Jan 12 FB newsletter

							                                        Nelson/Tasman branch newsletter February 2012

                Forest and Bird’s BIOBLITZ on the Denniston Plateau
                    6pm Friday March 2 to 4pm Sunday March 4, 2012.
Australian-owned Bathurst Resources has been given resource consent for an open-cast coal
mine on the Denniston Plateau. It also needs a concession and access arrangement from
the Minister of Conservation who has now declined to publicly notify the access
arrangement for the mine and allow the public to have a say.

This is a beautiful place and Forest and Bird hopes the BioBlitz will increase public
awareness of the biodiversity of the Plateau and stimulate public pressure on the
government to decline the access and concession applications by Bathurst Resources.

Forest and Bird also wants to increase our knowledge of the Denniston plateau to provide
further scientific information to support our application for a 5900 hectare reserve centred
on the Plateau.
So, if you are keen and fit and able to get down to ground level in looking for life among the
shrub and rocks for around six hours, why not volunteer to join teams to help find unusual
plants and wildlife. Previous experience of field work in the outdoors is welcome, but not
necessary. You will be working with experienced people in the outdoors, with informal
opportunities for discussion and learning along the way.
Other support help is also required at base camp.

Accommodation is at Gentle Annie from tenting to shared bunkrooms; volunteers will need
to pay for their own accommodation and make their own meal arrangements. More details
available on registration.
Register online ASAP on www.forestandbird.org.nz and use Quicklinks on RHS of page. Or
contact organiser Rachel Hurford at r.hurford@forestandbird.org.nz for more information.

            WEEDBUSTERS Sunday 12th February 10am - Cozens Rd, Dovedale

 Our next visit is to a scarlet mistletoe filled beech forest at Dave Martin's, who will be
 joining us. He needs a hand with old mans beard and many hands make light work. There is
 no forest in the region with so much scarlet mistletoe though we will have missed the
 flowering which comes out at Christmas.
 As usual, bring lunch. Tools and rides from Nelson provided. Do let us know if you are
 coming so that we can work out shared rides.
 If you are going there directly, let us know and we can send you the route details
 If wet, postponed to Sunday 26th, 2 weeks later. Call 545 2431 from 8am on the day for a
 recorded message of intentions. The normal contact for the weedbusting is Michael:
totara@ts.co.nz                                          Michael and Debs

www.forestandbird.org.nz www.kcc.org.nz P O Box 7126, Nelson mail Centre, Nelson 7042
Certificate of Registration CC26943
                           Methane Flame near Murchison
                                     Sunday 13 November 2011

14 members aged from 5 to 70+ years met at the turn off to the Mangles and Matakitaki
Valleys, to the east of Murchison. After a few kilometres we had a brief stop to look at
fossils, pointed out by trip leader, Julie McLintock. Excellent imprints of leaves, embedded in
mudstone were easily spotted by the side of the road. Our destination was a farm and then
a one and half hour walk through paddocks and native bush. Julie led the group along a
blazed track to a natural indentation of gravel, where yellow flames were burning.

This was a unique Forest and Bird trip for me, as someone completely unaware of the
existence of natural methane gas flares. It was perplexing to come across open flames in the
midst of an attractive stretch of native forest.

The gas flare may go out in wet weather but the owner relights it by striking a match and
dropping it on the ground. The flames were found by a hunter 90 years ago. Attempts have
been made to trap and use the methane, but the distance to travel on foot makes this
impractical. Methane is commonly present in conjunction with coal and the area has long
been recognized as having significant, but not economic, coal seams.

BBQ equipment was hanging in a nearby tree: fry pan, long handled tongs, toast rack,
marshmallow skewers etc, so the lunches we brought of eggs and bacon, fried bread, lentil
patties, steak and marshmallows were easily prepared.

Thanks to Julie for organising the trip. We gave gift baskets to the land owner and farm
manager.

Trip Report by Alison Arron

                               Nelson–Tasman Committee Members
Craig Potton – Chairperson, Nelson        (03) 548 8538         pottonc@xtra.co.nz
Julie McLintock – Treasure, Cable Bay     (03) 545 0989         julie@vodafone.co.nz
Gillian Pollock - Secretary, U. Moutere   (03) 526 6009         g.pollock@scorch.co.nz
Brian Brasell – Nelson                    (03) 546 8292         brian.brasell@ncc.govt.nz
Beth & Tony Bryant - Motueka              (03) 528 5212         tonyandbeth@ihug.co.nz
Liz Christensen - Nelson                                        lizchristensennz@gmail.com
Pauline Coy – Nelson                                            paulinebc@gmail.com
Doug Craig - Nelson
Andy Dennis - Nelson                      (03) 548 7537         andydennis@xtra.co.nz
Graeme Elliott - Nelson                                         gelliott@doc.govt.nz
Helen Richards – Nelson                   (03) 542 4321         helen@poweredliving.co.nz
Ellie Watts - Nelson                      (03) 521 1148         ellie.watts@cawthron.org.nz



 URGENT – please is there anyone who could spend an hour or two a month keeping
                         the branch web page up to date.

 **The treatment of our rare and endangered dolphins, particularly Maui and
Hector, is disgraceful. Write to or email the Minister Fisheries and Aquaculture,
          Phil Heatley and express your concern – see F&B website.**


www.forestandbird.org.nz www.kcc.org.nz P O Box 7126, Nelson mail Centre, Nelson 7042
Certificate of Registration CC26943
                                    New Zealand Sealion

“It’s important that as many New Zealanders as possible sign Forest & Bird’s online petition
or write to Primary Industries Minister David Carter without delay to tell him we have to
work harder to save our sea lions

Contact: Katrina Subedar, Marine Conservation Advocate, 04 801 2210, 021 426 984

The Sub-Antarctic squid fishery overlaps with the breeding and feeding area of sea lions
living in the Auckland Islands. Squid is one of the main food sources for sea lions, which are
sometimes killed in the squid nets, and the reduction of available food caused by fishing is
also likely to be harming the population.

