News

Irrigation NZ (INZ), in association with Waterforce, has this week launched the inaugural 'Innovation in Irrigation’ award.

The award invites people doing exceptional things with their irrigation, individuals, groups or companies who are making a positive contribution, impact or benefit to irrigation in New Zealand to highlight their innovation.

Nominations from irrigators, schemes, water user groups, environmental groups, industry, university students and researchers are now being sought and close on March 1 2010.

The overall winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500 and the honour of being the inaugural winner of this prestigious ‘Innovation in Irrigation’ award.

For more details and nomination/entry forms go to www.irrigationnz.co.nz

For queries phone 03 379 3820 or e-mail admin@irrigationnz.co.nz

The Hillary Trail connects regional park tracks for a 70km wilderness experience.
Hillary Trail bookings are now being taken by Auckland Regional Council (ARC). The new trail, which is named after Sir Edmund Hillary, will officially open on 11 January 2010.

The Hillary Trail offers a multi-day tramp through the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and along Auckland's west coast. The four-day trail includes overnight stays at back-to-basics ARC campgrounds and connects regional park tracks to form a 70km wilderness experience.

Trampers wanting to do the trail can phone the ARC on 09 366 2000 to book Hillary Trail campgrounds from 11 January onwards and to get more information.

Click here for more information, including a trail summary and maps.

Bookings relate to where trampers are staying. If you choose to stay in one of the Hillary Trail campgrounds (Karamatura, Pararaha, Craw) or any other ARC accommodation near the trail, you will need to book in advance and take your camping permit with you on the trail. Campgrounds cost $5 per adult per night.

Admission to the track network itself is free.

NewSplash newsletter is here - some great summer reading!

The final edition of NewSplash for 2009 has arrived - it's a great read which you can download here. This edition features "Spotlight on a Wai Care Champion" which will be a regular feature in the newsletter from now on and which takes a good look at the fantastic work that a Wai Care group or individual has been doing. David Kang is the Champion highlighted in this newsletter. He is an inspiring advocate for the Wai Care programme who is out and about making a difference in his local community.
There are many other great stories to read about which demonstrate the wonderful work that Wai Care groups are doing. You can read about recent events like the Conservation Week activities that Wai Care was involved with at the Zoo, stream clean-ups and investigations, and even a Wai Care group winning a local music award!

We hope you will be inspired and informed by this newsletter - enjoy!

Ecocare News features stories of community groups' ideas and experience of what works well, technical advice and handy resources to support communities in their action for the environment.
Please click here to view the Summer 2009 Issue

What is really happening around the Gulf? The November issue of the Hauraki Gulf Forum's newsletter Weaving the Strands is now available on-line.

Stories include:

• Health warnings after dog deaths
• TTX causal factor
• Cockle deaths culprit identified
• Hauraki river ranks poorly
• Kawakawa Bay to get wastewater treatment
• Rangitoto-Motutapu sanctuary update
• Oi/ petrels breed at Tawharanui
• New marine farming space approved
• P&O Cruises chooses Auckland base
• Pacific Series racing to return
• New book on what’s happening to our coast

The Chairman asks, “Recent events have given us reason to be concerned. Could these be signs that the Gulf is shifting into a qualitatively different state…?”

Click here to read more...
 

NZ On Screen is very proud to launch a collection of landmark NZ nature films to celebrate NZ's unique natural taonga.

 "Actor and director Peter Hayden has curated a highlights collection from three decades of Natural History New Zealand productions. Aotearoa's landforms and its magnificent menagerie of natural oddities - birds, insects, trees like nowhere else on the planet - are showcased in 15 award-winning titles. From Discovery Channel and David Bellamy docos, to Wild South and Our World classics."

I've been working hard on it for the past few weeks and Natural History New Zealand (and Peter in particular) have been extremely generous in preparing and allowing these remarkable docos to be watched in full, free, on NZ On Screen.

My personal favourite is the first nature documentary to be filmed under the Antarctic sea ice called Under the Ice, revealing the other-worldly beauty of the submarine world, but there is extraordinary footage contained throughout the collection.

Please enjoy!

Marlene Thies

info@nzonscreen.co.nz

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network is now accepting nominations for the 2009 awards. The purpose of these awards is to acknowledge outstanding contributions to native plant conservation.
The award categories are:
• Individual involved in plant conservation
• Plant nursery involved in plant conservation
• School plant conservation project
• Community plant conservation project
• Local authority protecting native plant life
• Young Plant Conservationist of the Year (under 18 years at 30th June 2009)
More information about the awards scheme and additional nomination forms are available on the Network website - see www.nzpcn.org.nz. You can make multiple nominations under different categories. Everyone is eligible to make nominations, not just Network members.
The awards will be made at the Network Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday 12 November 2009 from 7-9.30pm in the Sunroom at the Stardome Observatory in Auckland. 
 

Have you or someone you know been involved in environmental projects?

The ARC is seeking nominations for its Sustainable Environment Awards.

These awards celebrate those individuals, groups, schools and businesses in our community who care for our environment and heritage and who work towards a sustainable Auckland region.

There are seven award categories, including three new recycling awards. Award categories are:

Click here to view more detail on the award categories.

You can nominate yourself or someone else for an award. Entry forms available online here.

Entries close on 4 November 2009.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Auckland on 25 February 2010.

Go to the ARC Website for more information or email environmentawards@arc.govt.nz.

Good luck!

 Recovery of the global ozone layer in response to the Montreal Protocol

Click here to read about this success story!