Queen Elizabeth 11 QO cn
National Trust *| . .
QO 6 newsletter Sz; 'isit to the Victoria IN THIS ISSUE ionservation Trust, Visit to the Victoria Australia Conservation Trust 1 The Motu River 2 n February of this year our Chairman Hon. L W Gandar and Director Dr Juliet Batten were invited Trust Demonstration Farm 2 Ito the Victoria Conservation Trust to discuss our Hollard Gardens 3 Trust’s work, particularly open space covenants, and also to look at the work of their Trust. Revegetation Manual 4 The Victoria Conservation Trust is based in Mel- Lloyd White Memorial Continued overleaf Library 4 From Napier to Cape Egmont 5 Protected Natural Areas Programme 10 Te Whenua Toitu 11 Plimmerton Swamp 12 Logues Bush Purchase 13 Taranaki Visit 14 National Representative 15 School Covenant Programme 16 Changes and Activities 17 Open Space Covenants 18 Trust Membership 19
Published by the Queen Elizabeth the Second Hon. L.W. Gandar opening the Anzac Bridge, replacing the one National Trust, burnt in the “Ash Wednesday” fire, near Melbourne. On left, P.O. Box 3341 Professor Swan, Chairman of the Victoria Conservation Trust. Wellington. 1 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
Continued from page 1 with wild and scenic river protection, par bourne, run by a Board of Trustees. It has ticularly the Motu, is outlined in Newslet been functioning for 11 years, and has had ter No. 6. The Trust undertook to apply power to covenant for five years, but to for a Water Conservation Order to protect date no covenants have been registered. the Motu, the first such application under The Trust was interested in our record of the Water and Soil Conservation Amend registered covenants, and also in our sys ment Act 1981. It did this not only becaus^ tem of using regional representatives, as of the Motu’s value for recreation, wild^B they have no such field officers working in ness, scenery and wildlife, but also becaus^ rural areas. Another major difference is the Trust wished to set the criteria and the Victoria Conservation Trust’s mem precedents for subsequent applications. bership of 24,000 and the active involve The application was successful. In Feb ment of local management committees. ruary the Government approved the Plan Mr Gandar and Dr Batten had discus ning Tribunal’s recommendation that the sions with the Victoria Conservation Trust river be protected for its entire length of trustees and others including the Minister 95 kms, from the Motu Falls to the coast. for Environment and Planning. They vis This prohibits damming and the major ited Trust properties such as the George drawing off of water and protects the major Tindale Memorial Gardens, in the Danden- tributaries as well as the river. This deci ongs, where gardens have been planted sion has been welcomed throughout the and flourish under a canopy of gum trees. country by canoeists, rafters, trampers, They also visited the Ralph Illidge Sanc and conservationists. tuary, in Naringal East, the area devas The National Trust is very conscious tated by the “Ash Wednesday” fire in 1983. that it has been supported in this work by In the year following the fire there has many individuals and organisations. In par been encouraging revegetation, as can be ticular, the Trust wishes to gratefully ac seen in the background of the photo. Dr knowledge the support and effort of the Batten planted a memorial tree and Mr Environmental Defence Society who played Gandar named and opened the Anzac a major role. Bridge, replacing the one totally destroyed by the fire. He is seen here at the bridge with Professor John Swan, Chairman of the TRUST Victoria Conservation Trust. A return visit to New Zealand by the DEMONSTRATION FARM Victoria Conservation Trust is being con sidered. T andscape planning and design work has ■Lrfbeen completed by landscape architect Susan Mort for one of the Trust’s dem onstration farms, Dunrobin Station, on the THE MOTU RIVER Pinney Property in Southland. This in volves a comprehensive report, and de T^he Motu River, an outstanding wild and tailed plans for a diversified longterm future X scenic river in the Bay of Plenty, is land use. The plans include maximising the now protected by a National Water Con potential through farm forestry, tree crops, servation Order. The Trust’s involvement possible subdivision of the 6000 hectare 2 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
property into small specialised farm units, The Gardens will be mentioned in three the development of an extensive network forthcoming publications as gardens of na of farm ponds to serve as wildlife habitats, tional and international merit. Firstly, in and details of new building sites. the Oxford Companion to Gardens vol During 1983 some work that forms part ume on world gardens, and secondly in of the landscape proposals were imple New Zealand: The Worlds Garden. This mented, and this year Mr Pinney is car- is a project to promote overseas interest Ajng out other work, such as preparation in horticulture organised by Mr Eion Scar- the wildlife ponds. Once the planning row in conjunction with the Department of work has been completed on all four dem Tourism and Publicity. It will include an onstration farms, the Trust will publish the audiovisual display and videos of some of landscape architects’ reports. New Zealand’s beautiful commercial, pub lic, and private gardens. Thirdly, the AA Guide to New Zealand will list the gar dens. HOLLARD GARDENS At the end of April Mr Philip Liner of Radio New Zealand visited the Gardens n a recent visit to Taranaki, the Trust and interviewed the Hollards. This was 0Chairman Mr Gandar presented Mr broadcast on Roundabout at the begin and Mrs Hollard with a citation, officially ning of May. thanking them for their generous gift to the Trust of the Hollard Gardens. The Trust Chairman Mr Gandar presenting the citation citation is hand written on pale gold paper from the Board to Mr Bernard and Mrs Rose Hoi- with a Trust seal.
