The Whaingaroa Environment Centre has put together a great lineup of fun environmental happenings in September so check out the attached pdf and go online for more details.

Please register for any Sustainable September event you wish to attend with the Whaingaroa EC - some events will be popular and book up fast and others might not run if we don’t have the numbers.
Registrations can be made with us at Whaingaroa Environment Centre (WEC) – call us, email us or pop in and see us at the Town Hall on Bow St (Mon-Fri, 9.30-3.30) - 07 825 0480 - envirocentre@whaingaroa.org.nz.
More details for each event are available from the centre, or coming on our website - www.whaingaroa.org.nz

Sust Sept flyer_email.pdf

In this newsletter:

Tuesday August 27 - National WetlandTrust AGM
Thursday 29th August - Public meeting
Community Post closing 31 August
Saturday 31st - Waiwhakareke working day
Saturday 31st - Threatened Plant collection working bee
Monday 2nd September - Waikato BotSoc talk “Gardening for wildlife"
Sunday 8th September - Te Pahu Landcare Group Planting Day

And don't forget to join us on  Meetup! Anyone in the Waikato who is interested in conservation on Meetup will be able to see your events.

Tuesday 27th August

Reminder: National Wetland Trust walk and AGM

Just a reminder of the NWT AGM  (5pm) preceded by a tour inside the pest fence at Lake Serpentine/Rotopiko (3pm)  to see the new boardwalk and results of recent planting and weed control.
AGM - Te Rahu Hall, 2226 Te Rahu Rd, Te Awamutu

The latest newsletter is on the web.
With the many generous donations with subs this year after our appeal for help with the Rotopiko/Serpentine restoration we are going to put some funds towards a reptile survey to see what wonderful little lizards and gorgeous geckos might be hanging on at the wetland site ready to burst in numbers when the pests go later this year.

Thursday 29th August

A PUBLIC MEETING – ALL WELCOME

Rex Bushell is holding a public meeting  to present two discussion papers, one on dedicated cycle ways based on the Portland, Oregon model and the other on restructuring the management of city water and waste water. If you are concerned about the introduction of water meters to Hamilton you will be interested in this paper.

The meeting is being held at the Baptist community centre, 1101 Heaphy Tce, starting at 7.30pm. www.sustainablehamilton.co.nz

Community Post and Wel Energy applications closing August 31

Saturday  31 August 2013

Waiwhakareke Monthly working day 9am - midday
Meet at Gate 3 about 300m past the Zoo on the right.

We will be infill planting the semi swamp area planted in 2008.    Bring GUMBOOTS, a spade and morning tea.   It would be great if you can let me know if you are coming by Thursday 29 August so we can organise the right amount of plants to be onsite.  And it would be great if there was a good turn out for this planting.    
Contact  Moira -  m.cursey@xtra.co.nz

Saturday 31^st August

Threatened Plant collection working bee

A working bee to tidy up the new threatened plant garden. Please bring gloves, old clothes and boots for weeding, planting and propagating activities.
Meet: 10am at the garden, Waikato University Gate 8, Hillcrest Rd, outside Science and Engineering entrance E-F link stairway.
Contact:     Liz Overdyck ph 07 825 9743 eg3@waikato.ac.nz

Monday September 2nd

Waikato Botanical Society talk
“Gardening for wildlife – gardens as a restoration tool” Brain Cutting

Waikato Environment Centre at 25 Ward Street from 5.30 - 7 pm.

Worldwide, butterflies and moths are in trouble. 2/3 of moth species in Britain are in sharp decline, and in 2013 the North American monarch butterfly population plummeted to the lowest levels ever recorded. This has left people wondering: ‘what can we do?’

Brian will discuss his own research quantifying the response of monarchs to artificial habitat in residential areas. He will also discuss the status of the monarch butterfly in NZ, and why insect conservation is critically important (and fascinating!) The way that we choose to landscape around our homes has a substantial effect on butterflies and months. Brian will talk about things we can do to make our yards useful to insets, and the plants and animals that depend on them.

About Brian: Brian Cutting is an entomologist and photography enthusiast who moved from the east coast of the U.S. to New Zealand in 2013. Brian has a Bachelors Degree in biology, and a Master's degree in Entomology, from the University of Delaware where he studied under Dr. Douglas Tallamy. Here he developed an interest in making human dominated landscapes useful to wildlife. His thesis research focused on how monarch butterfly populations are affected by butterfly gardens.

Along with his research with monarchs, Brian worked on several research projects evaluating insect use of native and alien plants. He has led projects quantifying wildlife use of riparian corridors, and surveying wild bird populations for West Nile Virus. He has experience in pest control and natural areas management. More recently, Brian worked on biological control of the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In New Zealand, Brian has been involved with several projects quantifying invertebrate communities – from those in canopy epiphytes in native bush, to those in artificial ponds in pasture areas.

