©I newsletter Queen Elizabeth II National Trust No. 25 MARCH 1992

Ceremony at Mount Pirongia

jW ount Pirongia was sharply J I outlined across the Waikato T M. skyline on the morning of ratober 31st, 1991 and this was a cause for rejoicing because on that day a ceremony at the Firth forest covenant had been planned. The ceremony was organised to unveil a plaque in memory of the late E B (Ted) Firth. This plaque had been mounted on a large rock placed in a 5.2 hectare bush area which the Firth family had given to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society in 1977. Ted Firth was a well known figure in the north of the North Island for much of his life. Not only was he the founding member of Firth Concrete, which he with his brother Tony built into a sizeable empire, but he was also a very keen flier of Tiger Moth aircraft. Later he became a flying instructor in the war years during which he became a Squadron Leader. In the twenties he touched the limelight when he “buzzed” the sunbathers on Gwen Firth and Sir Peter Elworthy ~ Ilford Beach in Auckland making next to the plaque. wspaper headlines which lasted for Ieveral days. affect the Mount Pirongia forest. His In the mid-1950s Ted Firth purchased intention was to have as much of this bush and farmland around Mount bush as possible added back to the Mount Pirongia. The main reason for his Pirongia Forest Park. purchase was to stop the then current Ted Firth purchased a total of 140 logging which he knew would eventually hectares which caused immediate halting

IN THIS ISSUE New Trust Manager 4 The Kiwi Outback 14 Friends of Hollard Gardens 5 Rhododendron Festival 17 Board Changes 6 Old Man’s Beard 18 2 QEE NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

of the logging. The bush was eventually of Forest and Bird, Dr Philip Hart, spoke added back into the park. In this respect about the history of the Firth bush, he was a man before his time because outlining when it was gifted and during the fifties and sixties the emphasising the importance of the Government was actively pursuing subsequent Trust covenant which linked policies of agricultural development. In the Forest and Bird block with the those days there was no real conservation mountain, so safeguarding that valuable voice in New Zealand. corridor of bush. Looking around at that Because there was no organisation like moment and seeing New Zealand pigeon, the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust to shining cuckoo, grey warbler, kingfisher covenant the other remnants of Firth and tui in the trees behind us, we bush in the farmland areas, Ted Firth appreciated that point. Dr Hart also said donated his prime area of roadside tawa the relationship between the Society ancL and podocarp forest to the Royal Forest the National Trust is becoming stronge^® and Bird Protection Society. It is in this National Trust Chairman, Sir Peter bush that the plaque commemorating him Elworthy followed, summarising the has now been placed. reasons for our gathering together on the In 1985 Mrs Gwen Firth, Ted’s widow, mountain at that moment. covenanted a further 16 hectares of bush “Ted Firth was a man of great wisdom, which has effectively linked the Forest foresight and courage who also made a and Bird area with the Mount Pirongia huge contribution in general bequests to Park. the National Trust and to other The unveiling ceremony was planned conservation areas around New Zealand”, by Forest and Bird together with the he said. Trust to mark the work done by the Firth Sir Peter went on to explain how family, and also the E B Firth Trust (that although we all came from different has made generous donations to the directions our goals and aspirations for National Trust). forest protection were the same. He About 125 people from both expressed the Trust’s appreciation to the organisations and the Firth family Firth family for their generosity and assembled at the end of Waites Road, Te support of Trust and Forest and Bird Pahu. Twenty five children from the Te activities. Pahu School also attended; this school is Sir Peter and Gwen Firth then unveiled part of the National Trust School the plaque and planted two matai trees to Covenant Project with an interest in all commemorate the event. To finish the the covenanted bush areas in the district. ceremonial events, a book, Birds of New The first speaker was Alan Livingston, Zealand - Locality Guide, was presented Chairman of the Te Pahu Board of Mrs Firth. Trustees and a Trust covenantor. He A substantial afternoon tea which welcomed the visitors to the district and included a sausage sizzle and billy tea expressed the district’s gratitude to Ted provided by Arthur and Pat Cowan with Firth for his efforts in enlarging the size the assistance of Roy Dench, followed. of Mount Pirongia Park. Later most of the guests walked up the The Mayor of Waipa District Council, nearby airstrip and wandered into the Bruce Berquist, acknowledged the work bush and into Pirongia Park. On this done by the National Trust in the old exceptional day the views over the whole Waipa County and mentioned the very of the Waikato from the top of the airstrip good relations which the Council and the were magnificent. Trust have always enjoyed. Mr Berquist The day concluded with Sir Peter being gave an assurance that the Council is flown back from the nearby airstrip to committed to continuing support for Waikato Airport by Robert Folkerts, the protection of the natural landscape. lessee of the bush areas of the Firth The Chairman of the Waikato Branch property. In the process he gave Sir Peter QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 3

a flight around the mountain and over highlighted how conservation was now much of the Waikato including one of the appreciated by so many, including an up prize covenants, Lake Maratoto, which lies and coming generation of school children. near the airport. We are all grateful to the Firth family This warm and friendly occasion, for their enthusiasm for the day, and for where Trust covenantors and Forest and letting us enjoy the fruits of what they Bird members mixed congenially, was the had achieved on Mount Pirongia. highlight of 1991 for the Trust in the Waikato. It showed that conservation of the land was not only rewarding but it Stuart Chambers could be an enjoyable business as well. It Waikato - Regional Representative

