® Open Space National Trust For open space in New Zealand No. 38 March 1997 Nga Kairauhi Papa 1000th National Trust IN THIS ISSUE • t • Covenant Registered! I000TH OPEN SPACE COVENANT REGISTERED More than 400 people Otorohanga. Over 13 kilometres Page I gathered on the property of of fencing has been required to AROHA ISLAND ECOLOGICAL Alister, Ann and Antony Stubbs protect the 213 hectares. CENTRE OPENING on Saturday, 5 October 1996 to The covenant protects a dense Page 3 commemorate the registration of native forest of tawa, hinau, HAMISH ENSOR RESIGNS the 1000th QEII National Trust pukatea, mangeao and Page 4 open space covenant. podocarps, an underground cave TRUST RECEIVES LOTTERY His Excellency, the Governor network, stream systems and SUPPORT General and Lady Hardie Boys, impressive rock outcrops. Page 5 the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Alister Stubbs explains that a FROM THE TRUST CHAIRPERSON Jim Bolger and Mrs Bolger, and desire to protect the area and its Page 5 the founding Chairperson of the qualities was the motivation COVENANTORS WIN Trust, the Rt Hon Sir Thaddeus behind entering into an open CONSERVATION AWARD Page 6 McCarthy, were amongst the space covenant: dignitaries present. “We really love the bush, that SCULPTURE EXHIBITION ADDS The Stubbs family have is probably the main reason we VALUE TO GARDEN VISITING Page 6 protected a third of their 672 took out a covenant. And we hectare farm Awatiro, on Te Anga want to see it protected for RECENTLY REGISTERED OPEN SPACE COVENANTS Road, 24 kilometres west of future generations as well as our Page 7 TRUST PEOPLE Page IS TRUST DIRECTORY Page 20 The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jim Bolger speaking at the 1000th open space covenant event. To his right are Their Excellencies Sir Michael and Lady Hardie Boys (obscured), Mrs Bolger, Trust Chairperson Maggie Bayfield, former Trust Deputy-Chairperson Gordon Stephenson (standing), Trust Director Sir Paul Reeves, the Governor- General’s Aides-de-Camp, Alister, Ann and Antony Stubbs. Photo: Allan Johnston 1 own, and to make sure it set of three new tracks to let dairy farmer from Waotu, spoke survives untouched. people get around it more easily. of the genesis of the Trust and We thought protection by The tracks take walkers up to the role of Federated Farmers. open space covenant was the high spots to get good views “What we wanted was an best option. I am quite over the bush and local organisation run for farmers, by convinced we have done the landscape. They hope to put in farmers to give people The sign unveiled at the conclusion of formalities. From left: Antony Stubbs, His Excellency Sir Michael Hardie Boys, Alister Stubbs, the Prime Minister and Ann Stubbs. Photo: Allan Johnston right thing. Even if we have to more tracks, because as Mr confidence it wasn’t something leave the property, the forest is Stubbs says: “It’s not the sort of being imposed upon them. protected forever.” country you would let people go We are the only country in the They first considered formal through without tracks, world that has a queue of protection in the early 1980s particularly because of the farmers wanting to place after the then Wildlife Service presence of tomos”. restrictive covenants on their surveyed the bush for kokako The formal part of the day properties for no financial gain and other birdlife. started with the arrival by or grants except for fencing. “It is very interesting bush airforce helicopter of the Nowhere else is that happening. because it has karst formations Governor General and Lady In the US or the UK you would through it. A lot of trees in the Flardie Boys. The Prime Minister have to pay the landowner covenant only grow in limestone and Mrs Bolger arrived shortly megabucks,” he noted. areas, and it is rich in ground afterwards. “Here we have an and perching orchids,” notes Speeches were held in a independent organisation set up Alister. natural amphitheatre with the to service the requests and needs The family is hoping to use covenant as a backdrop. of farmers, rather than the covenant as a focus for Rua Anderson and other bludgeoning them into doing ecotourism, a very strong members of the Ruapuha something they didn’t want to industry in the Waitomo district. Uekaha Hapu Trust opened the do. Blackwater rafting, outdoor ceremony with karakia and a The number of heart-warming adventures and horse-trekking blessing. stories you come across .... the are all popular local pursuits. Gordon Stephenson, the personal sacrifice because people Already they have many owner of open space covenant wanted their bush protected,” he school groups coming to visit number 1, former deputy - adds. the bush, and they now have a Chairperson of the Trust and a “I am absolutely thrilled about Newsletter of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust the 1000 covenants. Not many These areas are immensely the “global conservation of us are given the opportunity important as we strive to protect imperative” and