Enquires please contact: Cynthia Roberts, croberts@doc.govt.nz; 07 8581034

Sunday 8th September

Te Pahu Landcare Group Planting Day
This year the group is planting along the Kaniwhaniwha Stream's true right bank. They would love some help.
Meet at the Kaniwhaniwha Reserve carpark at 9am. Spades provided but bring your own if you like. Sausage sizzle and a hot/cold drink provided by DoC back at the carpark at lunchtime. Contact Nardene.berry@landcare.org.nz or 07 825 9112

Hi everyone,

The Waikato Envirocentre now has a page on Meetup -http://www.meetup.com/Waikato-Envirocentre/

We will give it a trial to see how effective it is but on the face of it I can see quite  a few advantages as a notification system about what is going on - but you all need to register and  join our group to be able to say if you are going or not.

It is all quite easy -

1. Groups  put out a notification, people can say whether or not they want to go once they have registered and joined the group.

2. The events are seen by anyone who registers on Meetup using the same interest tags eg conservation, energy efficiency, cycling etc etc, so the audience is potentially a lot larger than just our newsletters and facebook. We can add tags so the tag could be the name of your group and then people can opt to only receive those notifications. You can keep messages private to your group if you wish.

3. There is more immediate ability to get in touch with all group members for changes, weather, add information etc.

4. Notifications can go to your phone if you want.

5. You can see who else is going to an event and arrange shared transport.

6. The Waikato Environcentre has a page which we are paying a very small amount for monthly so we are happy to do that on behalf of groups. Events can repeat which is helpful.

7 Have a look and see what you think! And register, especially if you are the organiser of events so I can change the organiser to someone other than me!

There are lots of other  interesting  groups too!

Cheers,

Katherine

Many extremely knowledgeable and expert people have grave misgivings about changes the Government is proposing  to the RMA this year - here is a message from Forest and Bird and an opportunity to take part in some online seminars with a solicitor to find out more about the changes and how you can take action.

RMA: our people, our place

• Tuesday August 27, 12 noon 
• Wednesday August 28, 7 pm  

Just a reminder to let you know that this weekend a gully and stream side restoration at the Mangaonua Esplande is happening. The project is being lead by the Ngati Haua Mahi Trust and provides an opportunity for you to become involved in the community planting activity.

The planting will start at 10.30am Sunday 25 August 2013 and there will also be a tour of the project and an opportunity to learn about aspects of gully restoration. Refreshments will be provided after the planting.

If you wish to attend please RSVP by Friday, 23 August 2013 by emailing gerard.kelly@hcc.govt.nz  or calling the Parks and Open Spaces team on 838 6622.

We will meet at the reserve entrance at the end of Silverdale Road. You will need to bring a spade, suitable footwear (gumboots are best!) and clothing as the planting area is wet and boggy.

This project is a collaboration with the Ngati Haua Mahi Trust, University of Waikato ‘Gully Seminar Series’ events, Hamilton City Council, Waikato Regional Council, Mighty River Power, Department of Conservation, and Toti Trust, with funding from the Waikato River Authority.

 If you would like to receive further information please don’t hesitate to contact me, or alternatively contact the Ngati Haua Mahi Trust communications advisor, Dr Bill McArthur on bill.m@macarthurgroup.co.nz

Gerard Kelly
Community Planting Co-ordinator | Parks and Open Spaces

DDI: 07 838 6501 | Mob: 021 286 2066 | Email: gerard.kelly@hcc.govt.nz

16 August 2013

Hamilton City Council is calling for expressions of interest for members of a new panel to oversee city-wide efforts to become more sustainable.

In 2012, Council adopted the Sustainable Hamilton Strategy, which focuses on the vision of “changing the way we live for a better future”. The strategy prioritises care for the natural environment, leadership and collaboration among the city’s largest organisations, and engaging the city’s businesses and residents in efforts to reduce waste, energy use and our impact on our city’s environment.

Aaron Fleming, Council’s Strategy and Research Manager, says Council is now asking for people with technical expertise to join a Sustainability Panel to provide advice, and critique work streams, stemming from the strategy on an annual basis.

“With the strategy being delivered through a partnership model and with a sustainable city being the long term goal, having an independent group assessing the work coming out of the strategy is important to ensure the actions are delivering real, tangible benefits for the city,” Mr Fleming says. “Ideally, the panel will comprise between three and five people with expertise in natural systems, community resilience, economy and business processes, the role of Tainui, and how these various areas are connected.”

Mr Fleming says people interested in joining the panel should provide a CV, via email, to raewyn.napier@hcc.govt.nz.  Expressions of interest will be considered by Council Chief Executive Barry Harris and other recognised national experts in sustainability issues.

Expressions of interest close on 1 September. More information about the Panel, including a Terms of Reference, can be found online

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Aaron Fleming
Strategy and Research Manager
Tel (Direct):07 838 6483
Email: aaron.fleming@hcc.govt.nz

Jeff Neems
Communication Advisor
Tel (Direct):07 838 6509
Mobile: 021 818 564
Email:jeff.neems@hcc.govt.nz

Trip postponed

Waikato Botanical Society trip planned for tomorrow is postponed unfortunately, due to the forecasted bad weather and a trip leader down with the lurgy. Thomas is looking to run this trip in the new year.

