Past recipients 2009

Chris Ballie (second from right) from the Orokonui EcoSanctuary receives a cheque for $2292.06. Chris is pictured here with Speight's Environment Fund judges Peter Chin, Carolyn Burns and Gretchen Robertson (left to right)

 

Orokonui Ecosanctuary, 20kms north of Dunedin, is creating an ecosystem as close as possible to pre-human times. The 307 hectare Ecosanctuary is enclosed by a pest-proof fence and pests have been eradicated to very low levels. The Ecosanctuary is the only forest of its size in the South Island that offers such safe habitat. Native species already in the area, including the rare rifleman and fern bird, are beginning to thrive and some that have been lost to the area have been re-introduced including kaka, jewelled gecko and saddleback. Orokonui offers prime takahe habitat and funds from Speights will enhance these grassland and wetland areas in preparation for the re-introduction of takahe.

 

The present national population of 227 takahe is listed as Nationally Critical indicating a species in danger of extinction. Orokonui aims to contribute to the survival of this species by:

 

The Ecosanctuary’s main visitor path runs through the grassland and wetland areas providing valuable opportunities to provide an educational experience that promotes understanding of the threats to and need for takahe conservation and protection. Orokonui Ecosanctuary’s education programme reaches 5,000 primary, secondary and tertiary students per year from Otago, Southland and South Canterbury. Interpretive displays in the Visitor and Education Centre complement the information provided in the Ecosanctuary itself.

 

Community ownership of the project is demonstrated by Orokonui’s 1200 enthusiastic members and volunteers who are involved in all aspects of Ecosanctuary management including the implementation of this Speights funded project. 

 

 

Speight's Environment Fund judges Peter Chin, Carolyn Burns and Gretchen Robertson (left to right) present a $5250 cheque to Shirley McKeown (second from right) from Hawksbury Lagoon.

In pre European times the biological value of the lagoon was significant, it provided food for local Maori and was in fact a favourite fishing place. Bird life was plentiful and also provided good eating. A small fishing easement of one hectare on the eastern side was set aside for local Maori in 1868, and allowed for food gathering; today the occasional netting of eels occurs. Originally the Hawksbury Lagoon was three times the size that it currently is ie 64 hectares, which in part explains the decline in biodiversity.

 

The causeways across the lagoon were built between 1881 and 1883 in order to reclaim the land; this was stopped in 1884 following public protest.  Today modifications to the causeways are used to control the level of the water, preventing the lagoon from drying out. They also provide a favourite walkway for the local community, linking different areas of the Waikouaiti township.

 

There have always been a significant number of aquatic bird species who use the Hawksbury lagoon, either as a permanent home or as part of their migratory pattern. At times the lagoon has supported in excess of 3000 duck, 800 black swans and a number of other species such as shoveller duck, grey teal, white heron, royal spoonbills, shags and pukeko. Unfortunately over the years the range of species and their numbers has reduced. The area has been a wildlife refuge since 1899 and is currently under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation (DOC).

 

Water quality in the lagoon has for many years been variable but generally poor. In 1984 after the Waikouaiti Sewerage Scheme was completed water quality improved but it was found that the lagoon was in a eutrophic (nutrient rich) state. When the aquatic plants died their action in stabilising the bottom sediment no longer occurred and wave action in the lagoon now stirs up the sediment releasing even more nutrients further increasing algal growth and making it difficult for aquatic plants to re establish. With much of the lagoon being only 0.25m deep the water becomes quite warm during summer, an ideal situation for algal bloom.

 

Funding from the Speight’s Fund will be used to pay for Raupo, an aquatic plant, to initially re establish plantings in three sheltered areas of the water which in time, it is hoped, will begin to improve the quality of the water and create more sheltered areas for birds. This is only one small part in a much wider ecological management plan aimed at improving the overall biodiversity of the Hawksbury Lagoon.