Euan McQueen Retires

uan McQueen retired as General Manager of the National Trust in E December 1991. He came to the Trust in July 1988 after a varied career including university teaching, and nine years as Assistant General Manager of the Railways Corporation. During his time as General Manager, the Trust, as was the case with all publicly funded agencies, experienced financial constraints. At the same time the Trust had reached an age and stage where its management and accountability had to be reviewed; a computer based Euan McQueen. information system was introduced and other changes were made with the aim of contact with landholders, both those with developing the already well established open space covenants on their properties ^ost-effectiveness of the Trust to match and prospective covenantors, as well as a «kie limited funding available. range of organisations in Wellington and Euan took a particular interest in the elsewhere that needed to be more aware two Trust garden properties, Tupare and of the work of the Trust. “I leave the Hollard Gardens. The Advisory Trust with some sadness”, he said. “I Committee structure was reformed, and doubt that I have ever worked with a clear management guidelines set for the group of people with such commitment to future. In 1990 he helped foster the the cause as is the case with the Trust establishment of the successful ‘Friends of Directors and staff, especially the Regional Hollard Gardens Trust’ with the aim of Representatives and Garden staff who involving local people in the Gardens and beaver away on their own and produce their development. such great results.” One of Euan’s strong interests was to Euan leaves the Trust with the best establish and maintain contact with a wishes of the Directors and Staff for a wide range of individuals and varied and rewarding retirement and organisations “spreading the word” of the thanks for his contribution to the work of work of the National Trust. This included the Trust. 4 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

New Trust Manager Announced Tim joined the Trust in 1987 as Landscape Architect after 3 years with the Department of Lands and Survey and later became Project Manager with responsibility for implementing the Trust’s computer-based information system. He has been Acting General Manager since Euan McQueen’s departure. ' _ Announcing the appointment, Sir Peter Elworthy said: “The Board met on Thursday 13 February and accepted a recommendation from their selection committee not to appoint a manager from outside the National Trust. The Board concluded, after interviewing applicants, that the management of the Trust should be handled by a Trust Tim Porteous. Manager and that fund raising should be concentrated on as a separate t the February Board meeting the activity. National Trust Chairman, Sir The Board decisions reflect confidence A Peter Elworthy, announced the by the Board in the ability of Tim appointment of Tim Porteous as the new Porteous as Trust Manager, and of the Trust Manager. current staff, Wellington based and Tim has a B.A. in Geography, a regional, to handle the Trust’s activities. Diploma in Horticulture and a post - The decisions also reflect the Board’s graduate Diploma of Landscape view that, alongside the Trust’s core Architecture and is currently chairperson activities, we must now focus of the Wellington branch of the N Z professionally and vigorously, on a Institute of Landscape Architects. stronger funding base for the Trust”.

Forest Heritage Fund n excess of 250 individual staff, but the effort put in has been applications for financial assistance rewarded with a 94% success rate in I towards the National Trust’s costs of approvals received. establishing open space covenants had By September 1991 the Trust had been submitted to the Forest Heritage approved commitments of some $1,069,000 Fund by the end of October 1991. from the Fund to enable covenants to be The Forest Heritage Fund was created finalised over about 6034 hectares of by the Government during 1990 as a indigenous forest. contestable source of finance for the The Trust continues to be grateful for protection of indigenous forest. the financial assistance forthcoming from Preparation of applications to the Fund the Forest Heritage Fund. is a time-consuming activity for Trust QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 5

Friends of Hollard Gardens Trust n September 29, 1991 the ‘Friends of Hollard Gardens O Trust’ was launched at an open day at the gardens. The Trust was established to give Taranaki residents an opportunity to become more acquainted with the 3.8 ha property.

Bernard Hollard. They gifted the gardens to the National Trust in 1982 to ensure their permanent protection. Hollard gardens contain a large variety of plants including rare species such as the New Zealand passion vine and the pink flowering strawberry tree. Rhododendrons are a special feature. The many varieties include ‘Kaponga’ raised by Mr Hollard. There is also the Bernard Hollard magnolia. Visitors at the open day. Mr Hollard, a fellow of both the British Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal Bernard Hollard started the gardens in New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, 1927 when he fenced off an area of bush continued to work in the gardens until on his Kaponga dairy farm. He had about two years ago. ^fccome interested in gardening at an early The Hollards are patrons of the ‘Friends ^^je. The gardens were well established by of Hollard Gardens Trust’ whose members the time he and his wife Rose married. already number over a hundred. The Hollards expanded the gardens to Fundraising events, producing a include the adjoining swamp and in 1948 newsletter and staffing the gate during they completed the driveway and added peak visitor periods are some of the five hectares of new garden. activities run by the ‘Friends’.

