March 2021

CATLINS COAST INC. NEWSLETTER

Kia ora & Welcome

Please enjoy the newsletter from Coast Inc.

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Photographs by Tony Somerville

Ariel views of The Catlins

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CATLINS

Catlins Coast Incorporated (CCI) Greetings from The Catlins. 2021 has hit the ground running and I hope it is going in the right direction for everyone. The Catlins has been busier than usual to date which seems to be one of the obvious effects of COVID 19 with more domestic travellers visiting. CCI did a presentation to Council (CDC) on the 4 February on our proposal for the development of a Catlins - Clutha Information lay-by. The proposal was to remove the information kiosk from Telford (which will soon display the updated map and Care Code), to the road reserve seen opposite Vital Stock Foods just south of Balclutha. CCI have been working with CDC staff on the proposal for over a year and it is with extreme pleasure I can report that Councillors voted 9:4 in favour of the lay by. The site will be 95% funded by NZTA and hope to be completed by the end of June 2021. CCI feel this will be an opportunity for local businesses to be supported and for travellers to be informed about The Catlins, which includes the Care of The Catlins. Southland District Council (SDC) has adopted our revised map and Care Code as part of their Freedom Camping initiative. Stirling Hill panels have been replaced and other new sites around South Catlins have these panels now thanks to SDC. The SDC Freedom Camping Ambassador is using our maps to distribute to travellers/campers. The 2021 Catlins Official Visitors Guide and Tear Off map have now been printed and are being distributed around the country side particularly into information centres. If you require some please contact [email protected] to order some. CCI is working on the invites to Catlins businesses who are currently not advertising on the www.catlins.org.nz website. Please take the time to consider advertising if you are not presently doing so, you are not only promoting your business but supporting the website and the many projects CCI continue to work on, on your behalf.

Submission to CDC Long Term Plan will be open soon.

I hope you all get to enjoy the sunshine as the Autumn change knocks strongly on the door

Kind regards Dianne Miller CCI Chairperson.

Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust (YEPT)

A very busy hoiho breeding season is ongoing, with Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust Catlins Ranger, Sarah Irvine, assisted by Dunedin-based Trust staff, monitoring the health of the penguins at Long Point/ Irahuka Reserve. In addition to keeping an eye on penguins, staff have also been monitoring mosquito larvae near penguin sites, as mosquitos are vectors for avian malaria, a potentially fatal disease for yellow-eyed penguins.

It has been great to see hoiho chicks fledging over the last week and we wish them well as they head to sea to learn to fish for themselves. Juveniles and adult penguins are now starting to make landfall for their annual moult with many coming ashore in good condition so far.

However, as penguins must remain ashore for the duration of the moult, this is a very vulnerable time. The Trust would encourage anyone visiting beaches to keep an eye out for moulting and injured hoiho and if you have any concerns, phone Sarah on 021-263-0566 and she will check them out.

In other news from Long Point, for a week in early February, two Blake Ambassadors (Giverny & Wednesday) helped with hoiho monitoring as well as general conservation work, including plant releasing, making a big impression with their enthusiasm and hard work.

David McFarlane Long Point Project Manager Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust

Continued Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust (YEPT)……...

Blake Ambassadors Giverny and Wednesday, helping with hoiho monitoring

Chicks almost ready to fledge

Blake Ambassador Wednesday monitoring mosquito larvae

Feathers all pricked up and looking great at the start of the moult

Clutha NZ’s 'Stay a while' domestic marketing campaign is underway! Before Christmas we released CluthaNZ's summer domestic marketing campaign 'Stay a while'. The campaign is running through paid digital media until the end of March 2021, on the following platforms: Facebook and Instagram, Google Adwords, YouTube, NZ Herald online, and Stuff.co.nz. While we wanted to highlight our district's beautiful landscapes and attractions, it's also our people who we wanted to showcase through this campaign. That is why the ‘Stay a while’ campaign vid- eo features local personalities from across the Clutha District including Jared at Catlins Kayak and Adventure, Lyndon from Mohua Park, and Blair from The Lost Gypsy.

Highlights from the campaign so far: - 50% increase in web traffic (page views) and 146% increase in new users to CluthaNZ.com since the campaign launched, in comparison to the same period 12 months ago. - Over 4,000 completed views of the full 3 minute video on YouTube. - Over 700,000 people reached through Facebook - Over 200 new page likes on Destination Clutha Facebook page since the launch

If you haven't seen it already watch the new promotional video For more information visit CluthaNZ.com

Examples of campaign posts on social media:

Clutha District Council

THINGS TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE CATLINS! (Subject to COVID-19 Requirements)

The Museum

Mike McPhee (Manager) is currently putting together a display on the Owaka CWI for the 100th Anniversary of Country Women's Institutes in NZ. Events and Exhibitions

Owaka Lions Club Catlins Canter

Friday 19 March—Sunday 21 March

Registrations and Information to Melanie Burgess Email: [email protected]

All meals supplied from Friday evening

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South Forest & Bird

Planting and Weeding at the Otanomomo Scientific Reserve 1:00pm 4th Sunday of each month. 28 March/25 April/23 May

Contact: Roy Johnstone 03 4181319 [email protected] Jane Young 03 415 8532 [email protected]

NB These events will only go ahead if we are at level 1.

Please note: CCI are not responsible for the accuracy of the material/information that has been supplied for the Newsletter, this is the responsibility of the author/s of the article/s. The CCI reserve the right not to include material/information in the Newsletter if deemed inappropriate.