Waimate North Landcare Trust, Waimate North
One of the first Landcare groups to start in Northland, the Waimate North Landcare Trust is still going strong after 11 years.
The award recognises the breadth of projects undertaken by the group, including growing and selling plants from a community nursery; possum, rat and predator control; a comprehensive monitoring programme that is used as a model for other Landcare groups and support for others through the organisation of annual seminars and workshops to share expert knowledge.
The group protects volcanic broadleaf forest that is one of the most threatened habitats in Northland and spends hundreds of hours monitoring the local kiwi population.
Ross and Wendy Magon, Okaihau
The stony-bottomed rivers, native forest and fertile pastures of the Magon family farm, on the southern border of Puketi Forest, may look like a park but it is a productive working unit.
The Magons had already fenced around half of the bush and streams by the time they applied to the Northland Regional Council for assistance through the Environment Fund. In 2006 they fenced a further 173ha of mature native forest backing on to Puketi Forest with assistance from the Biodiversity Condition Fund, a total of 4.7km of bush and stream fencing in that year alone.
The Magons also teamed up with neighbours to do browser and predator control in their properties supporting the work of the Puketi Forest Trust. Almost every stream on their property has now been fenced, troughs had to been put in and last year a mammoth effort went in to building two stock crossings designed to withstand frequent floods. The farm, once a nightmare of unfenced waterways is now such a fine example of good catchment management that recently a field day was held there to showcase it.
John and Christine Pedersen, Mangakahia
John and Christine Pedersen say they are part of the “team”. They are part of the Mangakahia Landcare Group team, key drivers for the Otarao Integrated Catchment Management project team, long term supporters of the Mid-North Farm Forestry team, and valued members of the Northland Biodiversity Forum team where their willingness, time and skills with a hammer have created award-winning displays at many Dargaville Field Days events.
They have made their farm available on many occasions to host sustainable land management field days, workshops, discussions and lead by example. John has been a strong support of the Ballance Farm Environment awards – judging and contributing to all related events.
Linton Family, Kaipara
The Linton family owns a large sheep and beef farm near Batley on the Kaipara Harbour. By the time they applied to the Northland Regional Council for Environment funding assistance in 2005 they had started the mammoth task of fencing the bush, coastal edge and wetlands on their property.
Extra assistance was given by national Biodiversity Condition funding and 20ha of coastal forest at Massey Creek was fenced.
By 2008 they had started fencing the coastline and pohutukawa remnants on neighbouring properties which they graze, providing free labour for a good cause.
This year they started on a replanting programme for the coastal edge to connect remnants of pohutukawa forest. Now the entire coastal margin is fenced including 8 ha of bush remnants and salt marsh with some wetland areas yet to do. The Lintons are part of a group of eight farmers in this area all fencing coastal boundaries and protecting coastal forest and wetlands. The Lintons are also heavily involved in pest control work and are now part of a Community Pest Control Area.
Jean and Duncan Macky, Purua
When Jean and Duncan sold their farm in Cambridge what they loved about Northland was all the wonderful bush and trees but it surprised them that much of it was just not being looked after properly.
They had already set up covenants through the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust so protecting areas of forest on their new farm at Pipiwai was an obvious step.
Discovering they had nesting brown kiwi provided extra incentive and they also sought assistance from the Department of Conservation Kiwi team, the Northland Regional Council, Whangarei District Council and QEII National Trust.
They controlled the predators for kiwi recovery and even built a special kiwi listening platform. Discovering a threatened Pittosporum in their kauri stand and a range of different native orchids in their bush was an added bonus.
Bream Bay Coastal Care Trust, Ruakaka
The Bream Bay Coastal Care Trust was formed in 2006 to restore the coastal dunelands and raise public appreciation of the area.
So far the trust has been involved with a number of planting projects for Uretiti, Tamure Ridge and dunes next to a large subdivision on the Ruakaka Estuary.
A major ongoing project in conjunction with DOC and the NRC has been fencing and planting the edge of Ruakaka Dune Lake.
This winter alone has seen 4000 ecosourced plants planted. They have also been active in shorebird monitoring as well as predator trapping and weed control in and around two important local wildlife refuges as well as putting in submissions on local planning issues.