Rhododendron Festival at Hollard Gardens Hollard Gardens’ curator, Greg Rine, and through their assistance visitors were reports that the festival went very well, able to purchase plants, gift cards, crafts especially with the support of the ‘Friends and refreshments to complement their of Hollard Gardens’. They staffed the gate visit. 6 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

Board Changes

Trust Farewells Directors our directors were farewelled Rei Bailey, alongside his fulfilling a during the second half of 1991, Director’s role for 11 years in the broadest F due to a combination of terms sense, was pivotal to the growth in being completed and the new legislation awareness by Maoridom of the relevance which reduced the number of board to conservation of Maori land. members. Bunny Mortimer, with her deep love Mr Rei Bailey of Wanganui was and extensive knowledge of things natu^fc appointed to the Trust in 1982 as a and beautiful, balanced board decisions representative of the Maori people of New with her practical experience and wisdom. Zealand. He was a founding member of Bunny’s seven years were very important the Komiti Whenua Toitu which was to the Trust and our development. established in August 1983 to focus on Jenny Seddon brought her committed Trust matters relating to the protection of conservation ethos to the Trust and with Maori owned land. He became chairman her wide practical knowledge of local of the Komiti in 1988. During his time government systems her four years on the with the National Trust Rei promoted its board yielded positive insights and work widely within the Maori Council. directions. Mrs Margaret Mortimer of Frankton Richard Alspach’s tenure, potentially so joined the Trust board in 1984. She productive, was terminated by an accident replaced the iate Max Somerville as the of timing. The Trust hopes to welcome then Counties Association representative. Richard back in the future.” She has had a high profile in both the The Trust is indebted to the retiring Farm Forestry Association and the directors for their contributions and their conservation movement. As a director of dedication and wishes them well in the the National Trust she has shown great future. enthusiasm and commitment to its work. Mrs Jennifer Seddon of Tauranga was appointed to the board by the Minister of Conservation in 1988. She was a member of the Tauranga City Council for 12 years New Directors and has been involved in the local branch Two new directors appointed by the of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Minister of Conservation were welcomed^ Society. In 1990 Mrs Seddon and her at the November board meeting. They are husband covenanted five hectares of Ms Maggie Bayfield from Taranaki and coastal forest in the Bay of Plenty. Mr Maui Pomare of Wellington. Mr Richard Alspach of Dargaville was Ms Bayfield is a plant ecologist and appointed to the Board by the Minister of does a variety of consultancy work in this Conservation in consultation with area. Maui Pomare JP, is a leader in the Federated Farmers, in 1990. He has a Wellington (Ngati Awa) Maori community strong commitment to conservation, and is also involved in teaching and especially bush protection. agriculture. He has been a member of the Trust Chairman, Sir Peter Elworthy, National Trust’s Komiti Whenua Toitu said “We thank these four directors for since 1987. their contribution and commitment to the A more detailed profile of the new board National Trust over a critical period of our members will be published in the next work. edition of the Newsletter. QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 7

Harm Bush ormalities to finalise the transfer of a 5.49 hectare bush property F near Inglewood, Taranaki to the National Trust have now been completed. The block has been gifted to the Trust by Mr George Hann and will be known as Hann Bush. Mr Hann, an amputee following a farm accident some years ago, has continued to run his stud Romney ^^ep and Aberdeen Angus cattle farm. ^Rlr Hann offered the bush area to the Trust, arranged for it to be fenced and also contributed towards survey costs. The Trust gratefully accepted the offer noting that Mr Hann had also agreed to Hann Bush viewed from Kupara covenant a further 6.1 hectare area on his Road. property. A predominantly kahihatea/pukatea lacebark and fivefinger. forest remnant, other species present The bush is located off Kupara Road at within Hann Bush include rewarewa, a point from which magnificant views of tawa, rimu, miro, mahoe, rata, matai, Mt Taranaki can be seen.

Open Space Covenants

y January 24 1992 there were 497 2. LYLIAN DJ & DUFFY AP. Ocean registered covenants, while a Beach Whangarei Heads. B further 493 were approved and A valuable 12.74 ha coastal site has proceeding towards registration. been protected by covenant. It contains sandhills covered in marram grass, pohutukawa and a rocky RECENTLY promontory. A small stream at one end provides a good breeding habitat Registered for birds such as dotterels. The area is adjoined by a council reserve and a COVENANTS DOC reserve. NORTH AUCKLAND DISTRICT 3. NORTH SHORE CITY COUNCIL, 1. LAWRIE DA & LL. Mill Road, (KAURI POINT CENTENNIAL Pukekohe. PARK). In Auckland city on the north The covenant protects a 4.24 ha bush shore of Waitemata Harbour, 3kms clad main stream valley with two west of the harbour bridge. tributary valleys. It contains many A covenant protects the 20.45 ha totara, puriri, kohekohe, taraire, rimu, forest covered headland facing the mapou, pigeonwood, wineberry, ponga Waitemata Harbour. It contains and nikau. Mr Lawrie is a surveyor regenerating forest with remnants of and carried out the covenant survey at kauri forest once common in the his own cost. region. 8 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