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Trust Chairman Mr Gandar has donated several books and placed others on long REVEGETATION term loan. Such loans or donations will be MANUAL distinguished by a bookplate. The Trust invites members to donate ur Chairman, the Hon. L W Gandar, books, or to make cash donations to enable 0contacted the Director-General of Ed us to build up the library as a resource o ucation to draw the Education Depart open space. ment’s attention to the possibilities of the Revegetation Manual as a school text. This generated a lot of interest from the WAINUIOMATA TOWN department and the manual was advertised in the Education Gazette. BELT PURCHASE The Chairman and Landscape Architect 'T'he Trust is purchasing privately owned were invited to talk to the Annual Meeting of A land in Wainuiomata on behalf of the the Department of Education’s Science Ad Hutt County Council. In 1980 the Council visers at New Plymouth about the manual and approached the Trust for help with pur also about the role and work of the Trust. We chasing areas of hillside surrounding the are offering schools a special price of $8, and township of Wainuiomata, for public use already we have received several substantial and as part of their programme for devel orders. oping a Town Belt. The Trust agreed to assist and encourage such development. As part of this, the Trust is purchasing LLOYD WHITE 48 hectares of bush on the hills rising from the west of the township to the top of
MEMORIAL LIBRARY ridge separating the valley from the Hutt Valley. The higher parts are visible from T'he Lloyd White Memorial Library has most of the township. A been established in memory of Mr G The Council provided half the purchase D Lloyd White, the Trust’s first man price, and the Trust contributed to and c ager. From 1972 to 1978, Lloyd White ordinated the purchase. The Council is was New Zealand’s ambassador to the manage the land. United States, and on his retirement became the Trust manager, a job he carried out with characteristic enthu siasm and humour. He died in 1981 after a brief illness. To honour Lloyd White’s memory, the ~~k“ * * s' Franzheim Synergy Trust of America made i; 1 a donation to the Trust, which the Board ■ g decided to use to establish the Lloyd White " T f •g I Memorial Library. This is to be a refer "‘t'lirt ■ Q ence library for the Trust’s use, concen If f-' ir trating on open space protection, m particularly in New Zealand. r1 2 Q 4 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
From Napier to Cape Egmont An account of a 26-day, 380 kilometre walk across the North Island, from Napier city to the lighthouse at Cape Egmont, undertaken during February 1984 by a small group, including Trust Executive Officer Ben Thorpe and Trust benefactor Josephine Jackson of Woodville. ne of the questions most frequently at another friend’s cottage which also asked about this trip is — “Who’s served as our accommodation for the night. *0idea was it?” The ‘it’ being a month Lunch on day two was eaten at the Patoka long walk across the North Island through store where we were quickly joined by a three mountain ranges and two national local farmer and a friendly transport op parks earlier this year. The exact answer erator; 3 kms up the road the call was to the question does not really matter be “cuppa tea” from another family, and fam cause the whole thing was a composite, ily number four made their shearers’ quar each of the four-person party making his ters available for the night. Our support or her contribution to the event. team of Mary, plus Airdre Thorpe, pro The party: farmer and Trust benefactor vided food once again. Jo Jackson of Woodville; farmer Bill Whittle Day three saw us lunching at the golf of Puketitiri, Hawkes Bay; scientist, Dr course at Puketitiri then, after an inter Hugh Thorpe of Christchurch; and myself, esting hour at the museum, trudging up together with our support team, assembled the 500m climb to the crest of the Black in somewhat murky weather at the aquar Birch Range and on into the Makahu Sad ium on Napier foreshore on the morning dle proper. Bill and Mary Whittle live of Monday 29 January 1984. Two quick nearby so we returned to a comfortable photographs, a boot full of sea water (for night and good food before setting off into Bill) and the party was away, following city stage two, our first venture into the high streets towards Greenmeadow at first, but country. then swinging west over the Wharerangi By now the blisters were beginning to ills towards Kaweka State Forest Park, show; three days on hard