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Tree Planting in Action - Nick Turoa Community Relations Ranger, Sarah Christie NZONE Sales Manager and Kellie Haveman NZONE Pilot.

Monday 6 August 2007

Funding boost kicks Conservation Week off on high note

The announcement of sponsorship for the Hannah’s Bay Wetland Restoration Project was music to the community’s ears yesterday, as Conservation Week got off to a promising start.

Local tandem skydiving company NZONE, who operates a drop zone in the same catchment area as the wetland, has committed funding to offset carbon emissions for the next two years. This financial commitment, calculated on annual flights, is estimated to total around $1,000 each year.

According to Community Restoration Project Coordinator Denise La Grouw, funding from organisation’s like NZONE is fundamental to achieving the conservation vision for the Hannah’s Bay area.

“Due to the increasing deterioration of the Rotorua Lakes water quality, local community members got together and formed the Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Project in 2003,” said Ms La Grouw.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to secure the ongoing support from NZONE. They’re going to purchase trees for planting in the wetland and yesterday they rolled up their sleeves to help during our Conservation Week Planting Day.”

Funding from NZONE will be used to purchase a range of wetland plants, including swamp maire, which is endemic to the area but very rare. 250 swamp maire will be planted in spring 2007.

“The proliferation of these plant species will provide the best habitat for both our native forest birds, and ground-dwelling wetland creatures,” said Ms La Grouw.

“It’s very important to create a wetland area that can be appreciated on a number of levels by the many hundreds of people living in our community. Not only is the wetland area a popular spot for walking and riding, it’s an essential wetland ecosystem and a prime place to educate children about environmental issues.”

An enthusiastic team of volunteers form the cornerstone of restoration activities in the Hannah’s Bay Wetland area, but money to buy plants was greatly needed.

“NZONE’s generous sponsorship was exactly what we needed to put into action our Wetland Restoration programme. It’s enabled us to buy plants which we’re not able to get as part of our other partnerships with Regional and local council,” said Ms La Grouw.

Sarah Christie, Sales Manager for NZONE, says the company looked into a range of local projects to support and it was the tangible environmental impact that made wetlands restoration stand out.

“Although flying is a fundamental area of our business, we’re acutely aware of the impact our operations have on the environment. We’re highly driven to continue offsetting that impact, so getting behind restoration of the Hannah’s Bay area is NZONE’s long-term commitment to sustainability,” said Ms Christie.

As well as providing financial support, NZONE’s team is helping to buy, transport and plant the new vegetation in the wetland.

“Our commitment to becoming carbon neutral also includes an ongoing programme of reducing and recycling, and we’re active members of the Rotorua Sustainable Business network too,” added Ms Christie.

Conservation Week is a Department of Conservation initiative running from August 5 – 12, spanning environmental projects such as land art, glowworm and Kiwi talks, group walks, a Te Amorangi Museum clean-up day and a Blue Lake pleasure paddle.

ENDS

About the Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Project:
The Hannah’s Bay Community Restoration Project has been active in the Hannah’s Bay reserve, and in-particular the doggy walking area, since 2003. During this time we have worked with a multitude of groups, including ADHD youth, school holiday programmes, Social service agencies and the local community.

The project has strong support from the land managers, Rotorua District Council parks and reserves, the local hapu, Ngati Uenukukopako of which this area forms part of their turangawaiwai and Environment BOP Regional Council.

The group has developed an education resource focused on wetlands for use in schools and in the community, and has also developed the interpretation panels along the walkway of the main wetland area.

The group ensures that all willow removed to clear the way for planting is cut up for the community as firewood, often delivered to people who cannot afford to buy it or cannot gather it themselves. The community orchard is also being enhanced by planting of more fruit trees.

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