“Kendall to open coastal conference”

February 21, 2001

Former Olympic boardsailing champion Barbara Kendall will be in familiar territory when she opens the Coastal Dune Vegetation Network’s annual conference in Auckland next week.

Not only is it taking place at Macleans College in Howick where Kendall went to school but the conference Contrasting Coastlines puts the spotlight on Auckland’s diverse coastline, of which she has seen more than most during her long and illustrious boardsailing career.

“I am delighted to be a part of this conference because the coastal environment has been a huge part of my life. I’ve lived, trained and raced around Auckland’s coastline,” Kendall says.

She says competing in other countries has helped her realise what a unique treasure the New Zealand coastline is and how important it is to preserve it.

“I’ve been on beaches all over the world and I know nothing beats the New Zealand coastline. Anything organisations such as the Coastal Dune Vegetation Network can do to preserve it is awesome.”

Formed in 1997, the CDVN is a unique partnership between researchers, government agencies, nurseries and local BeachCare groups who have a mutual concern for the rehabilitation of degraded sand dunes. The group focuses on revegetation techniques incorporating indigenous species.

The CDVN is undertaking revegetation, fertiliser and restoration trials throughout New Zealand, in conjunction with BeachCare groups. The conference, organised in association with th4e Auckland Regional Council, will incorporate technical sessions on these trials and an over view of CDVN research, as well as field trips and presentations from BeachCare groups, education and Crown Research Institutes and local government.

Themes include biodiversity, protection and enhancement of dune vegetation, CoastCare, restoration and management of urbanised beaches, and coastal plant propagation.

Field trips to Eastern Beach, the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, a ferry ride covering a range of Auckland’s coastal environments followed by a trip out to the west coast will illustrate some of the key issues.

The conference runs from February 28 –March 2 with an optional field trip to Great Barrier Island from March 2 – 4.

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