The area was once a major focus of tanekaha, red and black matipo, ponga Maori settlement in the 18th and 19th and manuka. Kiwis are present and centuries because of its position on the its proximity to Puketi Forest upper harbour dividing a rich fishing enhances its value as a habitat area. ground and sheltered anchorage. Kauri Point, originally known as Te 5. MIDDLETON J & E. East side State Mataroa-a-Mana, was settled by the Highway 1, 2 km from Pokeno. Ngatitai tribe. It contained a pa site The covenant protects 2.30 ha of bush known as Onewa which is well which is highly visible from SHI near preserved and is the only remaining the top of the Bombay Hills. The main example of a fortified headland pa in species are kohekohe and puriri but the Auckland area. there are also taraire, tawa, karaka, With significant assistance from the mapou and many young nikau. National Trust the North Shore City Council purchased the land from the then Auckland Harbour Board in 1987. SOUTH AUCKLAND DISTRICT 6. NATIVE FOREST RESTORATION 4. LANDCORP FARMING LTD TRUST - RANGITOTO STATION. (Landcorp Whangarei). Adjacent to Rangitoto Ranges, near Otorohanga. Puketi forest, west of Kerikeri. This 427.16 ha property known as The covenant protects 22.56 ha of Rangitoto Station has been bush containing kauri, rimu, covenanted. Forest was originally cleared from the area about 80 years ago to establish a farming operation. However, over the decades farming was never profitable on Rangitoto Station due to its altitude and climate. The Native Forest Restoration Trust purchased the Station in December 1989 because of its significance for conservation both in its own right and when taking into account the adjoining land. The Pureora State Forest is on one side, the Arthur Cowan Wildlife Reserve (a covenant) lies on the south and west side, and Maori owned incorporated land (bus is on the northern boundary. Arthur Cowan (National Trust I Director) and Roy Dench, who are both Restoration Trust members, initiated the project and are coordinating the revegetation programme, which is assisting the natural regeneration of the area. The Station is a valuable habitat for birds, especially tui and bellbird that feed on large areas of fuchsia. 7. JONES DR R & R. Next to the Waipa River, 2 km from Otorohanga on the Rocky promotory on the Lylian and west Otorohanga - Hamilton Road. Duffy covenant. The covenant protects a 5.89 ha steep QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 9

a larger bush area adjoining the Kaimai Forest Park. The owners are carrying out revegetation work in the covenant area. 11. DE JONG L & A. Tui Road, Te Aroha. 1.05 ha of forest remnant adjoining the Te Aroha Mountain Reserve has been covenanted. It contains tawa, kahikatea, kohekohe, mahoe and a number of very large, old puriri. The owners had previously covenanted ^^anting on Rangitoto Station. another part of their property and were keen to protect this area due to regenerating hillside. The owner,in its scenic roadside views and its value conjunction with the Otorohanga as a wildlife habitat. Zoological Society, is carrying out a revegetation project in the area. Local 12. BELL RA. Paparoa Road, Ohiwa school pupils are also involved and Harbour, near Whakatane. visit the covenant regularly. Emerging The covenant protects two areas of trees include mahoe, rewarewa, forest totalling 15.11 ha. One area is rangiora, kawakawa, fivefinger and coastal with many pohutakawa. The mamaku. other is a deep gully containing puriri, kohekohe, rewarewa, fivefinger and 8. TOMPSETT G& N. Work Road, 7 cordyline, with a small creek with a kms from Katikati. waterfall running through it. The Three areas of bush totalling 10.83 ha property is now owned by Mr Bell’s adjacent to the Kaimai Forest Park, son and daughter. have been protected by covenant. The bush contains tawa, rewarewa and tall kanuka with some puriri and kohekohe in one of the block. The Whatakao River runs along one boundary of the property. 9. SCURR S & A . Pyes Pa Road, south of Tauranga. The covenant protects several areas of tall trees totalling 4.81 ha. Tawa is dominant and other species include miro, matai, rimu, pukatea and mamaku. The trees also provide excellent erosion control. Jones covenant. 10. PALMER P & V Esdale Road, Pahoia, 13. REWI E. Southern verge of Minginui north of Tauranga. township, east of Taupo. A whole title covenant protects an A 4.52 ha wetland has been protected 8.23 ha bush and pasture property on a property bounded by the with extensive views over the Bay of Minginui forest. The covenant area Plenty and out to sea. The bush provides a habitat to a variety of bird contains rimu, totara, miro, tawa, species including pied stilt, paradise pukatea, rewarewa, tawa and kamahi duck, grey duck, mallard, white-faced with mamaku and ponga. It is part of heron and spur winged plover. 10 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

14. OTEORA TRUST, (Otumoetai College). Odey Road, Whakamarama. The college has covenanted a 4.80 ha forest remnant containing their school camp area. Tawa is the dominant species but there is good regeneration of rimu, totara, pigeonwood and kamahi. 15. HOLLINGER M & R. Top end of Shaw Road, 14 km south of Te Puke. A 19.18 ha forest remnant along the Waiari River embankment has been protected by covenant. It comprises Bell covenant area across Ohiwa tall tawa, mangeao, pukatea, Harbour. podocarps, pigeonwood and mamaku. The river system starts at Mt Otanewainuku and is well known for 17. NATIVE FOREST RESTORATION its birdlife, supporting kiwi, kokako, TRUST - STEUART RUSSELL tui, bellbird, whitehead, tomtit and RESERVE. Manganui Road, north of robin. Much of this river system is Awakino. protected with the neighbouring Ashe A covenant protects 644.94 ha of high and Mark covenants and the quality, unlogged native forest. It Pendergrast’s covenant further up contains a mixture of podocarps, tawa stream. and pukatea on the gully faces with tanekaha and beech on the other 16. FAWCETT B & B. Campbell Road, ridges. Walton, north of Matamata. The species of beech, Nothofagus A 1.60 ha area of flood plain along the truncata, is regarded as a southern Waitoa River has been covenanted. It example of this more northern type. contains scattered, tall kahikatea as Many birds inhabit the Reserve with well as a dome shaped area covered in kiwi and whitehead in large numbers. totara, kanuka and kahikatea. The The Native Forest Restoration Trust owners protected the area both to covenanted the area to protect the retain landscape views and to protect wildlife habitat, landscape values and a rich diversity of vegetation. They the riverbanks. have also dedicated the reserve to the_ memory of conservationist, Steuart A Russell, who is a National Trust ^ benefactor. NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT 18. MEIER CJ & VM. Cheal Road, Ngaere, south-east of Stratford. Although relatively small, this 1.00 ha bush covenant is easily seen from Cheal Road and is found in an area where there are few forest remnants. The main species is tawa but there is also rewarewa, pukatea, kahikatea, pigeonwood, fuchsia, lacebark, swamp maire and mahoe. There are also some Part of De Jong covenant. large tawa and pukatea. QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 11