roads were no kilometres ahead. joke for semi-soft citified feet and we soon learned to use our springier footwear. Stage One Sticking plaster and disinfectant was much The first stage was along the road to Mak in demand, and a layer of sheep’s wool ahu Saddle in the Kaweka Range, through helped a lot. the country districts of Rissington, Patoka, and Puketitiri, a three-day journey alto Makahu Saddle to Boyds Lodge — Stage gether. Two Bill and I had driven over this road many Boyds Lodge is a four-year old New Zea times but had not considered walking all land Forest Service hut, built on the site of it before. And it turned out to be some of an old musterers’ hut near the head of thing of a royal procession. Lunch on the the Ngaruroro River in Kaimanawa Forest first day came by car; afternoon tea was Park. It holds about 16 people. The airstrip offered (and accepted) by two of Bill’s there is frequently used by light aircraft friends at Rissington; dinner was by cour so we arranged to have our supplies tesy of Bill’s wife, Mary, prepared and left replenished by this means. 5 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
Boyds Lodge, Ngaruroro River, Kaimanawa Forest golden tussock valleys of the Ngaruroro Park. River and its tributary, the Ngaawapurua (or the “Harkness”). With steadily improv To travel from Makahu Saddle to Boyds ing weather the views were superb even Lodge took three and a half days, climbing extending out to the sea from a point near up to the high peak of the Kawekas, then Ballard Hut. following north along the main open tops, After seven days we felt we deserved which divide the Mohaka River from the our first “day off”, so taking advantage of Ngaruroro River, to Ballard Hut, Pukeo- the warm weather we paused for half a hikarua Hut, Tussock Hut, all in Kaweka day at Boyds Lodge, checking and repack State Forest Park. ing our food, chatting to the fishermen w^r The weather was not particularly kind had been staying there, good naturedly to us at first with cooling mist on the first abusing the pilot who flew in with our day, quite heavy showers on the second supplies for being two minutes late, and day, and into bright sunshine over the last being told in return that “it was strange two days to the lodge. But strangely, the what one met in the hills when you were weather always cleared when we needed without a rifle”. And we climbed the 325 to look for a hut or find the correct ridge. metre high Boyds Rock at the back of the At no time during the whole month long Lodge just to keep in trim. walk did the weather hold us up. The main Kaweka Range is a mixture Section Three — To the Desert Road of open, heavily eroded ridges, and bush It is no real excuse to say that plenty of covered spurs. But to the northwest, the people have done the same thing when one route we followed lead through beech for walks across private land (in this case Maori est and alpine herbfield, then down to the land) without the courtesy of obtaining per- 6 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
mission, but this happened on the next we welcomed the chance to replenish sup section. Boyds Lodge is just inside Kai- plies, have several hot baths in the springs manawa Forest Park and the track to the at Tokaanu, and sleep on a comfortable west passes out of the park 20 minutes floor. When the weather finally cleared a after leaving the doorstep, and does not spin on Lake Taupo in Bill’s boat was an enter it again until within a short distance added and interesting variation. the Waipakihi Hut in the Tongariro River ^fcatchment. The route proceeds up the Section Four — To the Wanganui River ^TCgaruroro River (now called the Manga- What the tourist does not often see on the mingi), crosses over a saddle into a tribu scenic Wanganui River is the layer of silty tary of the Rangitikei (the Mangamaire) mud which covers the banks after each climbs up on to the Makaroro Range, moves flood. We put our feet into it at the junction north to the Middle Range, drops down with the Mangatiti Stream as we climbed into the Rangitikei River itself, up again aboard the jet boat and again as we went on to Island Range, and down to the Wai ashore at the entrance to the Matema- pakihi Hut in the head of the Waipakihi teonga Walkway. But Department of Lands River. Then it is a 10-hour walk along and Survey Senior Ranger, John Lythgoe, tussock flats, down river to the Desert assured us that cleaning his boat was no Road. But what has taken a few seconds problem. That little scenario was four and to read took four days to cover. a half days away. We