Be with nature in the Bay of Islands this Conservation Week

Date:  17 September 2018

You can answer the call to Conservation Week in the Bay of Islands by taking your kids to story time at your local library, visiting the Project Island Song stall at the Kerikeri Farmers Market or giving the Kemp Road weedbusters a hand.

Conservation Week runs from 15-23 September. With the theme “Conservation Week is Calling”, DOC is encouraging people to get involved in conservation-related activities during the week and find out how they can help turn around loss of our unique biodiversity.

“New Zealand’s native wildlife is in crisis with more than 4,000 of our species threatened or at risk. It’s not just well-known species like kākāpō and kea under threat but also fungi, snails, plants lizards, insects and fish.

We need to act now or we could lose wonderful, unique native species and when we lose them we lose a part of what makes New Zealand special.” Says Helen Ough Dealy, DOC Bay of Islands Community Ranger.

The biggest threat to our plants and wildlife is from introduced predators like rats, stoats and possums. Getting rid of predators is an important first step. People can help by setting traps on their properties or joining a local predator trapping group and together we can help New Zealand to achieve its Predator Free 2050 goal.

Cleaning up waterways, protecting marine habitats, getting rid of weeds and planting native species are other actions people can take to help protect our biodiversity. 

Helen says, “Thousands of New Zealanders are already contributing to conservation. When we pull together we can make a big difference. Bay of Islanders can support conservation this Conservation Week by giving time, a donation or help support a local community conservation group.

We encourage people to answer the call to Conservation Week by joining in one of the activities taking place in the Bay of Islands during the week. It’s a chance to learn more about New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and what people can do to help it.”

Conservation Week Activities in the Bay of Islands

Saturday 15 September Morning
Weedbusting with Kemp Road Weedbusters Kemp Road, Kerikeri

Tuesday 18 September 10:30
Storytime Proctor Library Kerikeri

Tuesday 18 September 10:30
Storytime and crafts Kaikohe Library

Tuesday 18 September 11:00
Storytime and display Kawakawa Library

Sunday 23 September 8:00-12:00
Conservation Week stand Kerikeri Farmers Market

Check out conservationweek.org.nz for more information.

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