Latest news with #DepartmentofConservation
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- General
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Far North couple lead project to restore native eels, educate locals
'If we have the eels declining, there's nothing to clean the silt and make sure the waterways are clean and healthy. 'They're such an important aspect to concentrate on to uplift our people.' Tuna are a treasured species (taonga) to Māori. Not only were they a source of kai, but important events were often scheduled around the harvesting of tuna. In many parts of Aotearoa, tuna are kaitiaki, protectors of the land, the people and the waters they dwell in. According to the Department of Conservation, the conservation status of the longfin eel is 'at risk and declining'. Wilson-Astle and Astle's kaupapa involves building a hatchery on their property to repopulate the eels. They plan to raise tuna and undertake release programmes throughout Te Tai Tokerau communities. The couple has also created a curriculum for early childhood centres and primary schools to teach children the historical importance of tuna. Tuna (eels) are a treasured species to Māori, however some species are in decline. The 10-week programme will involve classroom sessions and hands-on learning with tanks so children can raise elvers (juvenile eels) and later release them. For adults, they plan to hold wānanga in Kaikohe and other towns to reconnect people to their wai (water) and kai (food). Wilson-Astle, an early childhood teacher, said the idea to revive traditional knowledge came about while she and Astle were researching their whakapapa. 'We came across an old YouTube video about Lake Ōmāpere and how the health of the water reflects the health of the people. 'That resonated with us ... Lake Ōmāpere is considered the heart of Ngāpuhi, and the waterways are the veins. 'To restore the lake, you need to restore the waterways. 'With that concept in mind, that encouraged us to look at ways we can support our lakes, our people and our tuna.' The couple is also developing a Level 4 NZQA-accredited aquaculture course they want to offer to Northland tertiary providers. The tuna project expands on their other business, helping whānau grow their own kai, which featured in the Northern Advocate in April. Called Grow Your Own Northland, they make raised planter boxes, shade houses, food storage sheds, chicken coops and garden sheds, so whānau can be more self-sufficient. The couple has support from The Generator and has submitted applications for funding to Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for Primary Industries' Māori agribusiness team. Their PledgeMe crowdfunding campaign launched on Thursday. For more information, visiti Te Hokinga Tuna on Facebook or visit PledgeMe. Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and animal welfare issues.
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Parking plan rethink urged
A Punakaiki cafe owner is urging the Department of Conservation to rethink its plan to charge for parking at the Pancake Rocks on the West Coast, saying it was acting as an entry fee to a national park. Grant Parrett told a meeting of the West Coast Tai o Poutini Conservation Board last week parking charges created a de facto entry fee to Paparoa National Park, which was unlawful. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has asked for a trial of paid parking to boost revenue. Doc is aiming to launch a pilot programme in October at Punakaiki, Franz Josef and White Horse Hill at Aoraki/Mt Cook. Project manager John Dore told the board Doc had serious budget pressures including a 30% shortfall in funding for its visitor network and a huge deficit in the amount available for biodiversity. "For protection of all endangered species we have a budget of $300 million — but a need of $2.3 billion." Climate events in the last few years had added $90m in costs. Paid parking was a tool used internationally in nature parks and would help manage overcrowding at busy sites, he told the board. But Mr Parrett said the move would turn public conservation land into a Wilson-style parking lot, and urged the board to oppose it. "However you label it, it's a national park entry fee; it contravenes the National Parks Act and it diminishes Doc's social licence to operate." There were no free parks at Punakaiki because they had been removed to make room for the new visitor centre development and people would have no option but to pay to walk around the Pancake Rocks. Unlike Franz Josef or Aoraki/Mt Cook, Punakaiki was not a tourist destination but a stop-off attraction for people driving the scenic Coast Rd, and for most of the year there was no congestion or capacity problem in the carpark. "Parking fees will disadvantage local people who call in for a coffee or to stretch their legs." While Doc owned the land, taxpayers had funded the $45m Dolomite Point Visitor Centre development and the building was gifted by the last government to manawhenua, Ngati Waewae, who now leased office space back to Doc, Mr Parrett said. "I am surprised that the iwi has supported the paid parking trial ... unless they stand to benefit from it." Conservation Board Ngati Waewae representative Francois Tumahai objected. "I disagree with everything you've said. "The cost of the building was not $45m and we're not getting a cent from the project. "In the early days we suggested we might provide [parking] wardens — that's it." By Lois Williams
NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Great Walks with kids: A family's adventure through NZ's trails