camped out on all three nights, one From Turangi we returned to the Desert night in miserable‘weather and the other Road and then walked the one and a half two in cool but clear conditions. The tops hours into the Waihohonu Hut in Tongariro of the three ranges were quite misty for National Park for our first night of section a start but rapidly cleared as the day four of the trip. Very cruelly, we had com warmed up, and the views towards Lake pelled Hugh and Jo to walk the extra 8 Taupo were excellent. And here we ex kms that they had missed when hitch-hik perienced our first glimpse of the rare Blue ing into Turangi several days before (which Duck, once in the Rangitikei and again in Bill and I had walked) but then Hugh left ^ie Waipakihi. Long tailed Cuckoos were his hat behind at a rest stop near the road ^P'erywhere also, their screeching call a so we felt morally obliged to retrieve it constant reminder of their presence. for him. Fortunately, the track was mostly The Mangamingi and Waipakihi Valleys flat. are a delight to walk along. Their tussock The first part of the four-hour walk filled flats were just that, flat and some through to the Chateau from Waihohonu times scrub-covered, but apart from the was in reasonable weather but the mist river crossings, very easy going. In Feb soon surrounded us and we plodded along ruary, with fairly low water, even the riv following the well worn track and thankful ers were no real problem. They have cool, for the poles that showed the way. A near clear, readily drinkable water all the way. white-out prevented any sight seeing. At the Chateau, Ranger Murray Reedy vol Interlude unteered a vehicle ride up the road to The whole journey was now half way Scoria Flat and we moved across to the through so a rest at Turangi seemed in Whakapapaiti Valley and Whakapapaiti Hut order; the weather added its influence and in brilliant evening sunshine, a distinct con- 7 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER
trast to the earlier part of the day. cessible to vehicles for many years. It is A night stop then on down the stream easy, flat walking, passing a number of old and up to Hauhangatahi Peak, across the homestead sites marked by their aban high terrace and down through the bush doned garden plants and trees, and the to Erua, and a welcome hot meal at the occasional wooden fence and gate. There motel there. are two possible camping spots near the The fifth party member, Grahame Wal Wanganui; one just above the river itse ton, was to join up here so using a vehicle and it was here that we had lunch a1 kindly lent by the motel people, I drove were met by John. through to National Park to meet the Wel lington express at about 2 am. You guessed Stage Five — To Stratford it! He had charmed the guard into letting One of the features of this whole venture him off at Erua Station. But it was very was the interest and courtesy shown and peaceful watching the stray cats and moths given by so many people when they found at the empty station. out what the group was attempting. It On again the following morning, moving occurred once again at Kohi Saddle on the along the Old Erua Road west towards the Taranaki side of the Matemateonga Walk river, stopping to make ourselves known way when a friendly drainage contractor to farmer Don Simonek, and to thank him offered to carry our packs along Mangaehu for his courtesy in allowing us to cross his Road to the Ford family farm, our desti land. We accepted his advice about the best nation for that night; a drive of about 7 route to follow and just on dusk, and as kms. the rain fell once more, arrived at Makino John Lythgoe left us at the Ramanui end Station at the end of the Makino road in the Manganui-a-te-Ao River valley. Man ager Rex Prince offered us the use of his spare house and very courteously donated a leg of wild pork to our food supply. Both were very welcome. Following sound advice once again, we set off the next morning to climb through Makino Station farmland to the Ruatiti Road where a most unexpected offer of morning tea was accepted at the Littlewood Home stead. Refreshed and rested we followed the Murumuru Road west up and over the saddle into the Mangititi Valley, then cross country to camp near the junction of the Mangatiti and Waipapa Streams. This country had been farmed in the 20s and 30s and then abandoned, so it is not bush all the way. It is possible to follow the old public road down the true right bank of the Mangatiti Stream from the Waipapa to the Wanganui, though it has not been ac Puketotara Hut, Matemateonga Walkway.