The Ministry of Fisheries claims the use of sea lion exclusion devices, which are fitted to
trawl nets with the aim of allowing the animals to exit the nets, means there is no longer any
need to set a limit on the number of sea lion deaths. But the ministry has provided no
evidence the devices are working as intended and overseas research suggests they could
cause fatal injuries to marine mammals.

The latest Sub-Antarctic squid fishing season starts on February 1 and the government is due
to soon announce its final decision on whether the limit on sea lion deaths will be removed.

Forest & Bird has asked the government to progressively reduce to zero the limit on the
number of sea lions that can be killed by the fishing industry. This could easily be done by
replacing trawl nets with safer fishing methods such as jigging.

The government also needs to adopt a management programme which would outline the steps
needed to increase the number of New Zealand sea lions to levels that would make them safe
from the threat of extinction.

Forest & Bird’s New Zealand sea lion petition can be found on the website

       THE PUKEKO has won the crowning title of Bird of the Year in 2011.

Pukeko arrived on our shores 1,000 years ago from Australia, and became a survivor par
excellence with its plucky attitude, striking plumage and mischievous habits.
Pukeko make their home in wetlands – a habitat that has shrunk in recent years due to
drainage for farms and other developments.
Our critically endangered kakapo secured second place and bronze medallist was the hihi.
Special mention also to the Saddleback, kiekie, a runner-up.

                                 RAUMANUKA PLANTINGS

Over 1000 plants were put into the Raumanuka area including several hundred coastal
ribbonwood Plagianthus divericatus planted along Motueka Quay.
Planting will begin again in April and we would welcome new members.
We assisted a class of tukutuku weavers from Awhina Marae in the planting of Pingau on
Motueka Sandspit and members of “No Oily Beaches” to plant pingau and flax on the
sandspit. Contact: Beth 528 5212 or email: tonyandbeth@ihug.co.nz



www.forestandbird.org.nz www.kcc.org.nz P O Box 7126, Nelson mail Centre, Nelson 7042
Certificate of Registration CC26943
                       Programme – February 2012 to May 2010
    TALKS: Please note: Unless otherwise stated, the talks venue is Tahunanui School Hall,
   Muritai Street,Tahunanui. All talks start at 7:30pm. Contributions for the sales table are
      most welcome. Gold coin donation please towards hall hire and supper. Car pool to
                                     minimise global footprint.
WALKS – Please wear appropriate clothing, sturdy footwear and gear to cope with weather
changes, sunblock, lunch, drinks and snacks. Contact the Trip Leader for more information.
FEBRUARY 2012
Wednesday 8 February - David Sissons will share what he has learnt about the restoration
of the natural character and functions of our coastal dunes. Enormous damage has been
done to our dunelands over the past 150 years and now we face the growing pressure of sea
level rise. Yet, over recent years, impressive community action around New Zealand has
been 'turning the tide'. The Coast Care Movement is one of our most exciting stories of
communities restoring nature, right where we live.
Sunday 12 February – Walk with David Sissons. Meet no later than 9:45am at the Beach
Cafe, Tahunanui Beach. David Sissons will lead the walk to explore the coastal dynamics of
the ever-changing Tahuna Beach and see the local success of Coast Care first-hand.
MARCH
Friday March 2, 6pm to 4pm Sunday March 4 BioBlitz on the Denniston Plateau.
Volunteers required for fieldwork and help at base camp. Stay at Gentle Annie – bunkrooms
or tents. See article in newsletter for contact details.
For car-pooling contact Julie ph 5450989
Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 - Seaweek 'One ocean - too much love?'
Wednesday 14 -Rod Morris, acclaimed natural history filmmaker and photographer will
take us on a photographic journey of the incredible landscapes and creatures residing on
the Denniston Plateau.
Friday 16 to Wednesday 21- Somes Island and Ruapehu Lodge. Stay overnight at
Matiu/Somes Island to see giant weta & little blue penguins and to be woken by the chatter
of parakeets. Then onto the new Lodge at Ruapehu. The Tongariro Crossing is just one of
the many walks planned for the 4 days at the lodge or take the chairlift up to look at the
alpine flowers. A few hours will be spent with the Wildlife at Mt Bruce en route south on
21st. Limited numbers, book with Julie 5450989
APRIL
Thursday 5 to Monday 9 Easter Camp - Once again Ian is organising a trip to Mangarakau
Swamp in Golden Bay to help the Friends of Mangarakau with general maintenance jobs.
This year we are proposing to go to Kahurangi Lighthouse, as the tides are favourable, but
still subject to the weather as we have two rivers to cross. Ideally we will have 4 four wheel
drives to cross the Anatori and take us to the Turimawiwi River where we will leave the
vehicles and walk of 3/4 hours along the beach to the lighthouse. Book with Ian 5459018
Wednesday 11- Andrew Fenemore will give an illustrated in-depth look at the beautiful
Motueka River.
MAY
Wednesday 9 - 6pm pot luck dinner bring a plate (mains or pudding),and your own dishes
and cutlery. Some wine and fruit juice will be supplied
7.30 AGM followed by Craig Potton: “Our Coastline and the responsibility we have for it”
Sunday 13. Meet at 10 am, for walk from the Glen to Boulder Bank Drive. Bring lunch
and strong footwear .E-mail brian.brasell@ncc.govt.nz or leave message at 546 0239.


www.forestandbird.org.nz www.kcc.org.nz P O Box 7126, Nelson mail Centre, Nelson 7042
Certificate of Registration CC26943