WELLINGTON DISTRICT whiteywood, hinau, pigeonwood, 19. JR ROBERTS TRUST. Timahanga putaputaweta, karaka, totara, Station, 80 km east of Taihape. cordyline and kanuka. The covenant Two very large blocks of forest can be seen from Motukai Road in an totalling 4606.00 ha are protected by area where little native bush remains. covenant. One area, to the north of the Napier - Taihape Road is MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT dominated by black, red and mountain 21. LEE D. Blackwood Bay, Queen beech with pockets of kahikatea, rimu, Charlotte Sound, north-east of Picton. matai, miro, maire and some totara. It 42.25 ha of scrubland regenerating is a prominent landscape feature seen into native forest have been protected. from the road. The steep open faces of the covenant The other area is south of the Napier - area are dominated by tall kanuka and Taihape Road and contains large rimu, the gullies by tree fern and mixed matai, kahikatea, maire and miro on broadleaf. Of particular interest are the lower lying areas with patches of the emergent rewarewa which occur black, red and mountain be«:h. There at only six sites in the Marlborough are also many lemonwood, cordyline, Sounds. The covenant adjoins the horopito, wineberry and rangiora. Kumetoto Scenic Reserve and is near the Blackwood Bay Scenic Reserve. It is visible from the sea in an area of 20. FREEMAN DJ. Motukai Road, high recreational use. Ngaumu, 25 kms from Master ton. Two blocks of bush totalling 6.10 ha CANTERBURY DISTRICT have been covenanted. They contain a 22. TREBOR FARM LTD, (Masefield RT variety of species including rewarewa, and PM). South facing hill slopes,

JR Roberts Trust covenant. 12 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

adjoining Children’s Bay, 2 km from Akaroa. The covenant protects 33.38 ha of rolling to steep land and bush remnants. The main species are kanuka, narrow leaved lacebark, kowhai, mahoe, five-finger and totara with a number of large kahikatea. The covenant area is highly visible from the main part of Akaroa town and forms part of the natural outlook to the north, from Akaroa across the harbour. Trebor Farms Ltd covenant at Childrens Bay.

Lower Mataura River - tidal zone, 35 kms east of Invercargill. Two adjoining forest remnants totalling 32.20 ha have been covenanted. Silver beech, kahikatea and pokaka are dominant with broadleaf, neopanax and totara. The extreme southern distribution of silver beech makes for an unusual combination of forest tree species. There are a good number of bush birds present with pukeko on the margins. These areas along with a Meier covenant. number of others covenanted by the SOUTHLAND DISTRICT then Catchment Board are part of a 23. SOUTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL. planned programme for river control purposes.

Styles Creek Progress Report n February 1988 the Trust’s first Most were protected with old tyres and covenant on the Otago Peninsula, weeded at least once. i Styles Creek Bush, was officially The drier, exposed spurs have been opened by our chairman, Sir Peter planted with the South Island kowhai, Elworthy. Sophora microphylla. Ngaio, lemonwood It is now four years since David Jensen and kohuhu have been planted in exposed, initiated a covenant and fenced off the open areas with flax, cabbage tree, mahoe bush. Save The Otago Peninsula (Inc) and tree fuchsia in the more fertile gullies. (STOP) have been carrying out a Last year Hall’s totara, mapou, marble revegetation programme in the area since leaf and the narrow leaf lacebark, Hoheria that time. They report that by October angustifolia were introduced. Also the 1991 around 1130 plants, propagated from jewelled gecko’s habitat, a small area of local seed, had been planted on the site. Coprosma propinqua on a north facing QEn NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 13

Style Creek covenant. slope, has been extended. extending the jewelled gecko’s habitat. STOP plan to continue the planting for The National Trust made a small several years, focusing on the species donation towards a stile and track edging. which were originally present as well as

Involvement Volunteers nvolvement Volunteers Inc (IVI) is a volunteers for one to two weeks. The private, not for profit organisation landholder is asked to meet the volunteers based in Port Melbourne, Australia. at a place serviced by public transport, It currently assists landholders in and to provide accommodation and food California, Fiji, Hawaii, and Thailand, as (the individual usually lives in with the well as Australia. family). The volunteer pays all travel IVI enables volunteers to participate in costs to the meeting place and contributes activities which benefit the natural to the costs of running IVI. environment while learning from their There is a range of activities which are experiences in other parts of the world. already recognised to help landholders The organisation wishes to extend their now working to develop or maintain an operations to New Zealand so that ecologically sustainable environment on volunteers can become familiar with our their properties. These include collecting cultural and environmental situation. indigenous seeds, propagating seedlings, They are interested in either individual constructing protective fencing, planting placements for one to three people for two seedlings, and pest and weed control. or more weeks, or team tasks for up to 12 Sometimes volunteers assist generally in 14 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

farm operations to allow the landholder to propose to offer the opportunity for New have more time to spare for seasonally Zealand volunteers to participate in affected environmental work to be done at programmes in other countries where another time of the year. Sometimes they operate. groups of farmers have taken on Interested landholders can contact individual volunteers and liaised so that Involvement Volunteers Inc at PO Box volunteers go to more than one property 218, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, as part of their visit to an area. Australia or by telephone/fax If IVI is welcomed in New Zealand, they 613 646 5504.