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of the Matemateonga Walkway with his The weather was very good indeed and best wishes and suggestion of a swim in the summit clear, but I was somewhat taken the Wanganui. Only Hugh and Bill were aback when everyone went along with the brave enough to do so. One and a half idea. So we did just that on our 24th day, hours later we were at Puketotara Hut, only to find that the cloud layer 300 metres the first of three nearly new ones on the below the summit obscured the very good rack, having climbed steadily all the way views that can be seen from the top. But 9 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Protected Natural Areas Programme he Protected Natural Areas Pro gramme (PNA) was set up by gov Ternment to rapidly identify and record the remaining unprotected areas of natural importance in New Zealand. It is aimed at getting a system of protected representa tive reserves throughout the country. This is in line with the Reserves Act objective: “The preservation of representative samples of all classes of natural eco systems and landscape which in the aggregate originally gave New Zea land its own recognisable charac ter.” (Reserves Act 1977 Section 3 (i)(b)). Weiti Station: One of the areas in the Rodney Ecological District surveyed in the Protected Nat ural Areas Programme. In the foreground are recently planted Pinus ra- diata, with the native forest remnants in the gul lies behind. The surveys under the PNA programme need to be detailed, nationwide, and in^l medate: daily, the remaining natural ec^ systems are being irretrievably modified or destroyed. The target for completing the national coverage is 1990. The Biological Resources Centre (BRC) has subdivided New Zealand into 268 eco logical districts within 84 ecological re gions. These reflect and are defined by New Zealand’s wide variation in climate, geography, biology and botany. The PNA programme is based on these subdivisions. Fenced kauri remnant in the Rodney Ecological District, Protected Natural Area Survey. Detail Each area is assessed in terms of stan showing the considerable effort of the owner to dardised criteria, for example, size, the fence the remnant: note the batten between the degree of naturalness or modification, and tree and the fence. how representative it is. How much of the 10 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER kh,'!asu4 representative type is already protected, Large pohutukawa on coastal estuary, Weiti Sta e.g. in reserves, will also be indicated. tion, Rodney Ecological District, surveyed by the Four pilot surveys have been done, in Protected Natural Areas Programme. forest and high country. One area (Rodney County, north of Auckland) has revealed a total of 12,000 areas ranging from half a hectare to large forest tracts, which should TE WHENUA TOITU be considered for protection. Underlying the PNA programme is the ,T'he Trust is gradually becoming in- j^Pelief that when a landowner or organisa X volved with the protection of Maori tion such as the Queen Elizabeth II Na land. To help the Trust gain a better tional Trust makes a decision about awareness and understanding of Maori protecting an area of the landscape, it matters, and to let Maori people know should be based on detailed scientific in more about the aims and objectives of the formation. Results from the programme Trust, it has set up a committee called Te will be put on to computer and therefore Whenua Toitu. This translates as “The readily accessible. Permanent Land”. A lot of the areas identified by the pro Te Whenua Toitu is made up of Mr gramme will be on private land. The Na Gandar as chairman; Mr Rei Bailey, Trust tional Trust, as the one independent Director and representative of the New organisation which can offer covenants to Zealand Maori Council; Mr G Fouhy, who private landowners, is likely to become attends Board meetings on behalf of the involved in the protection of many such Department of Maori Affairs; and Mr Brian areas. Jones, our national representative. 11 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Plimmerton Swamp k m limmerton Swamp is a privately Plimmerton Swamp, looking north along side State owned, scientifically important wet Highway 1. This may be protected through pur Pland next to state Highway 1 north chase. of Plimmerton, near Wellington. In 1976 Porirua City Council designated it as a Council, ECO and local residents associa “Proposed Scientific Reserve’’, which un tions. Purchase seemed the best solution. der the Town and Country Planning Act The National Trust offered up to a 1- to makes it illegal to clear or otherwise dam 1 subsidy on what the other organisations age the flora and fauna. The National Trust could contribute towards the purchase, and twice approached the owners of the major indicated its support for the Porirua Ci party of the wetland to discuss the possi Council or alternatively the Trust to bility of protecting the wetland with an the purchaser. open space covenant. The owners of the major part of the When the owners indicated that they wetland had lodged an objection to the were not interested in a covenant the Trust reserve designation and requested a rezon called a meeting in December 1983 to ing. At the subsequent hearing the Wel discuss other means of protection. This lington Regional Council called the was attended by people from the Depart Chairman of the National Trust the Hon. ment of Scientific and Industrial Research, L W Gandar to appear as an expert wit the Department of Lands and Survey, the ness. The Trust’s evidence stressed the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the regional, and perhaps national, significance Wildlife Service, the Wellington Reginal of the wetland, and stated that it meets Council, the Hutt Country Council, the Po major Criteria for