridian Energy Te Anau Manapouri Community Fund. The Trust is also grateful to the Department of Conservation for its on-going support for the restoration of Pomona Island. For further details, check out the Trust’s latest newsletter at www.pomona-island.org.nz

Posted on: Friday, 25 March 2011

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