The Kiwi Outback n his property high above Lake this Rotorua in the Kaharoa district, '■ Winston Fleming, a National m TrustO covenantor, has broadened his range m of commercial activities. This has been S.V-Ty made possible by, and has centred around, mmi his protected area of bush. As well as being a sheep, deer and cattle farmer Winston has recently moved into tourism. He did this for two reasons; sip8§fej his farm is only marginally profitable under livestock farming and he feels that he has an environment which is too good An old logging track in the Fleming to be shut away from the general public. bush. Winston’s covenant is a 34 hectare area of native tawa, pukatea and podocarp bush to take in forest vistas, rivers, forest at the back of his farm which streams and a variety of flora and fauna adjoins the larger Kaharoa Reserve. This types, he has enabled people to see the Department of Conservation reserve is real New Zealand or as he terms it, “The renowned for its populations of kokako as Kiwi Outback”. well as other bush birds such as pigeon, Winston has attracted about 120 people shining cuckoo, long-tailed cuckoo, to his bush over the last six months. This morepork, kingfisher, fantail, tomtit, was done by producing a small brochurtw robin, whitehead, grey warbler, tui, called “The Kiwi Outback”, describing 1^ bellbird, and silvereye. New Zealand bush and its unique environment, and by falcon has also been recorded here. running a small advertising campaign Not only is this a rich environment but through the Rotorua Tourist Bureau. Half its altitude and remoteness ensure that it these visitors have viewed the rare provides people with pure air in an almost kokako, as well as most of the other bush pristine setting without man-made noises, birds in the area. except for the sound of the billy boiling or Tourists are accommodated in two huts the sausages sizzling on the out-door (four bunks in each) on the edge of the fireplace, breaking the peace. covenant. Their location provides pleasant Winston’s recent move into tourism is views over the bush and out to the Bay of based on the assumption that the pure Plenty coast. They are well sited for and unexploited outdoor environment is a people just wanting to experience a saleable commodity. People, he suggests, natural environment but for those who now crave the outdoors. By sensitively want to see or hear kokako the huts are cutting walkways through his covenanted sited right in the territory of one pair of QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 15

these birds. One year Winston found a kokako nest within 50 metres of the huts. In this remote place visitors can literally wake up to the organ flute notes of the kokako and view it without the need of man-made, tape-recorded, song lures. Intending tourists simply contact Winston for a booking. After they have found their way to the property he then takes them out to the bush reserve in his four-wheel drive vehicle. The drive takes about twenty minutes over rough farm bush tracks and through a variety of ^wery. Winston acts as both guide and Typical farm landscape on Winston rook, usually serving hogget or venison Fleming’s property. steaks grown on the farm. His meals are the real New Zealand outback type of food - steak and eggs with billy tea and no frills. Land Owners Comments in the visitors’ book indicate Stuart Chambers would like to hear that eating outside with the moreporks from covenantors or forest landowners, calling, and going to sleep in the total who feel their protected areas have similar darkness and silence of the outback, is an attributes to that of Winston Fleming. experience which most have never had This could include bird-watching, trout before. fishing, deer hunting, rock climbing, Winston Fleming, through his swimming, seclusion and isolation, imagination and perseverance, has built mineral springs, caving systems and up a small and viable sideline on a very boating. limited budget and has given people an He is compiling a list of these experience they never knew existed. This landowners with the object of eventually is only possible because he and his encouraging and supporting the use of forebears realised that bush had values their areas for tourism. This linking of other than potential pastureland. tourist-use with forests or other open This venture leads the way in space areas, whether protected or not, nature-tourism on National Trust secures the preservation of these areas covenants. It illustrates a very good and while it enhances their value and the jmrfitable use for protected forestland. It is work of the Queen Elizabeth II National M example of initiative which could be Trust. It also allows forested open space to followed by many other landowners who be seen not simply as timber or potential have interesting forests or other open grassland but as tourist dollars. space features on their properties. And it With the provision of simple but illustrates well why farmers should comfortable cottages in these areas, a consider all options before they embark on situation could evolve whereby a land-clearing operation aimed at landowners are provided with extra funds, increasing livestock numbers only. at little extra cost. Extra stimulation through the world coming to their doors Stuart Chambers could also be an enjoyable benefit. Waikato - Regional Representative Interested parties should write to - Stuart Chambers 649 River Road Hamilton 16 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

Election of Directors he triennial elections for the two re-elected Arthur Cowan of Otorohanga Directors elected by members of and Dr Brian Molloy of Christchurch to T the Trust will be held in March represent them through to 31 March 1995. 1992. By the time you read this, the procedure for the elections will have “tMctoral roll closed on 31 December RllleS Of the TrUSt 1991, with nominations closing on 17 In preparation for the 1992 elections, January 1992. Ballot papers will have been Trust rules have been revised and posted to each member (at their address abbreviated. The major purpose of the on the electoral roll) by 14 February 1992. Ruies js to determine procedures for Results will be known by March 20 and membership and for the triennial members will be notified of the results in elections. Over the seven years since their the next Newsletter. last publication some parts of the Rules STOP PRESS have become redundant or are adequately The membership of the Trust has covered by other statutes or procedures.

