WAIRARAPA LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ... SPRING 2013
Volunteers improve local biodiversity
Tucked away around the corner past the Lake Ferry Hotel is a small coastal lagoon. You’ve probably never seen it, but a committed band of volunteers are restoring its natural biodiversity.
Not visible from the road or the pub, just east of Lake Onoke, the lagoon is a small piece of local natural history. It was the site of a small fishing village called Okorewa at the time of European settlement.
Nowadays, the lagoon goes by several names: Onoke, Okorewa or sometimes the Onoke/Okorewa Lagoon.
This quiet little lagoon is being given an ‘eco-makeover’ by members of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group, restoring native plantings from eco-sources. It’s the latest of several local projects to restore and encourage coastal biodiversity.
The group brings together “a diverse crew”, according to President Heather Atkinson. With friend and Pirinoa farming neighbour Vanessa Tipoki, Heather founded the group in 2011.
“Now we have over 70 members, both rural and town based. We share a commitment to sustainable land use and best possible environmental practice.
“We want to make a difference. Improving land and water quality and management in our own backyard is a good place to start,” Heather explains.
Group members recently completed the first stage of a big project opposite the Lake Ferry Hotel. Working with DOC and the land owners SWDC, they planted 750 trees in June 2012, and again in winter 2013.
“We cleaned up the riparian zone by the lake, planting flaxes, cabbage trees and coprosma: all simple eco-sourced native plants, typical of the area.
“We see our role as Kaitiaki, or guardians, of this area. It’s about the process and practices of protecting and looking after the environment, and we are developing a 5-10 year plan for the Lagoon, with the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
“The Lagoon plan involves restoration activities, including site preparation for planting, a bird monitoring programme and baseline plant survey.
“When water flows in this area were diverted in the 1950s, the environment changed. We can’t turn back the clock, but we can ensure there is a good representation of natural flora and faunas, to help improve water quality.
“For the longer term, the Lagoon helps lift awareness of protecting these coastal environments and water quality. It gives us a great story to tell about good environmental practice and looking after our lakes, in an area that attracts lots of visitors.
“We are also working with SWDC to plant natives in a gully adjacent to the ‘grey water’ system, above the Lake Ferry settlement. This runs off into the Lagoon, and is a good example of how all these environmental issues link in together,” she said.
Group member Roger Gaskell is a long-term, part-time Martinborough resident. Typically of the members, he has “a passion for growing things, especially native plants and trees”.
“I have a genuine desire to see wetlands restored, more native plantings and improved water quality. All New Zealanders could and should do much better about this issue, which is important all around the country.
“The group has done some good things, and it’s enjoyable work alongside like-minded people. From small quite informal beginnings, it has expanded its membership and scope of activities, incorporated as a society and picked up projects and some funding from local authorities.
“Our working days are both fun and practical. I encourage other south Wairarapa residents to get involved,” he urged. Contact Heather Atkinson at swbg@hotmail.co.nz for more information.
Volunteers improve local biodiversity
Tucked away around the corner past the Lake Ferry Hotel is a small coastal lagoon. You’ve probably never seen it, but a committed band of volunteers are restoring its natural biodiversity.
Not visible from the road or the pub, just east of Lake Onoke, the lagoon is a small piece of local natural history. It was the site of a small fishing village called Okorewa at the time of European settlement.
Nowadays, the lagoon goes by several names: Onoke, Okorewa or sometimes the Onoke/Okorewa Lagoon.
This quiet little lagoon is being given an ‘eco-makeover’ by members of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group, restoring native plantings from eco-sources. It’s the latest of several local projects to restore and encourage coastal biodiversity.
The group brings together “a diverse crew”, according to President Heather Atkinson. With friend and Pirinoa farming neighbour Vanessa Tipoki, Heather founded the group in 2011.
“Now we have over 70 members, both rural and town based. We share a commitment to sustainable land use and best possible environmental practice.
“We want to make a difference. Improving land and water quality and management in our own backyard is a good place to start,” Heather explains.
Group members recently completed the first stage of a big project opposite the Lake Ferry Hotel. Working with DOC and the land owners SWDC, they planted 750 trees in June 2012, and again in winter 2013.
“We cleaned up the riparian zone by the lake, planting flaxes, cabbage trees and coprosma: all simple eco-sourced native plants, typical of the area.
“We see our role as Kaitiaki, or guardians, of this area. It’s about the process and practices of protecting and looking after the environment, and we are developing a 5-10 year plan for the Lagoon, with the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
“The Lagoon plan involves restoration activities, including site preparation for planting, a bird monitoring programme and baseline plant survey.
“When water flows in this area were diverted in the 1950s, the environment changed. We can’t turn back the clock, but we can ensure there is a good representation of natural flora and faunas, to help improve water quality.
“For the longer term, the Lagoon helps lift awareness of protecting these coastal environments and water quality. It gives us a great story to tell about good environmental practice and looking after our lakes, in an area that attracts lots of visitors.
“We are also working with SWDC to plant natives in a gully adjacent to the ‘grey water’ system, above the Lake Ferry settlement. This runs off into the Lagoon, and is a good example of how all these environmental issues link in together,” she said.
Group member Roger Gaskell is a long-term, part-time Martinborough resident. Typically of the members, he has “a passion for growing things, especially native plants and trees”.
“I have a genuine desire to see wetlands restored, more native plantings and improved water quality. All New Zealanders could and should do much better about this issue, which is important all around the country.
“The group has done some good things, and it’s enjoyable work alongside like-minded people. From small quite informal beginnings, it has expanded its membership and scope of activities, incorporated as a society and picked up projects and some funding from local authorities.
“Our working days are both fun and practical. I encourage other south Wairarapa residents to get involved,” he urged. Contact Heather Atkinson at swbg@hotmail.co.nz for more information.