For quality, screen-free family time, a Great Walk really delivers. You are largely off-grid and out in nature together, with several hours of walking – and potential talking time – each day. Our kids usually take turns leading and dropping back to chat with their packhorse parents. Once at the huts, it's more family bonding as you unwind from the day, share some treats and cook dinner. It's all very Brady Bunch until it inevitably isn't; for example, when someone knocks over his Milo and completely soaks his only spare set of clothes. The Kepler Track in Fiordland. Photo / Tourism NZ It's easy to get blasé about New Zealand's natural beauty and dramatic landscapes. The Great Walks will jolt you out of any such complacency. Even the kids, usually indifferent to calendar-worthy views, found plenty to delight in. Walking through the otherworldly and iron-flat South Crater on the Tongariro Circuit, surrounded by craggy, volcanic terrain and the famous cone of Ngauruhoe, was a surreal and awe-inspiring experience. To my imaginative 10-year-old, we were in dragon country. The Heaphy Hut was another highlight, overlooking the point where the Heaphy River meets the roiling Tasman Sea. As we soaked in the scene, fringed by nikau palms and resplendent in the sunset, the kids revelled on the river bank, hunting for treasures and dipping in and out of the cool, clean river current. Start small to build confidence As with any holiday with kids, adequate preparation is important. Having ticked off a few day walks in our home region of Hawke's Bay, we had already established that the kids were very capable, if not always enthusiastic, walkers. We thoroughly researched each walk before booking (the Department of Conservation has extensive information on its website – including track descriptions, potential hazards, gear lists and difficulty ratings for each walk. For pre-walk training, we put our half-full packs on and headed up our local mountain, Te Mata Peak, tramping similar distances, time-frames and elevations as we'd face on our upcoming walk. And yes, we did get some odd looks. Te Mata Peak offers a good opportunity as a trial walk. Photo / Kirsten Simcox Embrace early starts and bush toilets When on the tracks, we usually set off early – giving plenty of time to complete the day's distance. Often, there are natural stops along the way – other huts and shelters, lookouts, points of interest – and breaking the day up into chunks is a great way to keep kids motivated. You'll also be stopping when nature calls, and I'm not talking about birdsong. Realistically, and despite your repeated pleas to use available facilities, you may be dealing with an urgent bowel motion on the most remote part of the track. In this situation, you'll need a compostable bag, or a trowel and a spot well away from the track, campsites and any water. Chalk it up as a new experience for young and old. Abel Tasman National Park. Photo / Tourism NZ Lean into a little make-believe Keeping morale up on a long day of walking required a mix of games and deep-dive conversations into our children's latest interests. On the Abel Tasman, we were hard into the Harry Potter phase and every third stick we encountered was assessed for its spell-casting potential. There's a limit, of course, to how many of the 1000-plus Pokemon characters you can bear to hear about, or how much I Spy you can play in the bush. This is where outright bribes in the form of cold, hard candy come in. They work on adults too. Plan post-hiking fun Arriving at the hut after a day of walking can be a religious experience. Don't get too comfortable though, as your kids will inexplicably still have energy to burn. Once you've bagged your bunks (fellow trampers are usually very reasonable about letting families bunk in the same room), be prepared to go exploring around the huts – there is often a postcard-perfect waterfall, swimming hole or vista just a short walk away. Back at the hut, it's time to break out the snacks and diversions. Some huts have a collection of puzzles, cards and games, but it's a good idea to take your own too. The Great Walks challenge began on the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Photo / Claire Rogers Keep mealtimes simple For meals, we kept it simple. Breakfasts (porridge mix) and dinners (a freeze-dried meal) were as easy as adding boiling water to the sachets, stirring the mix and letting them sit. Lunches and snacks were salami and bier sticks, wraps, energy bars, lollies, crackers and cheese. While the thought of a freeze-dried roast chicken meal – complete with mash and stuffing – may not have you salivating, our kids gave it rave reviews. Enjoy the break from the nightly battle over fresh veggies. Make friends along the way Stepping out on day one of the Abel Tasman track, we were a tad nervous as to how our fellow hut dwellers would receive our outgoing brood, who were 6, 8 and 9 at the time. We needn't have worried. The camaraderie in the huts is one of the best things about the Great Walks, and most of our walking companions have been delighted to see children tackling the tracks with them. We loved reuniting with our newfound friends each night, sharing stories from the day. One tramper went so far as to organise an epic 'backyard' cricket match for our would-be Black Caps, constructing a bat out of driftwood and converting an avocado stone into a ball with strapping tape. On the wall in our home office, there's a Great Walk map. The kids love to look at the distances and climbs they've conquered, the huts they've lodged in, and remember the people we met along the way. When you sign up for a Great Walk with kids, you are signing up for a challenge. But the family memories made, the soul-nourishing scenery, and the immense and collective sense of achievement each time have us coming back for more.