The trust works with Bream Bay College students on dune restoration, and has also helped to repair fences to keep vehicles out of the dunes and work with local iwi through the Patuharakeke Trust.
Jack Bisset Wetland Standholders Committee, Whangarei
Since 2004 this group of keen duck shooters has fenced and planted around 14,000 plants to enhance the habitat of the Jack Bisset Wetlands. The plantings provide an ideal habitat for ducks as well as bittern, spotless crake, and fern birds.
Thousands of volunteer hours have gone into planting and keeping the plants free of kikuyu.
Taurikura Ridge Landcare, Whangarei Heads
When the possums are gone, the rats come out to play - that's the experience of the Taurikura Ridge Landcare Group co-ordinator Martin Hunt and project manager Daniel Macdonald.
An area of 1400ha from Bream Head to Ody Road has been targeted for possums over the past few years, greatly improving the flowering and fruiting of trees - and attracting many more birds to the area. Kiwi, bittern and kaka are among the endangered birds that are now more commonly seen and heard.
Having knocked the possum population down on two properties, the group turned its attention to possum control over the whole 1400ha. More recently they are tackling the rat population that have a smaller territorial range than possums requiring traps to be more frequently spaced.
Taipa CoastCare, Taipa
Taipa CoastCare was formed in May 2008, under the umbrella of Taipa Beach Improvement Society. The group is led by Trisha Edwards, aided by Graham Lutze and Keith Savill and members of the society.
With recent initiatives to restrict vehicle access to the beach, the group wasted no time in constructing four walkways and planting 800 spinifex last year. This year six more access ways have been put in, and a further 600 spinifex and 600 pingao planted. Throughout the year group members are at the beach most days, releasing the spinifex from weeds as well as maintaining the walkways and fences.
The group works closely with the Taipa Area School and residents to help change attitudes and behaviour. Planting days run over a number of weeks provide an open opportunity to participate. Some of the students became so passionate about the project they set up a junior CoastCare group.
Lesley Baigent, Kaitaia
Over the past decade Lesley has had increasing involvement in kiwi protection. Using her veterinarian skills, farming background, passion for kiwi conservation and sheer determination, she makes a huge difference to kiwi survival in the Far North. Lesley has become a registered kiwi handler and is training a certified kiwi dog.
She started a series of popular kiwi aversion training workshops for working and hunting dogs.
Since last November more than 380 dogs have been taught to avoid kiwi in about 17 courses – a far greater number than was ever anticipated.
Friends of Taumarumaru, Doubtless Bay
The Friends of Taumarumaru Reserve are residents of the Doubtless Bay area who undertook to involve their local community in the restoration, ownership and management of this local iconic asset. With visitor numbers steadily increasing, the Friends have recognised the importance of regular work to protect the reserve’s historic and natural heritage.
Programmes carried out through out the year include a strenuous weekly weed control regime, mostly done with grubbers and hand plucking; a native tree planting regime, leading up to Arbor Day and enhancement of the three pa sites - Taumarumaru Pa, Otanenui Pa and Ohumumu Pa. All the work is undertaken in accordance with management plans and archaeological reports for future generations and visitors to enjoy.
Ratima Deema Petera, Far North
Esteemed kaumatua of Muriwhenua Rohe and of the Ngati-Kuri Iwi.
Deema’s award is made posthumously through the Department of Conservation’s Kaitaia area office for his incredible contribution to the new interpretation at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga). Deema shared his wealth of knowledge to not only make DOC staff aware of the Ngati Kuri history within Muriwhenua, but to find avenues and common ground on approaching a shared partnership of understanding, awareness and knowledge. It was Deema who supplied the historic place names and points of interest which are significant to Ngati Kuri iwi in their travels to Te Rerenga Wairua.
Deema also expanded on Te Ara Wairua (the Spiritual pathway of Maori) to augment visitor experience and enhance the significance of Te Rerenga Wairua to all iwi Maori. His contribution has added a significant cultural awareness element to Te Rerenga Wairua. In their nomination, staff said Deema had an amazing influence on them all and his knowledge of the traditional Maori world view and local iwi history was unparalleled.