Planners and Architects

Posted on by
2

Architects heading uphill from RutherfordsAn interesting day of visitors at Hereweka with planners from around the country visiting the Larnach Model Farm and getting a feel for the many values of the site. The planners were part of the New Zealand Planning Institute 2016 conference held in Dunedin.

In the afternoon a group of Landscape Architects from the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects spent a sunny afternoon visiting the slopes of Hereweka and walking out to Rutherfords. This was part of their annual conference and a further opportunity to showcase some of the special values of the property.

It’s always great to be able to show the area off to people who have never visited the area and the visit stimulated some interesting thoughts on cultural landscapes and their management from both groups.

Planners 2016

Happy Hikers at Hereweka

Posted on by
Reply

Pig RiderWhen you run an outdoor walking event there are always those last-minute doubts that play on your mind. Is the course too hard? Will anyone turn up? Will the weather be an absolute pig? Well the Hereweka Harbour Cone Trust didn’t have to worry about any of those things as Sunday dawned beautifully fine and clear for our inaugural Hereweka Hike. The Trust were delighted to have 200 excited and eager walkers of all ages take the opportunity to explore an area of the Otago Peninsula that is an absolute gem. With a fine hot day there were plenty of walking packs filled with water and liberal use of sunscreen to get people through the 6.5 and 11.5 kilometre courses.  The public response to the Hike was overwhelming and the trust thoroughly enjoyed sharing Hereweka with everyone. A special thanks to CRT for the marker posts and Jane Ashman for providing parking at Bacon Street. This is the first event that the Trust has held at Hereweka and we are looking forward to holding more of them in the future. The hike really opened up people’s eyes to the scenery, history and opportunity that the property provides for Dunedin. Many thanks to everyone and we’re glad you enjoyed your time with us, see you all next year! (Click on the pictures to view full size)

Some going up and some going down
The trustees getting ready for the Hike
Some welcome shade
Jill giving the oil
Getting instructions
and it was this long!
Nork at Rutherfords
Awesome view
Keep going ladies!
Walkers 1
Walkers 2
Alishea and partner
Good job kids!
Walkers 3
Alison’s day off!
happy faces
Walkers 4
Walkers 5
Family group
Walkers 6
Good for a laugh!
Walkers 7
Road from Rutherfords
Walkers 8
Country Calendar Nork?
Harbour Outlook
Picnic at Open Day at Hunters

Catchment Field Day at Hereweka

Posted on by
Reply

Overview of Smiths Creek

Members of the Trust, Otago Regional Council and Peninsula landowners met to discuss waterway management under the Otago Regional Council’s new Regional Water Plan. The field day was designed to give local landowners an understanding of the plan changes and its requirements. Regional Council staff gave a broad overview of the plan and the reason’s around the plan and how it would affect landowners.  One of the interesting aspects of the field day was the demonstration of electric fishing by Pete Ravenscroft. The electric fishing technique allowed trustees and landowners see the numbers of native Galaxiids in a small waterway such a s Smiths Creek. Land and Water consultant Murray Harris also gave an overview of land management practices that assist farmers around catchment areas. Overall, the field day was very useful and gave trustees an insight into future options for the Hereweka property. (Click on the pictures to view full size).

Stream area below Larnach’s Castle
Pete with a kokopu
Lala explaining riparian planting
The group discussing biodiversity values
The group under the eye of Hereweka
Nigel and Becky listening
Nic with a Kokopu
Banded Kokopu
Murray Harris discusses land management

 

 

Smiths Creek Award

Posted on by
1
Broad Bay School Toroa Award

Broad Bay School Pupils receive their Toroa Award

Broad Bay School pupils won the Toroa award at the Conservation Week awards on Tuesday 3rd November. Otago Peninsula Trust chairman Ross Smith presented the pupils with the award, which came with $500 in funding for their conservation project at Smiths Creek. The pupils also won the collaboration of a Department of Conservation ranger, who would help with their project. For three years, the school has been involved with the freshwater creek protection and enhancement project at Smiths Creek co-ordinated by Save The Otago Peninsula (STOP). Each winter they have spent a day or more planting native trees to provide shade and absorb agricultural runoff and slow erosion. In the past two years they have provided their own plants and the pupils are eager to continue their work at Smiths Creek, which has also included monitoring the water quality and aquatic habitat.

Broad Bay School pipils monitoring Smiths Creek

Broad Bay School pupils monitoring Smiths Creek

PIPTA visit Hereweka

Posted on by
Reply

Conference Delegates

Members of P.I.P.T.A (Primary Industries Polytechnic Tutors Association) visited the Hereweka property recently as part of their annual national conference. Over 40 conference delegates from around the country spent time on the Peninsula and the Harbour Cone property was organised as part of their field trip. The delegates all have roles in teach primarily horticulture and agriculture in polytechnics throughout New Zealand. The field trip was an opportunity for the delegates to learn more about the property as both a working farm and as an important cultural and ecological restoration area in the region. The delegates were impressed and this was helped by a sweltering hot day that made Hereweka and the Peninsula really shine.

Polytechnic Students at Hereweka

Posted on by
Reply

Horticulture students under the guidance of tutor Lisa Burton spent a morning with Hereweka Trustees and Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group project manager Cathy Rufaut at Smiths Creek recently. The students looked at the Smiths Creek restoration project with trustee Lala Frazer and saw the planting work undertaken by the Save the Otago Peninsula group. There was also time for the students to look at the possum control project and its methodologies undertaken by the OPBG. The students then took a guided walk to the summit of Hereweka before the threatening rain arrived. The purpose of the students visit was to give them a broad understanding of the property values as well as its challenges and scale. It is hoped that this initial visit will develop into a long-term partnership where the students can learn and test their skills in ecological restoration.

Allan’s Farm Visit
At the summit
Cathy talking Possums
Stone wall below summit