landscape significance: rirua City Council, the Royal Forest and 1. Landscape character: The wetland con Bird Society, the Nature Conservation tributes to the local and regional landscape 12 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER character and is an integral part of it. Bush is on came onto the market it was 2. Scienic Value: it is of scenic and aes feared that new owners could log the bush. thetic value, particularly because of its The Department of Lands and Survey vegetation and its contrast with adja had been interested in the remnant as a cent developed land and major road and possible scenic reserve but lack of finance rail routes. had prevented them from proceeding to High visibility: it is close to a large purchase. urban population and is seen by many The Trust’s former representative, Tony commuters and tourists. Childs and the Senior Field Officer, An 4. Educational: the wetland is a readily drew Simm inspected the area, and then accessible resource for school and uni in June 1983 the Chairman and Senior versity groups. Also it is well docu Field Officer met with representatives of mented. the Rodney County Council, the Depart 5. Uniqueness. The National Trust be ment of Lands and Survey, and Royal For lieves that there is potential for en est and Bird Protection Society to discuss hancing the landscape values of a possible combined approach to purchase. Plimmerton Swamp; including recrea The price was estimated to be $150,000. tional access, walking tracks, board The Department of Lands and Survey walks, nature interpretation trails, had an opportunity to purchase it for maintenance of the wetland, and reve $150,000 and were willing to contribute getation of adjacent cleared land. $50,000. The Rodney County Council in Following the hearing Mr Gandar spoke dicated that they could also contribute, and with the owner of the major part of the the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust un wetland who agreed that if his objection dertook to contribute $55,000, if the re was disallowed the land would have to be maining $25,000 could be raised by sold, and that under these conditions he donation by the end of January 1984. A would be willing to sell at an agreed price. public appeal was launched and within four Valuations are being obtained by the owner weeks the money was raised. Many local and the Trust. people made contributions, and the Whan- The Porirua City Council and the Wel- garei Native Forest and Bird Protection ^Pigton Regional Council have indicated that Society, with its membership of 900, raised funds have been allocated as contributions over $3000. to the purchase. The purchase of Logues bush is due to be completed when the survey has been done and the plan has received official ap proval. The Inland Revenue Department has ad LOGUES BUSH vised that individual donations to the Trust PURCHASE for specific purchases such as Logues bush qualify for tax rebates provided that the T ogues Bush, near Wellsford, is consid- Trust confirms receipt of such donations, JLiered to be the best lowland kauri for and that they are separately identifiable est of its kind in Northland. It is 41 hec for the particular purpose. This could well tares of kauri (34%), totara (30%), and encourage donations from individuals to rimu (20%). When the farm which Logues the Trust for future purchases. 13 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Taranaki Visit ast November the Trust spent three Oakura coastline, south of New Plymouth. The days in Taranaki. There were four Trust’s Concept for Taranaki includes proposals purposes to the visit: to hold for developing this beach, and protecting the cliff L face. a“retreat”; to inspect gardens and Trust property; to generally publicise the Trust; and to launch our “Concept for Taranaki”. the “Concept for Taranaki” was launched. The retreat was an opportunity for Trust The “Concept for Taranaki” makes p^t staff and directors’ to look at all aspects posals for developing the various attr^H of the Trust, including its future directions. tions of the province, particularly its tourist This took up a day and an evening of group potential. These include establishing hor discussions, and resulted in a series of ticultural advice, training and educational recommendations which have since been facilities for the public, and to develop and formally considered by the Board or an link the existing public and private gar appropriate committee. dens. The tours of inspection included a visit The concept also suggests walking and to the Trust owned Hollard Gardens and cycling tracks and bus tours, a farm park also to the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust designed for visitors to see farming activ and the private garden of Tupare, owned ities, and development of the coastline at by Sir Russell and Lady Matthews. Oakura, south of New Plymouth. General publicity was ensured by good The meeting, attended by mayors of the coverage (in the press and on radio and boroughs and the city, county chairmen, television) and also by the luncheon at which and representatives of such organisations 14 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER as Federated Farmers, was highly success Brian Jones lives in Taupo, and his work ful. The suggestions put forward by our has been with the administration of Maori Trust are being developed by the United lands in the Taupo region. However, be Council and other interested parties, in cause the offices are in Taumarunui he cluding the newly formed Promotion Tar became involved with county and regional anaki Incorporated, and local businessmen. affairs, and was a councillor of the Tau- March the Chairman, Mr Gandar and maranui County, 1959-1968, and chairman ^Ple Landscape Architect Mr Evans visited from 1968-1981. He was also chairman of various organisations in