At the beginning of September, the Fiordland Trails Trust began a war on the weeds, barberry and cotoneaster, growing along the side of the Waiau River. With the development of the bike trail along the upper Waiau River, this has made access to these areas easier, and brought the issue more to light. Keen members of the Trails Trust, lead by Trust weed control manager, Sue Marwick, carried out a days work on a badly infested area at the start of the track near the Marakura Yacht Club. Another volunteer day will be organised in the future, so if you’re a keen ‘weedie’ watch out for this!
Posted on: Monday, 17 September 2018
Another large planting session at Curio Bay with over 3,000 natives going in the ground, has seen the South Catlins Charitable Trust complete their restoration plan which joins their forest remnant through to the flaxland on the cliffs looking over the fossilised forest below. Once the shrubs and trees grow up it will provide great habitat for the yellow eyed penguins, that even last year were nesting close to where the work on the new car park and information centre was going on. If you haven’t already visited the new Tumu Toka Curioscape it is well worth a visit, with excellent interpretation of the local wildlife and history. This has all been a great effort by the local people and agencies who have worked together to make it happen. Find out more at www.curioscape.co.nz.
Posted on: Friday, 17 August 2018
Congratulations to the hardworking team on the Pomona Island Charitable Trust who have achieved one of their early goals - to reintroduce saddleback (tieke) back to the area. The Trust has put a great deal of effort in to making Rona Island predator free (including the difficult target of mice) to make this possible. With the reintroduction of the South Island Robin to Pomona Island in 2009, it is wonderful to read in their March newsletter that at the December bird count, the robin was the top bird accounted for on the island. Their other exciting find on Pomona Island was the empty shell of a native snail, which even the experts at Te Papa weren’t sure if it was an identified species. To read more about the activities of the Pomona Island Charitable Trust check out their website at www.pomona-island.org.nz.
Posted on: Friday, 17 August 2018
The next round of funding for the Kiwibank Predator Free Communities programme is opening for applications soon. The Predator Free New Zealand Trust and Kiwibank are looking for enthusiastic communities that want to make their backyards predator free and help native species thrive.
To be eligible to apply for funding a community should be a cluster of urban or rural households wanting to target rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels and possums. The programme doesn’t cover lifestyle blocks, farms, council or government land and excludes the use of toxins.
Kiwibank funding will provide successful applicants with a subsidy on humane traps and pre-made tunnels and will help fund and provide support materials for the community programme.
The funding round opens Monday 2nd July 2018 and closes Sunday 15 July 2018.
For more information go to www.predatorfreenz.org
Posted on: Monday, 11 June 2018
Call for nominations for Fiordland Marine Guardians
The Minister for the Environment is seeking nominations for Members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).
The Guardians are an advisory group established by the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005. They are responsible for providing advice to Ministers, government departments and Environment Southland on the management of the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area.
The membership of the Guardians must reflect a balanced mix of knowledge and experience in relation to the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area. At least five members must reside in the Otago or Southland regions.
Three positions are currently available to be filled.
Members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians should have the following skills:
· knowledge, experience and expertise in one or more aspects relevant to managing the Fiordland Marine Area
· the ability to work with other members of the Guardians and with agency officials to establish common goals and work cooperatively to achieve them
· the ability to network and consult effectively with stakeholders and community groups
· an understanding of effective governance and strategy
· an understanding of, or interest in, environmental law relevant to managing the Fiordland Marine Area
· personal integrity
· the interest, enthusiasm and time needed to contribute effectively to the work of the Fiordland Marine Guardians.
Read the position description.
How to apply
Submit the following application documents to the Ministry for the Environment by the closing date:
· completed nomination form
· a current CV
· a cover letter outlining how you/the nominee meet the position requirements.
Download a nomination form
Fiordland Marine Guardians Nomination Form.pdf [PDF, 287 KB]
Fiordland Marine Guardians Nomination Form.docx [MS Word, 100 KB]
By post: Fiordland Marine Guardians Nominations
Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Wellington 6143
By email: Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
For further information or enquiries contact:
Allison Bockstruck
Enable JavaScript to view protected content..
Phone: 022 068 4921
Nominations close 5pm, Friday 15 June 2018
Posted on: Tuesday, 29 May 2018