Friday 6 September 2013

NZ TREE CROPS ASSOCIATION  Waikato Branch

PUBLIC FRUIT TREE GRAFTING WORKSHOP

7.30 pm
Venue: St Francis Community Church, 92 Mansel Av, Hillcrest, Hamilton.

Tutor: Brent Barber (Agribusiness plant propagation course facilitator)

Cost: $ 10 per person (NZTCA member)
$ 20 pp for non-members

This charge covers the costs of three rootstocks for each person, workshop materials (safety gloves, grafting tape, labels), tutor and hireage of the venue.

This is a hands-on workshop. After an introduction and demonstration by the tutor, you can have a practice of the techniques on willow or similar material. You can then graft your three rootstocks, choosing from a wide range of apple and pear scion that will be provided. These are yours to take home and nurture!

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
A grafting knife or a Stanley craft knife with a new blade, and secateurs.

 There will also be a good selection of scion from other fruiting trees such as stone fruit, for people to take if they have existing trees to regraft or rootstocks at home. Please consider bringing some scion if you have something interesting or of value to share.

A RSVP would be appreciated and for any additional info, please contact. Don Harwood Ph: 07 843 9007 OR email: don.harwood@philips.com

Horse manure available

Old horse poo available - can be loaded onto a trailer for you.
Phone Nanette 021 505 488

Reminder - first Gully Restoration Seminar tonight

7 - 9pm,  MSB.1.01, Gate 7, Hillcrest Rd, University of Waikato

And don't forget the first Gully Trip of the series is on Saturday 9 - 12 at Humarie Park, Cranwell Place.

Friday 16th August
Junats meeting

This week’s meeting is Adventures in Antarctica. Our guest presenter is Josh Scarrow, University of Waikato. Josh is a Masters Student and has spent several months in Antarctica as part of an international team studying microbial communities. Down at the Hort Centre at Hamilton Gardens at 7pm. Gate 2. Contact Dave Matthews Ph (07) 846 4013.  For more info about Junats.

Saturday 17th August
Pukemokemoke Working day

From 1 to 5pm at Pukemokemoke.

Saturday 17th August
Waikato Botanical Society trip – Lake Koroha (Hauturu Forest)

This walk will take us through a mixture of forest types from Rimu/Tawa, Regenerating Manuka and Pukatea forest to the lake which is surrounded by Kamahi/Rewarewa forest. The lake itself is ringed by sphagnum bog with patches of Eleocharis spacealata. The walk to the lake will take 2-3 hours.
Leader: Thomas Emmitt temmitt@doc.govt.nz ph. 07 878 1055 (work) or 021 152 3030. Let Thomas know if you are going.
Meet: 9am at the Hauturu Hall, corner of Harbour Road and Hauturu Road, South Kawhia.
Grade: Medium-Hard
Bring: Good footwear, lunch, togs if you are brave enough

Monday 26th August

Morrinsville Free Funding workshop

From 10 - 1pm.
Morrinsville Community House, 43 Canada Street, Morrinsville.

Presented by Trust Waikato and Community Waikato
This funding workshop covers all aspects of applying successfully for funding, accountability, and other financial information (more info in pdf attached

2013 Funding workshp.pdf

To register please email: robyn@communitywaikato.org.nz

Waipa Biodiversity Awards

Entries for the Awards close on 30 August and the Awards evening (in conjunction with the Heritage Awards) will be held on Wednesday, 2 October. The last Awards night was a fabulous event. We would really like to see as wide a range of entries as possible, to ensure proper recognition is given to the many worthy projects that are out there.

Entry details

Demelza Murphy, the WDC coordinator of the Awards, is also happy to accept email entries (although this was not noted on the guideline form). Email Award entries can be sent to info@waipadc.govt.nz

WRC's Environmental Initiatives Fund

The fund provides one-off grants to projects, which directly enhance and/or benefit the environment or provide environmental education. Up to $40,000 is available to any one project.

Anyone can apply.
Projects must be in keeping with council’s mission, goals and its statutory functions and duties as a regional council. Funding can be provided to specific projects designed to:

• enhance the environment
• promote and/or contribute to sustainable management of the environment
• raise community awareness of environmental issues
• provide environmental education.

Applications for more than $5000 will be processed twice a year and must be received by 1 October 2013.
Applications for $5000 or less will be considered as soon as practical after they are received. Exceptions to these deadlines will be allowed in cases of special need. To get more details of criteria and the application form.

ECO Conference dates changed

Now Friday 29 November - Sunday 1 December 2013
Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp, 304 Kauaeranga Valley Road, Thames, Coromandel

http://www.eco.org.nz/what-we-do/eco-conference-2013.html