Tongariro/Taupo Conservation Awards 2008

Date: 05 December 2008

The 15th Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy Conservation Awards were announced at the Taupo Museum on 4 December 2008. The awards were presented in the Ora gardens amongst a large gathering. In all seven awards were made.

Taupo Office Products - Alan Payne

This award was received for the native planting along the Spa Huka Track and in particular the significant amount of follow up work after the planting.

Murray Cleaver, Supervisor for Visitor Assets, said "Alan and his family have literally put in 100s of hours ensuring the plants have been kept weed free and well watered all along the track".

Alan's efforts will ensure the track remains a testament to his efforts for years to come.

Conservation award winners

Taupo Bird Rescue Trust - Judi Smith and Suzy Walker

This award was presented to two very dedicated ladies, Judy and Suzy, who have worked tirelessly for over 14 years looking after injured and abandoned native and introduced birds from Kereru to Harriers, Paradise ducks to blackbirds.

Caring for the birds can be a 24 hour job with some birds requiring feeding or medical attention every 2 hours day and night.

This dedication and care gives the birds the best survival opportunity says Lucy Roberts, Ranger for Biodiversity & Threats.

Hadlee Cade

This award was presented to Hadlee for working enthusiastically to contribute to the anti-didymo campaign.

Hadlee is 15 years of age and he was acknowledged for the amount of his own time and energy he has put in to helping out with keeping didymo out of the central North Island at such a young age.

Hadley voluntarily works along side his father (Didymo Dave) with the area's didymo campaign. Nina Manning, Technical Support, Didymo, said "He's a fantastic advocate engaging with the public from local national and international audiences and at 15 years of age is an inspiration to others both young and old".

You will also find him on weekends down in Hatepe cutting honeysuckle along the Hinemaiaia River, checking rat, stoat and possum traps and carting water around to newly planted native trees.

Mapara Valley Preservation Society

The Society was presented with an award for the work they have done in lobbying for the preservation of Mapara valley including the Whakaipo Bay Recreation Reserve and the Whakaroa Scenic Reserve.

The award was presented by Brian Robinson who is a member of the Tongariro/Taupo Conservation Board.

He acknowledged it had been of tremendous conservation value to the areas involved and thanked the society for all their efforts towards this important work.

Advocates for the Tongariro River

This award was received for the work this organisation has done in protecting the riparian sections of the Tongariro River, and in particular the wilding pine eradication which has been a very significant project.

For this particular project the Advocates raised the money and then employed their own contractor to complete this important work and it remains ongoing.

Leith Rhynd, Programme Manager for Biodiversity, who presented the award acknowledged the persistence, hard work and dedication they have put in to these projects which have the objectives of protecting the values of this important river.

Moerangi Station

This award was presented to Moerangi Station for the work completed in planting the riparian sections of the station.

Moerangi Station is located between Lake Otamangakau and Kuratau, and comprises a large part of the upper catchment of the Kuratau River.

The award was presented by the Conservator, Paul Green who stated that the farm entity was a great model; they had planted and fenced off 135ha of a protected wetland area.

He described them as leading the way with changed land use practices and reducing the nitrate leaching in to the lake.

National Park Progressive Association Inc

This award was presented to the Association for the work it has done re-developing and upgrading the spectacular Tupapakurua Falls walk at National Park.

The track was an old route used by hunters and there was very limited access. The new track developed by Association under the leadership of Murray Wilson over the past four years, leads off Fishers Road behind National Park Village, through regenerating bush with some lovely stands of tawa forest along the ridgelines to the Falls.

Murray and his team have spent some 2000 hours developing this track and have led the project from start to finish.

Bhrent Guy, Programme Manager, Community Relations, Ruapehu, presented the award and said, "Passion and dedication is what drives community projects. The National Park Progressive Association and Murray Wilson are to be congratulated for completing a major track development project; the track is now a major community asset thanks to the work of this small dedicated group."

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