Taranaki including the King Country Regional Development the Department of Lands and Survey, the Council from its inception in 1973 until Taranaki and Stratford County Councils, 1981, deputy chairman of the Tongariro and the Taranaki United Council, who con United Council, and a member of the for firmed their continuing interest in and ac mer Tongariro National Park and Lake tivity arising from the Trust’s concept. Taupo Reserves Board. A member of two farm trusts and two forest trusts, Brian Jones is also on the Waiariki Maori Land Advisory Committee, NATIONAL the National Parks and Reserves Author ity, and the National Parks Centennial REPRESENTATIVE Commission. Tiffr Brian Jones has been appointed the IfXTrust’s first national representative, specialising in Maori land matters but also doing other work for the Trust as the need IN THE FIELD arises. as ©a Brian Jones, the Trust’s first national represent Auckland regional representative Walter Willis in ative. specting Lake Wainamu. 15 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Study subjects will be determined by the values of particular covenants, for exam SCHOOL/COVENANT ple: ecology, landscape, geography, history, PROGRAMME plant and animal identification, specimen collection, seed and seedling collection and 'T'he Trust has started a pilot School/ growing, noxious animal damage, forest JL Covenant Programme, which links canopy structures, and so on. schools with nearby areas protected by The programme will give covenant m open space covenants. the opportunity to share their covenanted Unlike much publicly owned protected land with the local children. It will also land, many covenanted areas are close to increase public awareness of the Trust and schools. The idea of the programme is to our objectives through contact with the give school children contact with open space students and teachers. in their local area, for their education, rec The Trust helps with the programme, reation, and enjoyment. While ideally the but essentially it is run voluntarily by the programme would include urban schools, schools and the covenantors. Details are in this early stage it is likely to involve worked out individually. The owners may mainly rural schools because our covenants wish to be very involved, or hardly at all, to date are all in the country. for example only to the extent of being The programme has the following aims: told when a school party wishes to visit. for early primary school, enjoyment in vis Other things have to be settled, such as iting natural areas; for late primary school, timing of visits, access and transport to enjoyment as well as observation and basic the property, and involvement of the school research; and for secondary school enjoy with planting or track maintenance. ment and more advanced research. The The main emphasis is on enjoying being results could well be valuable to the land- in areas of open space; a sound basis for owner and the Trust in managing the cov wanting to support the aims of the Trust. enanted land. ! _* —efcofidjl 1 § sc •g '1 Q £ E Q 16 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Changes and Activities room with a library and slide viewing DR ALAN EDMONDS equipment. All members and other interested people The Trust is privileged to have the ser are welcome to visit the new office and vices of Dr Alan Edmonds, Reader in Bi share our views of the city’s open spaces. ological Sciences at Waikato University and Vice-President of the Royal Forest and ^kd Society. Dr Edmonds has chosen to NEW BOOKLETS ^Plnd much of his subbatical leave this The Open Space Covenant Booklet and the year working with the Trust. In the past Trust Rules Booklet have been updated he has done site inspections and provided and reprinted. They include illustrations by vegetation descriptions of areas of land, David Henshaw, of Hamilton whose many of which are now under open space sketches have been used in the Waipa covenant, including Lake Maratoto and booklets, and also some by Mrs Pat Cowan, Limestone Downs in the Waikato. Dr Ed who is a Trust member and with her hus monds is also the author of Waipa Booklet band Arthur Cowan holds 3 registered open Number Two, on the vegetation and wild space covenants. life of the County. Dr Edmonds will work on a system of standardising the description of open space STAFF CHANGES covenant areas, which will be useful par ticularly for our regional representatives. Our receptionist Miss Sharon Galgey went This will be on the basis of a landform — to a new job and her replacement Miss vegetation classification as worked out by Suzanne Julius started work here in March. the Biological Resources Centre. He will also be involved with specific projects such as the third Waipa booklet. RAUKUMARA WALKWAY On behalf of the New Zealand Walkways Commission, Ben Thorpe, Trust Executive NEW DEPARTMENTAL Officer, spent four days in a proposed wil yPRESENTATIVE derness area which is part of plans for the Mr G Fouhy, Chief Registrar with the De Ruakumara Forest Park in the Gisborne partment of Maori Affairs, replaces Mr J region. This included two helicopter flights D T Hauraki as the Department’s repre and two days walking in the Motu River sentative attending Trust Board Meetings. Catchment, TRUST’S NEW OFFICE OVERSEAS VISITOR In March 1984 the Trust moved into Col- Mr Masahisa Arai, Chief Ranger for the enso House, a brand new office building at National Government of Japan, visited the 138 The Terrace, Wellington. For some Trust and showed slides of Japanese Na time the Trust has needed more space, tional Parks. Mr Arai was in New Zealand and recent staff increases prompted the on a six month fellowship to study the move. We lease the fourth floor and, apart conservation systems and methods used from offices, we also now have a board- here. 17 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Open Space Covenants ince the last newsletter 6 open space covenants have been registered, as THREE COVENANTS listed below. Three are described in South Auckland Land District fullers detail. There are now 55 registered. 