New Zealand Native Plants Course ould you like to know more New Zealand Farm Forestry Association about New Zealand native and Maori groups involved with W plants and how to use them? ethnobotanical plantings. The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand is The student receives a course package launching a long distance learning containing the following items: programme on native plants in mid 1992. - A resource kit module with contact The course is aimed at increasing addresses, sources of information, people’s awareness of the importance of maps of ecological regions and distric^; New Zealand’s native plants. Students can record sheets etc, local information i^B learn to carry out revegetation and tree added by the students. planting schemes, as promoted under the - A field notebook for recording Department of Conservation’s Tu Kakariki observations. programme. Other features of the course - Seven learning modules about native include the protection and management of plants, which include charts, diagrams, native vegetation remnants such as and photos of native plants as well as National Trust covenants, as well as other relevant information. managing native vegetation on a - Brochures from other interested sustainable basis to supply plant based groups. products. For further information write to: Input to the course has been obtained from groups including the Trust, Bruce Treeby Department of Conservation, Royal Forest TOPNZ and Bird Protection Society, local Private Bag government Parks and Reserves staff, LOWER HUTT QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 17

Rhododendron Festival o say that the Taranaki BNZ Rhododendron Festival was a T success is an understatement. 1991 saw 125 gardens open to the public with visitors from all over New Zealand and overseas. Internationally they came from as far away as Greenland. However, the success of this annual festival cannot be measured simply by ^■tfnbers through the gate. Not only is the tat ion of New Zealand’s premier garden event well established on the Waterfall at Tupare. calendar, but its wider scope must also be acknowledged. Chairman of Tourism The biggest thrill this year has been for Taranaki, David Walter has estimated its Tourism Taranaki to win the American total value to the province to be in the Express New Zealand Award 1991 for the millions of dollars. Rhododendron Festival. The National Tupare, always a major festival Trust is playing a wider role than simply drawcard, hosted a variety of specific tour protecting the landscape and its groups including horticulturalists, garden reputation keeps growing. Trust members, and park curators along with journalists board and staff can be justifiably proud of from influential American magazines such our gardens. as ‘Home and Garden’ and ‘Gourmet’. Also TV3’s Dale Harvey filmed at the Alistair Duncan garden for a day. Tupare Curator

Staff Changes travelled widely in the United States and Tiancie Pedersen Canada. rancie Pedersen joined the Trust in August as Assistant Covenants Alison Druce F Officer. She grew up in Pahiatua and was educated at Tararua College. lison Druce started working for Before coming to the Trust she worked as the Trust in September as part a legal clerk for the Ministry of Works A time librarian, while Polly and the Department of Lands, Buckland is away. She is also employed in administering Crown land under the the Music and Fine Arts Department of Public Works Act. the Wellington Public Library. Francie plays senior women’s cricket, Alison and her husband have a son, senior reserve hockey and volleyball. Her Erua aged seven. Her interests include other interests include floral art, tennis, gardening, Maori language and gardening and music. She has also knitting. 18 QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER

Killing Off Old Man’s Beard

Id Man’s Beard is a major problem Old Man’s Beard generates prolific in many bush covenants. Recent foliage that smothers trees crowns and O research is providing new hope for cuts out light so they cannot an effective way of controlling this destructive photosynthesise. The sheer weight of plant. foliage and stems even snaps off branches The following article is reprinted with kind of the host plant. Old Man’s Beard is permission from Terra Nova - The Resource multi-stemmed and fast-growing: the Management Magazine of New Zealand. It production of new growth in one season was written by DSIR journalist, Lindsay has been estimated by botanist Carol Wgt Clark, and appeared in the October 1991 to be five times greater than the avera^B edition. New Zealand forest productivity. In a Inside Adrian Spier’s laboratory at study she made of a small patch of Aokautere, near Palmerston North, are Clematis vitalba in the Rai Valley near some unseasonal leaves of Old Man’s Nelson, the estimated productivity of Beard which are black with fungus and foliage and stems was 6.3 kg per square dying. metre. Productivity in New Zealand native “They look really crook,” Dr Spiers forest is typically about 1.2 kg per square says happily. The leaves are the first from metre. Even in the tropics, average forest New Zealand-grown Clematis vitalba or green vegetation production is about 4 kg Old Man’s Beard to be deliberately per square metre. exposed to a fungus that severely checks The Department of Conservation and the growth of the plant in its native local authorities have tried cutting back or Europe. The dying leaves offer hope that removing plants and spraying with the aggressive climber, which can smother herbicides. Both labour and chemicals are and kill native forest, may in future be expensive, however, and the use of brought under some kind of biological herbicides in the environment is becoming control. less acceptable. Old Man’s Beard was introduced to So the plant has become an attractive New Zealand as a garden climber - minus candidate for biological control by insects, its European diseases - from the early plant pathogens or both. Dr Spiers, a 1900s. By the 1940s it had escaped onto DSIR Plant Protection scientist at roadsides, water courses and forest Aokautere, believed fungal diseases were a remnants. Since then the vines have way of controlling it, so late last year ht^ spread from north of Auckland to Stewart made a trans-Europe expedition lookingj^B Island. The most serious infestations are the distribution of Clematis vitalba and along major rivers from the Waikato to collecting fungus-infected leaves from the Clutha, in and around urban areas, southern England to Yugoslavia. and increasingly in native forest reserves Some of the fungi he found caused and scrub country. leaves to fall off, so weakening the plant. The public odium that Old Man’s Beard The most promising came from the wetter has attracted, compared with the areas of Switzerland, Hungary, Yugoslavia hundreds of other foreign plants that have and Austria. Dr Spiers believes the moist also become naturalised New Zealand conditions in much of New Zealand citizens, is due to its ability to climb, should favour these fungi. smother and kill trees up to 30 metres He was surprised how much of a high. It will grow over shelterbelts, problem Clematis vitalba is in its own ornamentals, willows planted for river habitat. “In Europe Old Man’s Beard is protection, and forest margins where light what you call a background weed. It’s is abundant. everywhere and the people who live there QEII NATIONAL TRUST NEWSLETTER 19

