Latest news with #BirdsofNewZealand
Scoop
07-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Katikati Man's Outstanding Contribution Of 50 Years To Conservation Recognised
Press Release – The ECHO My becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit is recognition of the need to work to protect our natural environment, said Mr Fitter. I believe that this, and the protection of our native species of animals and plants, is vital to the continued … Dame Cindi Kiro officially invested Julian Fitter of Katikati as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 3 May at Government House in Wellington. Arriving in New Zealand later in life this wildlife author and conservationist had no plans on retiring and watching the sun set. Not long after settling in Maketū in the Bay of Plenty, in 2009 Julian Fitter helped establish Maketū Ōngātoro Wetland Society, to protect the breeding population of Northern New Zealand dotterel on Maketu Spit. He was Chair of the Society from 2010 to 2023. During this time five Environmental Programmes were developed, funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, focusing on biosecurity and restoration to prioritise native biodiversity sites around the Maketu and Waihi Estuaries. In 2016 he then established Bay Conservation Alliance, (BCA) and is Chair. Almost a decade on, amongst the many services BCA offer, they support 35 conservation groups in the Bay, providing them with administration and on-the-ground advice and assistance and giving them a stronger collective voice. Julian says, 'We depend upon the natural environment for our wellbeing and our economic survival. Damage to the environment affects us all and we know that, and yet [we] consciously decide to do nothing about it.' He is passionate about education and believes that partnering together for nature will result in far better outcomes than working individually. He says 'We need to educate everyone about the importance and value of our natural environment and how protecting it can benefit us all. Working together we can fix it and can enjoy rewarding, comfortable and productive lives.' Julian has authored several books including 'Albatross, Their World Their Ways' (2008) with wildlife photographer Tui De Roy. He has written three books on New Zealand wildlife; 'New Zealand Wildlife' (2009), 'Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand' (2010/2021) and 'Birds of New Zealand' (2011). His work over the decades has not just strengthened conservation work in New Zealand. Prior to immigrating to New Zealand Mr Fitter was a founding Trustee of the United Kingdom-based Falklands Conservation Trust in 1979 and is currently a Vice President. He was instrumental in establishing the Galapagos Conservation Trust in 1997, serving as inaugural Chair and currently as an ambassador. In 2008 he established and is now a committee member of the Friends of Galapagos New Zealand organisation, working with the Charles Darwin Foundation and The Galapagos National Park. Not one to slow down after fifty-plus years of service, in 2023 he helped establish the Bittern Conservation Trust, which he chairs. 'My becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit is recognition of the need to work to protect our natural environment,' said Mr Fitter. 'I believe that this, and the protection of our native species of animals and plants, is vital to the continued existence of Homo sapiens.' To find out more about Julian Fitter and more about conservation projects in the region please go to
Scoop
07-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Katikati Man's Outstanding Contribution Of 50 Years To Conservation Recognised
Dame Cindi Kiro officially invested Julian Fitter of Katikati as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 3 May at Government House in Wellington. Arriving in New Zealand later in life this wildlife author and conservationist had no plans on retiring and watching the sun set. Not long after settling in Maketū in the Bay of Plenty, in 2009 Julian Fitter helped establish Maketū Ōngātoro Wetland Society, to protect the breeding population of Northern New Zealand dotterel on Maketu Spit. He was Chair of the Society from 2010 to 2023. During this time five Environmental Programmes were developed, funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, focusing on biosecurity and restoration to prioritise native biodiversity sites around the Maketu and Waihi Estuaries. In 2016 he then established Bay Conservation Alliance, (BCA) and is Chair. Almost a decade on, amongst the many services BCA offer, they support 35 conservation groups in the Bay, providing them with administration and on-the-ground advice and assistance and giving them a stronger collective voice. Julian says, 'We depend upon the natural environment for our wellbeing and our economic survival. Damage to the environment affects us all and we know that, and yet [we] consciously decide to do nothing about it.' He is passionate about education and believes that partnering together for nature will result in far better outcomes than working individually. He says 'We need to educate everyone about the importance and value of our natural environment and how protecting it can benefit us all. Working together we can fix it and can enjoy rewarding, comfortable and productive lives.' Julian has authored several books including 'Albatross, Their World Their Ways' (2008) with wildlife photographer Tui De Roy. He has written three books on New Zealand wildlife; 'New Zealand Wildlife' (2009), 'Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand' (2010/2021) and 'Birds of New Zealand' (2011). His work over the decades has not just strengthened conservation work in New Zealand. Prior to immigrating to New Zealand Mr Fitter was a founding Trustee of the United Kingdom-based Falklands Conservation Trust in 1979 and is currently a Vice President. He was instrumental in establishing the Galapagos Conservation Trust in 1997, serving as inaugural Chair and currently as an ambassador. In 2008 he established and is now a committee member of the Friends of Galapagos New Zealand organisation, working with the Charles Darwin Foundation and The Galapagos National Park. Not one to slow down after fifty-plus years of service, in 2023 he helped establish the Bittern Conservation Trust, which he chairs. 'My becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit is recognition of the need to work to protect our natural environment,' said Mr Fitter. 'I believe that this, and the protection of our native species of animals and plants, is vital to the continued existence of Homo sapiens.' To find out more about Julian Fitter and more about conservation projects in the region please go to
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Parents Read to 14-Month-Old Since Birth: What Happens Next Shocks Viewers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 14-month-old from New Zealand has shocked viewers for her outstanding reading skills in her own language. In a clip on TikTok, little Eliana is sat with a book in her lap, her tone rising and falling as she reads aloud to her parents in what her mom calls "Gibberish." Her mom, Carrie Rad (@carrierad) who posted the video, told Newsweek that she had always imagined reading to her children. From left: Eliana the 14-month-old baby holds a book in her lap and turns pages. From left: Eliana the 14-month-old baby holds a book in her lap and turns pages. @carrierad "When our daughter was born, I couldn't wait to read to her, so we started right away," the 36-year-old said. Reading together with Eliana's father Alexander Ayling soon became a family activity very early on and one that has stuck. "Now, Eliana reads back to us in her own little language," Rad said. Rad's clip became viral in a matter of days, amassing more than 4.7 million views since it was posted on April 20—and viewers are captivated. Thousands of other TikTok users have commented, including educators, librarians and fellow parents praising Eliana's natural rhythm and intonation. "As a reading instructor, you have no idea how far along she already is," one user wrote. Another posted that Eliana was demonstrating her skills of prosody—the patterns of stress and intonation in a language. "Skills for reading begin way before starting school at age 5. Good job mama!" they said. "They've pointed out how incredible it is that she mimics the rhythm and tone of reading, even before she's speaking full words," Rad told Newsweek. "It's been so heartwarming to see people in the field recognize and celebrate what we're doing as a family—creating a joyful, connected relationship with books from the very beginning." Rad added that Eliana's preference has always been books, despite the potential distractions from toys. Rad said: "When she was younger, she would chew on them and rip pages, but as she grew, she started flipping through the pages, opening and closing the books, and making sounds while doing so. It became obvious she was imitating how we read to her." In the mornings when Rad and Ayling are having their coffee, Eliana grabs her bottle and heads to the bookshelf. Eliana's current favorite read is Birds of New Zealand, but Rad said that her daughter is not fussy, exploring everything from poetry to novels. "She's not reading at that level yet, of course, but she flips through them all and pretends to read, sometimes for hours," Rad said. "She's either outside in nature or at the bookshelf."
