Show New Zealand you love it

9 September 2011

Show New Zealand you love it

‘Show New Zealand you love it’ could easily be mistaken as a slogan to encourage support for the AB’s during the Rugby World Cup. While there is the grass roots connection, it’s actually the theme for this year’s Conservation Week.

From 11–18 September, kiwis (and tourists) will be encouraged to get involved with conservation and celebrate our native wildlife, our incredible natural areas and the places that are part of our history.

“Other events will come and go but the enduring significance of conservation will be there long after the crowds have dispersed,” says Al Morrison, Director General of the Department of Conservation (DOC).

A variety of events organised by DOC will be taking place across the country. From tree plantings, to night walks, to film screenings—there’s something to inspire a range of people to take conservation action.

Conservation Week is also a chance to spend some time with the locals. “We think conservation is essentially a community activity. In fact, we’d go further and say conservation isn’t going to work without the active support of communities,” says Al.

Mr. Morrison pointed out that DOC works extensively with communities and businesses throughout New Zealand, and when communities get behind initiatives and want them to work, the effort and rewards are for everyone to share.

DOC offices across the country are hosting their own events throughout the week. In the Wairarapa we are celebrating Conservation Week with a Free Open Day at Mt. Holdsworth. An entire day of activities is taking place on Sunday 18 September.

• 10.00am: Explore the Atiwhakatu River Valley (3-5 hours guided walk)
• 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm: Restoration Project guided tour (1 hour). One of our many Donnelly Flat volunteers will guide this walk and talk about the project. You will see how, together, we are restoring the forest and its wildlife through more intensive animal pest control.
• 11.00am: Hike up to the amazing Rocky Lookout (2-3 hours guided walk)
• 11.00am and 1.00pm: Invertebrate investigation in the Atiwhakatu stream (1 hour). Lead by Warren Field from Greater Wellington's Biodiversity Department. You may know about the troll under the bridge, but do you know what lurks under the stones of our streams? What relationships they have with each other? Or what messages they give us about the quality of the water in our streams? Find out ... it's interesting, interactive and fun.
• 2.00pm: Native plant workshop (1 hour). Join Tony Silbery, a DOC native plant specialist, in this “hands on”, informative workshop. You will learn about native plant landscapes, how to grow plants from cuttings and create gardens for attracting wildlife.

All day fun and play activities: Frisbee golf, geo caching (please bring your own GPS, we will have a few available and will teach you how to use them), Whack-a-Rat games and tours of the upgraded Holdsworth Lodge. Bring your own picnic and enjoy the beauty of our region. This is a waste free event, please recycle and remove litter.

For more information visit: www.conservationweek.org.nz.

ENDS

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