NORTHERN BRANCH ROYAL FOREST & BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY
P O Box 1375, Whangarei
Chairperson:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Kid Conservation Club:
Branch Committee:
Kristi Henare
459 1087
Diane Lee
438 6636
Kellie Lowe
Kristi Henare (looking for anyone else interested to join KCC?)
David Lourie, Dr Benjamin Pittman, Brian Murphy, Andrew Knock and
Zelka Grammer
If you are interested in being on the Branch committee please contact the Secretary.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Forest & Bird Board Members 2014
Where has the year gone? Welcome to our new members and our dedicated current members to this issue of the Forest & Bird Northern Branch. Many things have happened since the last newsletter. We
have new F&B Board Members (Executive) 2014 and the F&B Constitution after 2-3 years has been finally passed on Sunday 29 th June 2014 in Wellington at the 91st Forest & Bird AGM & Branch Council Meetings.
As Chairperson and Branch Councillor for the Northern Branch I represented us in Wellington. Congratulations to the new F&B Board members and the re-elected members. Thank you to our dedicated Secretary
Diane Lee, new Treasurer Kelle Lowe and members of the Branch Committee. Welcome to our newest Volunteer F&B Northern Branch Area Co-ordinator in the Kaipara/Dargaville area Andrew Knock. Andrew is
our nominated F&B Representative with the Northland Regional Council”s Pouto Catchment Group. This interesting group ranges from the farming & forestry industry, iwi/hapu, recreational, community, DOC Staff,
NRC Councillor's and NRC Staff. Welcome to Linda (Zelka) Grammer another new Branch Committee Member she brings her expertise about GE/GMO Issues. We are looking for a volunteer Area Co-ordinator in
the Whangarei Heads area. Interesting it is an election year – our Society needs to be careful and aware of the political aspects and events during this time. Of course our F&B Members are connected or support
any or all of the Political Parties running this year. Forest & Bird have the official “On the Block” campaign for more information check out the website: www.nzontheblock.org.nz. A big thank you to our dedicated
F&B Members that do great volunteer jobs to protect and conserve the environment. Thank you to Alan & Rona Willis, and Nola who have been distributors and co-ordinators for over 23 years since the Programme
started giving our free coastal Pohutakawa Trees to Whangarei District residents and ratepayers. Over the last 2 years more species have been added to included Coastal and inland plants. This is the first year
there has been no major sponsor as the Marsden Point Refinery is no longer sponsoring this great programme. Whangarei District Council Parks & Recreation Department and staff (Paul & Spencer) is supporting
this programme in 2014. Thank you to David Lourie and Margaret Hicks for their continued fight to save the mangroves at Ruakaka and Waipu. Thank you to Moana Henare (6 yrs) and Tyler Mathison who are
fighting to save and educate people that live next and in Whangarei about the long tailed bat in Pukenui Forest. Their fight is about the Land Developer building 74 houses next to Pukenui Forest. This year we have
sponsored again the Central Northland Science Fair at the end of August 2014 for students who have done something for the Environment.
QUESTION: Do you want to have a say about what the Northern Branch is doing?
Our Branch committee will be setting our priorities very soon for the Northern Area. We are asking our F&B Northern Branch members a real simple question. The Chairperson
Kristi Henare has been talking to several F&B Members and also the ex-F&B Members about their ideas, suggestions and concerns. Yes we are listening and appreciate your
feedback both good or bad. Please can you email the Secretary Diane Lee us on [email protected] or in writing to F&B Northern Branch, P O Box 1375,
Whangarei with your feedback before 20th August 2014.
ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD NORTHERN BRANCH
RAMBLES & MEETINGS PROGRAMME: September to December 2014
BRANCH MEETINGS – Held 4th Wednesday of month.
FIELD TRIPS (2nd Saturday Monthly except Jan & Dec)
Leave from the corner of Mill Road & Deveron Street – 9am unless otherwise stated. Take warm clothing, wet weather protection,
tools if required and suitable footwear. Bring lunch and drinks. We share transport and contribute 10c per km to the driver (there and back).
There is a Leader, phone number and ramble area. Please contact the Leader for full information. Details may change according to the weather.
DATE
LEADER
WHERE
SEPTEMBER 13TH
Colin & Lesley Jewell – 438 5875
PUKENUI TRACK
We venture once again into Pukenui’s vast interior to check out another track
OCTOBER 11TH
Diane Lee – 438 6636
Moderate – some steep
MT AUBREY
We hear from a great source that there is a Lemon-scented Clematis on the track to Mt steps
Aubrey. Hope we find it. Lots of new steps in place on this track
NOVEMBER 8TH
Diane Lee – 438 6636
RUAKAKA
LIMESTONE ISLAND
DIFFICULTY
ELGIN PLACE RESERVE
Owen & Myra Mitchell have sculpted a wonderful native forest out of a bare piece of land.
Join us to see if you can name all the plants
Bream Bay Coastal Care - Working Bee Every month, 2nd Sunday
(except January) –
9am – 11am Ph: Marilyn Cox - 432 0209
1st Wednesday of month - Helping on Limestone/Matakohe Is - Ph
Rangers - leave from the Onerahi ramp area - 9am.