simply don’t notice it. When local biological control: in Europe he found very biological control scientists drove around few insects living on Old Man’s Beard. It with me and saw how extensive it is and is also unpalatable to animals. what it is doing to the local vegetation, Spiers is confident that an effective they were quite surprised. Some were fungus will be found. At present he is quite concerned”. The plant is a culturing fungi from small fragments of particularly bad problem in the Rhine the Clematis vitalba leaves he collected. Valley, even strangling some of the grape The different types of fungus are then vines the area is famous for. grown separately. Only those which cause Fungal diseases are usually thought of disease are kept, and stored at low as being ‘baddies’ for attacking ‘good’ temperature for later use. Three or four crops, and can spread with great speed look promising. aid damage. Fungal diseases, thought to He has begun testing the newly isolated Ae been borne by air from Australia, are fungi on naturalised Old Man’s Beard to tow killing the common cultivar of the find the disease which is most effective at silver poplar throughout New Zealand and killing or knocking back the plant. The lupins used to stabilise sand country for ideal would be to find fungi active only forestry. against Clematis vitalba. Diseases will also Dr Spiers says, however, that biological be tested on native clematis, garden control is definitely the best and cheapest clematis species and other commercial way of getting rid of the problem. “Once plants to preclude any nasty side- effects. an effective fungus is found and released, Before release a detailed environmental it is out there working and doesn’t cost impact assessment will be needed. All any more money. It will continue to procedures are carried out in strict attack the plant and weaken it. As young quarantine, and the research is being seedlings emerge it will also attack them.” funded largely by the Department of Insects are unlikely to be effective in Conservation.

Staff at Hollard Gardens

Xrreg Rine Kane Innes ^Wireg Rine started working at Hollard Kane Innes started a four-year Gardens in July 1989 and was recently apprenticeship in amenity horticulture at appointed curator. He gained a Diploma in Hollard Gardens in July 1991 after Amenity Horticulture at Massey completing a Horticultural Course at New University and worked in a variety of jobs Plymouth. This is the first time the including Campus Manager for MAF at National Trust has taken on an apprentice Flock House. at either of the gardens. Greg and his wife, Sue, have a baby Kane lives on his parents’ dairy farm daughter, Elizabeth. nearby and his other interest include cars and reading. Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Board March 1992 Appointed by the Minister of Conservation in terms of the QEII National Trust Act (1977)

CHAIRMAN Margaret Bayfield of Inglewood Sir Peter Elworthy of Timaru DIRECTORS Elected by National Trust Members: Hamish Ensor of Methven. Arthur Cowan MBE of Otorohanga. Maui Pomare JP of Wellington Dr Brian Molloy of Christchurch Trust Manager: Tim Porteous

Regional Representatives March 1992 NORTHLAND AUCKLAND WAIKATO Fenton Hamlin Walter Willis Stuart Chambers PO Box 68 10 First Avenue 649 River Road Kerikeri Stanley Point Hamilton Tel: 0-9-407 8573 Auckland Tel: 0-7-855 9939 Tel: 0-9-445 3595

BAY OF PLENTY TARANAKI/WANGANUI SOUTH WAIRARAPA Stephen Parr John Murphy Ben Thorpe PO Box 444 PO Box 227 43B London Road Tauranga Hawera Korokoro, Petone Tel: 0-7-578 7658 Home Tel & Fax: 0-6-287 864 Tel: 0-4-569 1887 0-7-577 6129 Work

GISBORNE MANAWATU/HAWKES BAY/ NELSON/MARLBOROUGH Richard White NORTH WAIRARAPA Martin Conway 14 Seymour Road Eddie Suckling Palmers Road Gisborne 8 Wikiriwhi Crescent RD, Brightwater Tel: 0-6-868 8269 Palmerston North Nelson Tel: 0-6-357 5726 Tel: 0-3-542 3712

CANTERBURY OTAGO SOUTHLAND Graham Dunbar Ian Williamson Roger Sutton 19 Hadlow Place 32 McKenzie Drive 16 Vogel Street Christchurch 8004 Twizel Invercargill Tel: 0-3-358 8278 Tel: 0-3-435 0595 Tel: 0-3-215 7810

Published by: Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust, PO Box 3341, Wellington. Colenso House, 138 The Terrace, Wellington. Telephone 0-4-472 6626 Registered at PO Headquarters Wellington as a Newsletter.