4. Board meetings and inspections
Four full day board meetings were held during the reporting period. An informal discussion was held at the meeting in November as there were insufficient members present to form a quorum.
- 31 August 2004, Waitangi (Chatham Island)
- 2 November 2004, Waitangi (Chatham Island)
- 25 January 2005, Waitangi (Chatham Island)
- 11 May 2005, Waitangi (Chatham Island)
All board meetings have been attended by the Wellington conservator Allan Ross. At the May board meeting, Allan was joined by Anaru Luke the newly- appointed kaupapa atawhai manager (KAM) for Wellington Conservancy. Each board meeting has also been attended by the Chathams area manager; Bill Carlin (acting area manager) attended the meeting in May for Alison Davis. There have been several invited guests and visitors to meetings that are mentioned in the last section on the report.
Field inspections
These enable board members to familiarise themselves with the areas of their jurisdiction. It also enables board members to look at work completed and in progress by departmental staff. The board has conducted one field trip in January this financial year.
- 26 January - South Chatham Covenant, main Chatham
Board members and DOC staff studying the flora deep in the
Southern tablelands
Led by our previous board chair, Phil Seymour, a party of 13 board members and department staff visited the south-western coast of Chatham Island for a fine and long day on 26 January 2005. We travelled as a convoy of eight 4-wheel bikes from Tuku to The Horns, our stops along the way including the site where a pair of wandering albatross have nested for the last two years, and where one of this season's prospective nesting birds swooped above us.
Our particular focus was the South Chatham proposed covenant, comprising properties of Ron Seymour, Robert and Jan Holmes, and Neville Day. Fencing is well underway for parts of the boundaries, but is yet to be finally negotiated, funded, and erected for remaining boundaries. From The Horns our walking route took us south towards Green Point, and later on a circuit up to the boggy 'clears' of the tableland tops.
Animal grazing has had a great impact on both the canopy cover and the understorey of Southern Chatham forests, and we met up with several groups of wild cattle and big mobs of woolly wild sheep. The importance of this covenant and its fencing was readily apparent. Nikau trees may yet return to Nikau Gully!
Board members and DOC staff pictured at 'the Horns', on their way to view the south Chatham covenant.
At rear (left to right): Cameron Tiller (DOC), Paul Humm (DOC), Joe Tapara (CICB), Jolene Tapara (Joe's daughter), Phil Seymour (retired CICB) Middle: Denny Prendeville (DOC), Toni Day (CICB) Front: Alison Davis (DOC area manager), Amanda Baird (DOC), Alex McKillop (DOC), Jo Tuanui (CICB), Peter Johnson (CICB) Photo: Allan Ross/DOC
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