1. EASTON A fourteen hectare stand of native forest at Aramatai, south of Te Kuiti on state NEW REGISTERED COVENANTS Highway 4, owned by Mr David and South Auckland Land District Marjorie Easton. 1. Ward sisters, Mt Karioi. 15.7 hectares The Eastons bush is three quarters of a of bush. mile back from the road; on a steep ridge 2. Easton, D.J. Te Kuiti. 8 hectares of behind their 290 hectare farm. On the bush. upper slopes there are tawa and other big 3. Mackersey, G.L. and M.M. Tauranga, ger trees. There is a constantly flowing 26 hectares, bush and stream. creek at the bottom, and a track goes from 4. Bignell, A. and A.M. Otorohanga, 12.5 the bottom to the top of the hill along one hectares of bush. side. Public access is by permission of the 5. Williams, M.J. and E.T., and Ryan, R.E. owners, which is often the case with cov Te Miro, north of Cambridge. 17.5 hec enants. tares of bush. The purpose of the Eastons covenant is Taranaki Land District to protect the forest for all time, and it 6. Hopkins, D.L. Okato. 2.5 hectares semi has been fenced to exclude stock and to coastal forest. encourage regeneration. The Eastons are Canterbury Land District planting more native trees, purchased from 7. Ahuriri Farms Ltd, Tai tapu, 23 hec a local grower. tares of tussock. South Auckland Land District 8. Morrison, J. and others. Kakahu, Can 2. WARD SISTERS terbury, 87 hectares of bush wetland This is the third registered open space and geographical features. covenant protecting land owned by the Misses Ward of Ruapuke, Raglan. This arm is 15 hectares on the Papanui Road, R^Ui puke, 66 km from Hamilton. It is a steep bush covered hillside and gully of mainly manuka and kanuka, with a dense under growth of ferns, pongas with rewarewa and other coastal species. The purpose is to protect the native bush for its scenic value to the district, which is enhanced by i its proximity to the road and by being •S opposite a scenic reserve. Public access is 33 allowed with the owners’ consent. 1 The Trust is delighted that this third Q area is now covenanted, particularly as the &C Ward sisters bought it specifically to enable 1 it to be protected in this way. £ 18 QE II NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER Taranaki Land District endangered by future owners because of 3. HOPKINS the farming potential of the land. It was A small (2.5 hectare) forest remnant stand already fenced. It is not available for public of semi-coastal forest comprising of kahi- access because it is primarily of visual katea, karaka, and tawa, on a 50 hectare significance. dairy farm owned by Mr and Mrs D.L. The bush is important also because it is Hopkins. It is on Puniho Road, off the a significant landscape feature, with the ^ftound the Mountain” highway 45, 20 nearest reserves over 2.5 kms away, and Tons from New Plymouth. it is important as a forest remnant with The purpose of the covenant is to pro the potential of gradually regenerating to tect the native bush which, while being a tract of forest. small, is visually significant and could be Trust Membership The present Trust membership is as fol- encouraging, and it was clear that it would lows:- be good to have further meetings. Mem Ordinary Members 346 bers were generally keen to visit cove Corporate Members 21 nanted areas. Corporate Special 35 Life Members 35 Junior Members 12 AN INVITATION 70 Covenant Life Members One suggestion from members at our Wai TOTAL 519 kato meeting was to have “Letters to the To mark the milestone of the 500th Editor” in the Newsletter. We would wel- member, a copy of the Revegetation come letters and hope that there will be Manual was presented to Miss Lindsay “Letters to the Editor” in the next issue. ^faims of Christchurch. With membership ^Bteadily increasing, we can now look for NEW YEAR HONOURS ward to doubling this number. Two Trust members and active supporters have been honoured in the New Year Hon MEMBERS’ MEETINGS ours List. Mr A B Cowan of Otorohanga has been awarded the MBE, and Mr Ber In November last the Trust held a meeting nard Hollard of Hollard Gardens, Kaponga, for members in Auckland, which was at the QSO. We extend our congratulations tended by a small but enthusiastic number. to them both. The following month we held a similar meeting at Ruakura, Hamilton, which at tracted over 40 people. Some came from Typesetting by Computype Services Ltd., Wellington. Design and Production by Publication Graphics Ltd., as far away as Whakatane, Te Puke, and Wellington. Tauranga. Printed by Service Printers Ltd., Wellington. People’s ideas and enthusiasm were very 19 LAND ALONE ENDURES “It is now 140years since European W* ; colonisation of New Zealand began. The ! harsh pioneering phase of ‘land r development at any cost’ has already over run its course; yet old habits die hard. For all future developments on all classes of land, the key questions must be: — What are the biological qualities of this landscape? — Is part of New Zealand’s unique natural heritage being destroyed? — If so, are the features adequately protected in existing parks and reserves? Until these questions can be answered satisfactorily, and they can be answered with appropriate deployment of resources, land development without regard to the biological consequences is no longer in the national interest. it What is certain is that if the best examples, the “key sites”, for numerous threatened lowland and hill country ecosystems are not identified and reserved effectively within the next 10 years, the majority will be lost for ever. ” L F Molloy, DSIR, 1980. Land Alone Endures: Land Use and the Role of Research. 20