Tongariro Taupo conservation awards for 2006 announced

Date:  07 December 2006

The fourteenth Tongariro Taupo Conservancy conservation awards were announced at the Taupo Museum on Thursday night, before a large gathering, which included the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board. In all seven awards were made.

Conservancy Landscape Architect, Herwi Scheltus, in presenting the first conservation award of the evening said that for 20 years Pete Masters has had a big influence on how we do much of our conservation work especially in Tongariro National Park. "As a helicopter pilot he thinks outside the square especially with flying in materials and flying out wastes. He also continues to question staff to ensure the best environmental outcome is reached. He is always ready to listen and offer alternative solutions and better outcomes. His flying skills for major upgrade works on the park's tracks and huts, the Whakapapa sewage upgrade and RAL projects at Turoa and Whakapapa are both precise and cost efficient. Staff have appreciated Pete’s sound and dedicated approach to helicopter fire training."

He served on the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board for six years and was the Board chair for two years.

Herwi referred to one of Pete’s other loves – mountain biking. He and other were responsible for the establishment of Bike Taupo's mountain bike ride, commonly known as the Rotary Ride from Spa Park to Huka Falls which traverses the Huka Fall Scenic Reserve

Taupo Fishery Area Manager, John Gibbs, presented an award to the Tongariro National Trout Centre Society. He applauded the aims of the society. "The society sets out, in partnership with the Department of Conservation; to enlighten and inform children and educate all visitors about trout, the Taupo fishery and New Zealand freshwater ecology. This it has done admirably through securing sponsorship for the ongoing maintenance and development of the "The River Walk" Visitor Centre which as a society it worked hard to establish a few years ago and more recently through the Taupo for Tomorrow education programme and classroom."

John said that with a fulltime educator at the centre the programme is ideal for teachers looking for a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom, and who are keen to incorporate themes about sustainability into their lesson plans. If this weren’t enough for a voluntary organisation the society also continues with its popular children’s fishing days that have run now for many years.

Nic Etheridge, DOC community Relations and Technical Support Manager spoke of the vast amount of time given in pursuit of conservation goals by volunteers. Kaye Rabarts, from Coromandel, stood out. Nic said, "Even though Kaye comes from the Coromandel region of sun and beaches, she’s always had an affinity with Tongariro National Park. In 2002 that was cemented even more by her joining Tongariro Natural History Society.

After two seasons of pulling broom beside the bridge realignment at the Whanganui River she surveyed a number of rivers for us in relation to blue duck monitoring, dragging in other friends to help her and at the same time began to keep a photographic record of TNHS volunteer’s activities."

In 2005 she put her efforts into the Waimarino Wetland working with other volunteers and DOC staff to establish the restoration of this wetland. As a result of those efforts, the project has secured funding to kill the willows and to help to restore the wetland habitat. In 2006, Kaye took on another project that of recording the known historic sites and features within with Tongariro National Park and its surrounds. With the help of other TNHS members she is researching, surveying, mapping and recording over 200 historic sites.

"Not only does Kaye take these projects on, but she encourages others to come out and join her too, sharing her passion and enthusiasm. DOC and TNHS are very grateful to have her with us."

Waitetoko Marae holds a special place in the hearts of local conservation staff and the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board said Alex Wilson, the Board Chair. Alex said, "It’s a real pleasure to present a Conservation Award to the Marae. For many years it has been seen as the conservancy marae through it being the marae of two of its Kaupapa Atawhai Managers (KAM), the late Huri Maniapoto and the present KAM, Jim Maniapoto. The Marae has hosted departmental Pukenga Atawhai training for conservation staff from around New Zealand and has played host to the conservation board, visiting World Heritage and other overseas study groups." 

Senior Community Relations Officer, Dave Wakelin described Ohakune Fire Chief, Ben Goddard as one of those quiet volunteers who worked away, largely un-noticed by most other than those knew the size of the contribution made.

Dave said, "Ben, through his role as Fire Chief has been a strong advocate for the need for a long term response capability for lahars and other natural hazards.  He had an early involvement in the local Southern Ruapehu Emergency Management Group that evolved into the Lahar Planning Group which signed off the Southern Ruapehu Lahar Response Plan.  He was proactive in seeking an understanding of how lahar and other volcanic risks could affect the Ohakune area long before anyone outside DOC, and has been very supportive of the lahar warning system ERLAWS and its long term value."

Ben plays a major role in the operation of the Southern Ruapehu Lahar Response Plan. He has made the fire station available as the Incident Control Point for the lahar response along with staff and other resources. This assistance and his extensive knowledge of the plan are deeply valued by the Ohakune police. Without Ben and the fire station the Plan would not operate as smoothly or be able to cope as well if other emergency situations arise simultaneously. 

Terry Slee, Programme Manager Visitor Assets, said Bike Taupo’s contribution to the cycling community, locally and nationally is enormous. It’s the drive and motivation of this community group that saw the development of the popular Rotary Ride from Spa Park to Huka Falls, which with help from sponsorship and hours and hours of voluntary labour created bike access from town to the cycle tracks of Wairakei Forest.

He commented that, "The focus of their relationship with land owners, including the Department of Conservation is to continue to develop and maintain cycling opportunities in reserves close to town. The group works in close co-operation with DOC to design and construct cycle tracks as well as to improve existing tracks for shared cycle and pedestrian use." 

Warwick Sylvester said Conservator Paul Green has recently retired from the Tongariro Taupo Conservation Board after two particularly active three year terms. The Board and

Department were pleased to have the availability of Warwick’s wide scientific background in both biology and the physical sciences and he was well deserving of an award.

Paul noted, "Warwick is very committed to the Central North Island and Tongariro National Park in particular. He is a keen tramper and skier and has a holiday house in Ohakune. He has hosted Board members and students in a most hospitable fashion."

Warwick was always available for meetings and inspections and providing scientific advice - often within short time frames. He did this willingly and took on responsibility for chairing the Boards planning committee with specific responsibility for the Tongariro National Park Management Plan. This is a particularly difficult role given the deep interest but widely different views of many submitters. Warwick showed great skill in doing this professionally. During his time as a Board member Warwick was always prepared to provide quality scientific advice to the Department. It has been particularly valuable in respect to Lake Taupo Water Quality issues. Warwick has always been encouraging of staff and students working in Tongariro National Park. This has been much appreciated.

Warwick's commitment is well illustrated by him offering his services in an advisory fashion to the staff and Board members - stressing he does not wish to be paid. Warwick's is a quality and genuine commitment and love of conservation.

As part of the evening the Bernard Stretch Memorial Award, was presented by Bernard’s son Elliot to Andrea Mertens of Tuahara College for the public awareness work she has done about the ecological and environmental importance of geothermal systems and thermal vegetation. The work, which is ongoing, was carried out with students from Tauhara College.

A new book on blue duck entitled "Whio" written by David Young, sponsored by Genesis Energy and Forest and Bird and published by the Central North Island Blue Duck Trust was also launched at the start of the evening. The book tells how a dedicated group of scientists, field workers and volunteers have set about saving the blue duck. It combines a natural history of the bird with an illustrated history of human interaction, as well as a social history of the blue duck then and now.

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