Kids on marine-life learning curve
By Nathan Crombie
6:00 AM Saturday Aug 24, 2013
TUCKER TIME: Pirinoa and Kahutara schools enjoy a barbecue lunch after completing an inaugural education day at Lake Ferry Hotel yesterday which focused on native marine wildlife in the district.
An inaugural seminar for guardians of South Wairarapa ecosystems turned the Lake Ferry Hotel into a classroom yesterday.
Event organiser Heather Atkinson, president of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group, said the entire Pirinoa School roll of 30 pupils and just as many Year 5 students from Kahutara School gathered at the hotel for a multimedia session about native marine wildlife in the region, with a particular focus on longfin eels and whitebait.
Mrs Atkinson, who co-founded the biodiversity group alongside Vanessa Tipoki, said the children were led through a static display, slideshow and video about eels, whitebait and other marine wildlife which populate the lakes beyond the hotel's front doors.
Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History supplied some lesson material for the inaugural class, which Warren Field and Toni de Lautour, Greater Wellington Regional Council community project co-ordinators, helped lead.
Carterton artist Viv Walker, who illustrated the children's book, The Eels of Anzac Bridge, also spoke yesterday. A copy of the book was given to Pirinoa and Kahutara schools.
Lake Ferry Hotel co-owner Mary Tipoki said she was pleased to host the inaugural education day, which fitted with her ambition of creating a more diverse "place of community" at the hotel.
Mrs Atkinson said: "We just wanted to help educate the kids about the environment, the habitats, because they're our guardians of the future."
The day also helped develop the understanding of pupils who had been involved with the biodiversity group planting of 1500 flax, grass and native plants in the riparian zone bordering Lake Onoke, Mrs Atkinson said. "Some of the kids had planted down here and we also wanted to give them context about why we were creating a habitat."
The biodiversity group was founded two years ago and had a mailing list of about 70 members.
She said the group had worked with territorial authorities and the Department of Conservation to complete several projects.
Other district groups shared goals on habitat creation and protection, including the Friends of Onoke Spit group, she said: "We're trying to lift awareness by being really constructive and by making positive changes."
The group's vision and goals included improving water quality and biodiversity through wetland restoration projects, the raising of community awareness about positive environmental management and its benefits, improving farming practices through support and education and promoting restorative projects around Lake Onoke.
The group also sought to "act as a conduit" between local and regional agencies and the community on environmental issues.
"In short, the group is working to empower the local community so that the ecology of the area is enhanced with specific focus on potential educational, recreational, cultural and tourism opportunities available at Lake Onoke and its tributaries."
The group met monthly and members included farmers, wine-makers, Maori stake-holders, business owners, fishermen and community leaders.
Members' combined landholding stretched from southern Martinborough to Cape Palliser and some of those within the group had received Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Encore awards and Queen Service Awards, Mrs Atkinson said.
- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE
By Nathan Crombie
6:00 AM Saturday Aug 24, 2013
TUCKER TIME: Pirinoa and Kahutara schools enjoy a barbecue lunch after completing an inaugural education day at Lake Ferry Hotel yesterday which focused on native marine wildlife in the district.
An inaugural seminar for guardians of South Wairarapa ecosystems turned the Lake Ferry Hotel into a classroom yesterday.
Event organiser Heather Atkinson, president of the South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group, said the entire Pirinoa School roll of 30 pupils and just as many Year 5 students from Kahutara School gathered at the hotel for a multimedia session about native marine wildlife in the region, with a particular focus on longfin eels and whitebait.
Mrs Atkinson, who co-founded the biodiversity group alongside Vanessa Tipoki, said the children were led through a static display, slideshow and video about eels, whitebait and other marine wildlife which populate the lakes beyond the hotel's front doors.
Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History supplied some lesson material for the inaugural class, which Warren Field and Toni de Lautour, Greater Wellington Regional Council community project co-ordinators, helped lead.
Carterton artist Viv Walker, who illustrated the children's book, The Eels of Anzac Bridge, also spoke yesterday. A copy of the book was given to Pirinoa and Kahutara schools.
Lake Ferry Hotel co-owner Mary Tipoki said she was pleased to host the inaugural education day, which fitted with her ambition of creating a more diverse "place of community" at the hotel.
Mrs Atkinson said: "We just wanted to help educate the kids about the environment, the habitats, because they're our guardians of the future."
The day also helped develop the understanding of pupils who had been involved with the biodiversity group planting of 1500 flax, grass and native plants in the riparian zone bordering Lake Onoke, Mrs Atkinson said. "Some of the kids had planted down here and we also wanted to give them context about why we were creating a habitat."
The biodiversity group was founded two years ago and had a mailing list of about 70 members.
She said the group had worked with territorial authorities and the Department of Conservation to complete several projects.
Other district groups shared goals on habitat creation and protection, including the Friends of Onoke Spit group, she said: "We're trying to lift awareness by being really constructive and by making positive changes."
The group's vision and goals included improving water quality and biodiversity through wetland restoration projects, the raising of community awareness about positive environmental management and its benefits, improving farming practices through support and education and promoting restorative projects around Lake Onoke.
The group also sought to "act as a conduit" between local and regional agencies and the community on environmental issues.
"In short, the group is working to empower the local community so that the ecology of the area is enhanced with specific focus on potential educational, recreational, cultural and tourism opportunities available at Lake Onoke and its tributaries."
The group met monthly and members included farmers, wine-makers, Maori stake-holders, business owners, fishermen and community leaders.
Members' combined landholding stretched from southern Martinborough to Cape Palliser and some of those within the group had received Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Encore awards and Queen Service Awards, Mrs Atkinson said.
- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE