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Southland lagoon at risk of ecological tipping point, warns DOC
Waituna Lagoon is on the receiving end of sediment and nutrient run-off. Photo: Supplied / Sarah Crump An ecologically significant Southland lagoon that has been plagued by algal blooms and deteriorating water quality is at risk of crossing a tipping point without intervention, the Department of Conservation says. Waituna Lagoon, south-east of Invercargill, is part of the internationally significant Awarua-Waituna Wetlands - but its position at the bottom of a 20,000ha intensively-farmed catchment area means it is on the receiving end of sediment and nutrient run-off. An independent panel is considering a consent application by the Southland Regional Council, Te Rūnanga o Awarua and the Department of Conservation (DOC) to determine if the lagoon should continue being periodically opened to the sea to manage water levels. The council used emergency powers twice last year to open Waituna Lagoon to flush out cyanobacterial bloom . At the first day of the hearing on Tuesday, DOC solicitor Pene Williams said the lagoon was an ecologically significant site that was home to native birds, fish and plants. "More than 90 species of birds have been recorded. It is a place where the arctic migratory species come in our summer, their winter. There's also waterfowl, waders, wetlands species. Some of these are at conservation concern," she said. "It's a place that people go to recreate, including to appreciate its ecological values, and its cultural values. It's the only remaining coastal lagoon on the east coast in a natural ecological condition but it remains at risk of crossing that tipping point without action being taken." During a public notification period last year, 51 people made submissions, 42 of which opposed the change. Many submitters sought changes to the frequency or duration of the lagoon openings, raising concerns the proposed higher water levels could cause flooding and impede drainage. Fish & Game and Forest & Bird objected to a proposed 20-year transition period in the plan, which would involve gradually raising the water level thresholds at which the lagoon could be opened to the sea. Both organisations wanted higher water levels to begin without delay. Williams said DOC, the council and Te Rūnanga o Awarua were committed to working with the community to restore the lagoon. "We have submissions from people who deeply care about Waituna, who have been recreating, working, observing, celebrating Waituna for generations," she said. "This [plan] is managing the lagoon as the receiving environment for what is coming down the catchment in a way which promotes hauora, and restores it." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Concern 1080 will lower deer numbers
The use of 1080 poison where white tailed deer live could severely reduce the numbers of the "iconic" game animal, a hunting advocate says. New Zealand Game Animal Council chief executive Corina Jordan has recently returned from a trip to Stewart Island/Rakiura, where she talked to community members about the recent Department of Conservation aerial 1080 operation. The operation is part of a plan to save the endangered southern dotterel (pukunui) that is being preyed upon by wild cats. In phase one of the operation, 1080 bait with and without deer repellant was dropped on about 6500ha, earlier this month. Phase two of the operation will cover about 40,000ha and is scheduled to start next month. About five days after the drop, three dead white tailed deer were found with 1080 pellets in their stomachs in a hunting block where deer repellant had been used. Miss Jordan said if plans to remove predators from the whole island went ahead in 2026, the deer would not be wiped out, but their numbers would be significantly reduced. "That would put a stop to hunting on the island for quite a substantial period. "Hunters aren't going to want to visit an island that's been impacted by intrusive predator control." This would also affect the economy of the island, she said. While the council supported predator control and conservation, the use of the poison in areas where deer lived was concerning. The poison was not "authorised to be used to control deer". "It's inhumane. "There's animal health or well-being issues using 1080 on deer." The island's white tailed deer were special in that it was only one of two small wild populations. "It provides an outstanding hunting opportunity." Many people made an annual trip to the island to shoot the deer, which were not easy to hunt. "They're really intelligent and they're quite secretive." White tailed venison was also prized. "The meat in relation to quality, taste and texture is arguably some of the best." New Zealanders needed to have a "courageous conversation" about the use of 1080 to kill predators in areas where deer live and whether deer repellant should be used in the bait, she said. There was little research done on how white tailed deer responded to bait with deer repellant added. However, Sika deer research showed 10% died when deer repellant was used and 70-80% died where no repellant was used. The council was in favour of managing the resource, which had happened with Fiordland's wapiti deer population. "You can have quite substantial conservation outcomes while maintaining the hunting resource." After the discovery of the three dead deer on the island last week, ZIP operations director Duncan Kay said the operation was an opportunity to measure the effectiveness of deer repellant in reducing the impact of 1080 on white tailed deer. "It is acknowledged that deer repellent is unlikely to prevent all deer deaths."