436 0923
MALY RESERVE
- Helping Ina May with maintenance in the Maly Reserve (Riverside
Drive)
ELGIN PLACE RESERVE -
Owen & Myra Mitchell - Whangarei District Council Reserve – Elgin
435 1714
Place, Kamo
436 0730
If you know anyone who would enjoy coming on these rambles and learning about the flora and fauna around the Whangarei District,
please feel free to encourage them to join us – we are a very friendly group.
Moderate
F&B Northern Branch – Field Trip Oakura-Russell Forest-OpuaPuhipuhi with F&B Auckland Chairs & Staff
In May 2014 the Forest & Bird Northern Branch and members hosted the F&B Auckland Chairs to real concerns Northland have I
know it was only a day but they saw plenty. Thank you to Dean Baigent-Mercer & Benjamin Pittman for being tour guides, Kristi
Henare for driving the mini van, Shane & Patrick for the morning tea and packed lunch, Branch Members Diane, Brian with other
F&B Members from our area. Sadly Hone McGregor couldn’t be there with us but we are hoping he will be coming up soon to meet
our Branch Committee and any interested members. There could be a trip out to Mimiwhangata so watch this space.
Website / Facebook Page
We have 344 likes on our page. The Free Pohutukawa Trees Project and Flyer which our branch
is part of had 4,186 hits on our page. One of many ways to get information out to community.
Website: http://www.forestandbird.org.nz
Facebook Page for Northern Branch: www.facebook.com/forestandbirdnorthern
PUBLIC & COMMUNITY NOTICES
Maui’s Dolphins – Public Meeting – Friday 15th August 2014
The Tai Tokerau Maui’s Dolphins Guardian Network has invited Christine Rose from Maui’s &
Hector’s Dolphin Defenders to do a presentation on the Maui’s Dolphin. Date: Fri 15th August
2014 at 7.00pm. Venue at Whg Anglican Care, corner of Deveron St & Mill Rd, Whg. Gold
Coin Entry please. For more information please go to Maui's & Hector's Dolphin Education
Action website http://nzdolphins.wix.com/nzdolphins
GE/GMO Issues – Submissions with WDC & FNDC
Here is an opportunity for our F&B members to be informed about the important opportunity
to make submissions in response to the WDC and FNDC excellent collaborative GMO Plan
change (submissions close 9 Sept 2014). If you are interested Zelka Grammer has an easy
submission guide for members of the public who want to protect our biosecurity and existing
valuable GE free status. The Northern Branch F & B is making a submission to the WDC GMO
Plan change #131 and FNDC GMO Plan change #18. Please check out the WDC website for
submissions:
http://www.wdc.govt.nz/PlansPoliciesandBylaws/Plans/DistrictPlan/DistrictPlanChanges/Pag
es/Plan-Change-131.aspx
GE FREE Northland Public Meeting – Wednesday 13th August 2014
The GE Free Northland public meeting is in Whangarei on Wednesday l3th August 2014 with Keynote Speaker Jeanette
Fitzsimons at the Old Stone Butter Factory, Whangarei. More information on GE Free Northland go to website
web.gefreenorthland.org.nz. or
email: [email protected] Tel 432 2155
Northland Pest Control Workshop
Northland Pest Control Workshop on 17th August 2014 at the
Waimate Nth Showgrounds. This free workshop is brought to
You by the NZ Landcare Trust, Kiwis for Kiwi Trust and our
Hosts
Waimate
Nth
Landcare.
To keep you going through this action packed day, morning
tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. With this in mind,
please RSVP to Ngaire by next Tuesday the 12th of August
so that we can make sure we have enough food for everyone
CONTACT: Ngaire Tyson by 12th August on email:
[email protected] or ph: 09 430-0954.
Check out the new website for Kiwi Coast Project Northland http://www.kiwicoast.org.nz/
ORDER
YOUR
Forest & Bird
Conservation Calendar
2015
Or NZ Conservation
Diary 2015
$12
NOW
Contact our
Secretary
Diane Lee to order
today:
Phone:
09 438-6636
Email:
northern.branch@
forestandbird.org.nz
$20
The Kermadecs – An Oasis in Our Ocean
SAVE THE BATS - NO CATS
Tyler Matheson and Moana Henare
fighting against the application of a
resource consent to build 74 houses
next to Pukenui Forest.
What do you think? Sounds great to me who is interested? Would you like a copy?
Success!!!
Release of Predatory insect to protect tomatoes - Declined
The Decision Making Committee for APP201254 has notified its decision on the application from Tomatoes New
Zealand to import Macrolophus pygmaeus. It has declined its use as an augmentative biological control agent to
control greenhouse whitefly.