the need for to see a dream come true, yet it our unique biodiversity. Lowland each individual to take has been a dream come true for forest remnants support the responsibility for their actions. me. The 1000th covenant event greatest diversity of plants and Landowners voluntarily was really a very moving animals of all New Zealand’s protecting their land with the occasion.” forest ecosystems. If the Trust National Trust were clearly Trust Chairperson Maggie was relevant in 1977 when the taking this message on board, he Bayfield paid tribute to the conservation philosophy was far noted. commitment and work the from mainstream, and the Sir Michael then unveiled a Stubbs’ put into their covenant. Crown still subsidised the carved wooden sign (carved by “Landowners themselves clearing of native forest for Southland Regional shoulder the greatest proportion agricultural development, how Representative, Roger Sutton) of costs of establishing a much more relevant is it in the commemorating the 1000th covenant,” she said. late 1990s,” she asked. covenant. Finally Sir Michael “Thanks must go to the The Prime Minster spoke of was joined by the Prime Minister Stubbs family for their the role the National Trust and in planting a number of commitment in protecting this landowners play in helping the commemorative trees. marvellous forest. We must also government to achieve its Throughout the day, guests jj^cognise the commitment of the important goals for conservation had arrived, picnicked, walked 999 other landowners before and in particular, biodiversity. the tracks through the covenant them, who have made sacrifices The Prime Minister also and generally enjoyed the good to ensure future generations expressed his admiration for weather and splendid setting. inherit a landscape which is what had been achieved by Many people contributed to visually and ecologically diverse. landowners in his own region making the day a success, not Lowland forests and wetlands through voluntary protection. least the Stubbs family are poorly represented in the The Governor General, Sir themselves. Crown protection estate. Michael Hardie Boys, spoke of Aroha Island Ecological Centre Opening On a beautiful Northland day establishing the Centre, noting Aroha Island is 12 kilometres with Aroha Island looking at its that it fulfilled an important north west of Kerikeri on the best, the Trust’s Aroha Island need in Northland towards shores of the Kerikeri Inlet. ~cological Centre was officially raising awareness of Previous owners Margaret and . pened on Saturday, 23 conservation issues in general Cohn Little entered into an open November 1996. An assembly of and the plight of New Zealand’s space covenant with the Trust in 120 guests witnessed the cutting national symbol, the kiwi, in order to protect the Island and of the ribbon by Arthur Cowan, particular. prevent possible residential sheep farmer, noted Two National Trust covenant development. The property was conservationist, founding trustee life members Lindsay Charman sold to the Trust in 1991 in of the NZ Native Forests and Wendy Sporle, who are now anticipation that it would be Restoration Trust and a current involved in the Kiwi Recovery used as a focus for the Trust’s Director of the National Trust. Programme in Northland, work. Speakers included John described the various initiatives Importantly, Aroha Island Carter, MP for Northland, Pat being taken to halt the decline of contains a resident population of Baker, Chairman of the Lottery kiwi. Both expressed their the threatened New Zealand Heritage and Environment support for the Aroha Island Brown Kiwi. The existence of Committee, John Gale of the Ecological Centre, the Trust’s kiwi, the potential of the Island Miranda Naturalists Trust and work in general and the as a site for environmental Maggie Bayfield, Chairperson of opportunity for the Department education and the receipt or the National Trust Board. of Conservation and the Trust to forecast of significant donations All guest speakers praised the work together on Northland from a number of individuals foresight of the Trust in conservation issues. and charitable bodies enabled Newsletter of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust I* the National Trust Board to Since its opening, the Centre is fulfilling an important need in '« decide in December 1995 to has attracted a steady flow of day Northland by raising awareness £ proceed with the establishment and overnight visitors. It is now of conservation issues in an 3 of the Centre. clear from comments made in appropriate setting, Initial funding for new the visitors’ book that the Centre construction was underwritten by the Trust from the Dr Lucy Moore estate bequest. Dr Moore had a keen interest and enthusiasm for environmental education, particularly in the field of ecological protection. As well as a major Lottery Grants Board grant of $100,000 received in July 1996, other donations and grants for the project have exceeded $42,000, with more likely.