Tuesday 13th April
Reminder:
5.30pm EW Annual PlanRoadshow presentation in the Situation Room at 391 Victoria St.
7.30 Forest and Bird AGM, Hamilton Gardens, Jim Salinger an independent weather scientist will speak on climate change and its effects on NZ.
Dr Salinger is the Honorary Research Fellow of the School of the Environment at the University of Auckland and President of the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology at the World Meteorological Organisation.
He will give his insight into the increasing impact of climate change on NZ lifestyles. After the Copenhagen Summit all will be aware of this major international issue - don't miss this talk.
There will also be plenty of information around issues such as mining.
For information and an easy to fill in submission form go to the F and B website: www.forestandbird.org.nz
Wednesday 14th April
Waikato Botanical Society Talk and AGM
The effects of burrowing seabirds on the forests, Rangatira Island, Chatham Islands talk by Cynthia Roberts and AGM
Rangatira Island (218 ha) is a globally significant bird sanctuary and with tall deciduous forests it is unusual for a seabird island. The rare and endangered terrestrial and marine bird species that breed on the island are dependent on this forest habitat for their ongoing survival. However, with more than three million burrowing seabirds and a loss of suitable breeding habitat elsewhere in the Chathams Group the forests’ long term viability may be under pressure. In my talk I’ll examine the impacts that burrowing seabird disturbance has on soils and forest dynamics and explore some solutions to the long term survival of the birds and the island’s forests.Cynthia has recently taken up a position as the Plant Ecologist in the Department of Conservation, Waikato Conservancy having just completed her PhD in Tasmania, this talk covers research from her Masters degree.
Time: 6.30pm Annual General Meeting, then 7pm talk followed by tea, bickies and questions. Please arrive promptly as the main doors will be open only at 6.30 and 7pm.
Venue: Landcare Research building, Gate10, Silverdale Rd.
Contact: Monica monica.peters@landcare.org.nz Ph 859 3725 (wk) mob 021 049 2036
Saturday 17th April
Waikato Bot Soc visit to Pukemokemoke Bush Reserve
(combined trip with Waikato branch Ornithological Society NZ)
The Reserve covers 40ha and enjoys a rich diversity of native plant species and bird life. There are over 300 plant species, including matai, kauri, totara, tawa, rimu and native beech. We will follow the bush loop track (1hr 30mins plus botanising/bird-spotting time!) which also has access to a lookout platform at the site of the old trig station. This track is administered by the Pukemokemoke Bush Trust on behalf of Waikato District Council; the reserve was gifted to the public by David Johnstone in 1991. The WBS last visited in 1988 and the reserve is now actively managed; including weed and predator control and planting, by the Trust and is also part of the Regional council ‘Halo Project’ to boost birdlife across the Waikato.
Meet: 10am at the track start by the bridge through the reserve entrance gate, Whitikahu Road. To get there travel north from Hamilton on SH 1B, and just past Gordonton turn right onto Whitikahu Rd. Go past Woodlands for 10 minutes and find Pukemokemoke just past the Tauhei Quarry.
Contact: Liz Overdyck ph 07 825 9743 email eg3@waikato.ac.nz or Dai Morgan email magpie.morgan@gmail.com
Friday and Saturday 23 and 24 April
Community Catchment Workshop
Free two day community workshop in Raglan
(Details in attachment)
contact Monica Peters at Landcare Trust 07 859 3725 021 049 2036 or email monica.peters@landcare.org.nz
Monday 26 April & Tuesday 27 April 2010
Tools for Engagement
(See attachment) This workshop could be useful for community groups
9.00am–4.00pm each day
Where St Peter’s Cathedral Community Centre
51 Victoria Street South
Hamilton
Cost $300 plus GST (includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, plus workshop materials)
Wednesday 28 April
You are invited to a Mayoral Conversation with Dr Jason Gilliland
Healthy by Design: Planning for Children's Well-Being
5pm-6.30pm , Drinks and nibbles from 4.30. Reception Lounge, Hamilton City Council, Garden Place Hamilton.
No need to RSVP – open invitation for you and your colleagues to attend. Urban planning plays a vital role in children’s health and development. Safe and commodious shelter, engaging play spaces, well-connected neighbourhood pathways, vibrant public spaces, clean air and protected natural environments all contribute to the healthy development of children through adulthood. Developing child-friendly environments is not only beneficial for children and young people, but for entire communities.
This presentation explores some of the ways in which the planning and design of cities can positively or negatively impact children’s health. Existing evidence is reviewed, and issues requiring further attention are identified and will conclude with an overview of “healthy communities” initiatives in Canada, and some recommendations for how planners and policymakers can advance the agenda for creating child-friendly cities.
Dr. Jason Gilliland is Director of the Urban Development Program and Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Western Ontario. He is also a Public Associate with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Canadian Institute of Planners, as well as a Scientist with both the Children's Health Research Institute and the Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada.
He was an elected member of the inaugural Urban Design Steering Committee for the City of London, Ontario and helped establish that city’s first Urban Design Review Panel. He is a regular consultant for municipal and provincial departments of planning, transportation, engineering, housing, children’s services, and public health. He is also an active volunteer, currently serving on over two dozen boards and committees of non-profit organizations across Canada.
Volunteer Opportunities
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand in the Waikato
A not-for-profit organization, Conservation Volunteers New Zealand has been established in New Zealand since 2006 with an office in Auckland. CVNZ developed a partnership with Fonterra to target regeneration of riparian zones on dairy impacted land in an effort to improve water quality and decrease soil erosion. This project has been called Catchment Care.
CVNZ has been charged with putting teams of volunteers onto these projects with a trained team leader to give a hand on both private and public land for the betterment of the environment.
We invite you to join us in becoming a active force in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the environment. We especially need people for tree planting 12- 13 April on a farm close to Mangatautari The Kaka have been visiting and the farmers are keen to establish native habitat for them to feed and shelter in.
The Waikato office is intent on building a good local volunteer base to join our local team leader on projects throughout the Waikato.
We have projects running every day and one day a month we run a Sunday project. There are 10 volunteers on a team with one a qualified Team Leader, CVNZ provide all the tools, protective clothing, transport from a central meeting place to and from project sites.
This is a wonderful opportunity to go visit sites that the public don’t necessarily have access to. One farm we work on has 450year old Kahikatea trees. The places we work are many and varied, (http://www.conservationvolunteers.co.nz/volunteer-opportunities.html) Explore the website – click on Conservation Connect to view all the projects happening in NZ.
Some of the things you can expect to experience as a volunteer are Tree planting, Seed collection, Heritage restoration, Biodiversity protection, Walking track construction, Coastal protection, Bush revegetation, Wetland revitalization, Fencing Species surveys, Environmental monitoring,
For projects you would like our help with contact Yuki Fukuda Regional manager
Office: +64 7 859 2401
Mobile: 021 755 226
Email: yfukuda@conservationvolunteers.co.nz.
If you are between 18 and 70 and you would like to volunteer than call Janet Planet
Project Officer Office: +64 7 859 2402, Mobile: 021 873 600, Fax: +64 7 856 2816