Thank you to our very own Margaret Hicks for her excellent
submission and for
highlighting and fighting to expose the serious risks to Northland and it’s environment. You can read more about this
application and the process followed here: APP201254 by Tomatoes New Zealand
THE NEWLY ELECTED
ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY BOARD
Andrew Cutler, President (Wellington branch)
When Andrew Cutler joined Forest & Bird he didn’t expect to be labelled a member of the ‘eco-Taliban’ or
chased by an angry fisherman around the Island Bay foreshore. But that’s what happened during the
campaign for the Taputeranga Marine Reserve. He’s also been labelled ‘anti-cat’ for running a study on catpredation in urban areas. Between the battles, Andrew has worked hard to protect bush remnants and bird
corridors, by making submissions to the city and regional councils. And given his background in public
sector communications in central, local & regional politics, he's well placed to negotiate the bureaucracy.
Since the mid-1990s, he has been involved in a number of projects such as the Karori sanctuary and the
Wellington branch’s Greening Wellington project, which aims to join up Wellington's green spots. One
green spot he's hoping to expand in the next few years is his backyard - a place where he can often be
found on the weekends pulling weeds, poisoning possums and planting natives.
Mark Hanger, Deputy President (Dunedin branch)
Armed with a degree in botany, an adventurous spirit and an effervescent love of nature, Mark Hanger got
himself the ultimate job as a nature tour guide 25 years ago, however, year by year he’s seen wilds of the
south change dramatically in the drive towards development. When he’s not tripping around the foothills
and mountain peaks of the South Island, he can be found in his 15-hectare garden battling gorse or
indulging in one of his favourite pastimes: watching trees grow. As well as being a self-confessed treehugger, he’s a climate change activist, a water conservation guru, and - more recently - a seabird re-homer.
He ultimately wants to return all of the 7 lost species of seabirds once found along the Otago coast back to
their former homeland.
Kate Graeme
Information to come
Graham Bellamy, Treasurer (Upper Hutt branch)
Graham Bellamy is an accountant for an animal health company and has been a member of Forest & Bird
for about 30 years. He became a more active member after going along with his colleagues to do
community work at a Forest & Bird project, and says his subsequent involvement in projects such as Hull’s
Creek restoration has opened new horizons in his life. He’s now a passionate advocate for the environment
and the importance of preserving it for the enjoyment of future generations.
Jon Wenham (Waikato branch)
Hot-air balloonist, sailor and bird enthusiast Jon Wenham was gifted a Forest & Bird life membership by his
nature-loving father 30 years ago. After several years overseas working as a tropical horticulturalist and
aerial photographer, Jon returned to Waikato with a passion to restore its natural heritage, and has since
been active in branch activities. He lives on a quarter-acre block with his partner and son, as well as
several pukeko, moreporks and eels.
Lindsey Britton (South Auckland branch)
Lindsey Britton has what she describes as an ‘ecological gene’, perhaps inherited from her maternal
grandfather whose family were seed merchants and market gardeners. From a young age she shared her
bedroom with tanks of tree frogs, stick insects, newts and gerbils, even a bush baby, and inevitably she
went on to study zoology. On arriving in New Zealand from England, she worked for a while at Greenpeace
and thereafter for councils on various projects ranging from helping draft Manukau's State of the
Environment Report to introducing recycling to Auckland's inner CBD. She lives on what was once a bare
1.3-acre paddock that is now substantially replanted with native plants and trees. It is frequented regularly
by kotare, tui and more recently bellbirds. She is keen to be involved in helping re-invigorate the grassroots
networks of Forest & Bird and on ensuring the successful implementation of the Society’s strategic plan.
Ines Stager (South Canterbury branch)
Landscape architect Ines Stager came to New Zealand from Switzerland in 1981 en route to South
America, and enjoyed our vast areas of landscape so much that she never left. For 20 years, she has been
living off the grid on a 12-hectare Geraldine property that she shares with her partner and a range of native
birds such as kotare, kereru, grey warblers, bellbirds and some endangered long-tailed bats (pekapeka).
During her 27 years at Forest & Bird, she has been the driving force behind several restoration projects;
worked as a Kids' Club Co-ordinator with her partner and campaigned hard on water issues around the
Canterbury/Mackenzie Basin region.
Brent Barrett (Manawatu)
Brent Barrett has had a lifelong interest in nature and the outdoors, matched with a more recent interest in
environment and conservation opportunities and challenges, including climate change, oceans, and
freshwater. Since moving to New Zealand from America at the turn of the century, Brent has had an active
role in the environment and conservation arena, including serving five years as chair of Forest & Bird
Manawatu, and as a co-founder of Reel Earth, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading film festival with a
nature and environment focus. A life member of Forest & Bird, Brent joined the Executive in 2011 and looks
forward to working with the Society’s leadership to ensure Forest & Bird is a effective and global voice for
nature.
Tony Dunlop (Far North)
Far North Chairperson Tony Dunlop has been a Forest & Bird member for over 30 years and during his life
has worn a number of hats. In the 1990s, he worked as an environmental studies lecturer at Auckland
University and, in recent times, has become Auckland Coal Action’s spokesperson. During the day, he
works as a clinical psychologist in leadership development work. Tony’s number one environmental
concern is climate change. “Most environmental problems are localised and on human time scales. But
climate change is truly global, insidious, largely irreversible and will impact life on Earth for thousands of
years.”
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