Kia ora, and welcome to the first On Stream for 2023.
We hope you had a relaxing break and a chance to catch up with family and friends. In this issue: nattering with our Check, Clean, Dry advocates; battling conifers; and getting down to earth with Councillor Kate Wilson. All this AND a cute dog on a motorbike … |
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ORC Councillor Kate Wilson in her plant nursery
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Kate Wilson loves to engage with people and exudes enough energy to power a small town.
Did you know redwoods sequester carbon for 2000 years? You would if you had a chat with Kate. However, when it comes to working with the community, her motto is ‘listen, don’t tell’.
Kate lives in Middlemarch with husband Callum and daughter Ginny. Son Michael farms in Cardrona. The landscape of quartz-rich old rocks and new mountains is enduring and resolute — a little like Kate’s steadfast and tenacious personality.
Gnarly problems, chewy conversations: she’s all about getting schist done, with an unorthodox approach to finding solutions. For example, back in 2001 there was a shortage of rural nurses and a surfeit of bachelor farmers. So why not put on a love train to transport eligible ladies to a Middlemarch Singles Ball? Problem solved.
It’s this kind of lateral thinking, combined with a talent for gentle persuasion and a pinch of good old-fashioned bolshiness, that she brings to her role as an Otago Regional Councillor.
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Our staff love Otago and spend their holidays making the most of it. We asked them to share their holiday photos — here are some crackers!
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Kim’s dog Toby, on patrol for rabbits in Naseby, loves riding – on anything – motorbike, mountain bike, quad bike, ride on lawn mower, kayak … he even has his own insta account (toby_adventure_dog) with 8000 followers!
Nick and his son went tramping in the Routeburn North Branch and ‘Valley of the Trolls’ above Lake Harris off the Routeburn Track. Definitely a spectacular part of our region! |
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Nicole and Izzy, ORC’s Check, Clean, Dry summer advocates, are having a busy time this summer, mingling with fishermen, boaties, and others enjoying time out on the water.
Part of these conversations has been to see how much people know about the presence of freshwater pests in Otago’s lakes and rivers, such as lagarosiphon and didymo, and how we can combat the spread of them.
If you’re moving between waterways this summer, please Check, Clean, Dry and stop the spread of nasties. For more details on freshwater pests and our Check, Clean, Dry programme, head to www.orc.govt.nz/ccdadvocates
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At this time of year, our waterways can suffer from toxic algae and bacteria, all of which can make them unsafe to swim in or even come near.
We test 31 popular swimming sites across Otago for bacteria as well as six other waterways that are hot spots for toxic algae.
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ORC’s Water Quality Scientist Markus Dengg tests for bacteria in Central Otago
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Bacteria results are posted on the LAWA (Land Air Water Aotearoa) website, and current toxic algae alerts are posted here.
Toxic algae in rivers and lakes look very different. In rivers, it looks like thick, dark brown mats on riverbed rocks, almost like black tar. These Phormidium mats can detach and wash up on riverbanks. Dogs like the musty smell, so keep your furry friend away. Toxic algae in lakes can look like bright green blooms, like pea soup, and can sometimes turn red near the water’s edge.
Of the rivers that ORC samples, the following are known cyanobacteria hot spots in Otago:
• Silver Stream, Mosgiel
• Cardrona River, Central Otago
• Manuherekia River, Central Otago
• Hāwea River, Central Otago
• Waianakarua River, North Otago
And of the lakes we sample, the following are known cyanobacteria hot spots in Otago:
• Lake Waihola, Dunedin
• Tomahawk Lagoon, Dunedin
• Butchers Dam, Central Otago
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The Clutha River, where testing was carried out recently
Ms Ozanne says if anyone spots something that may be toxic algae, take a photo and call the ORC on 0800 474 082.
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New wilding conifer group
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Look out weed trees, there’s a new sheriff in town! A new group has joined the battle against wilding conifers.
The recently established Upper Clutha Wilding Tree group aims to control this pest in the Upper Clutha, and ORC is helping it get off the ground.
Wildings smother native vegetation, reduce stream flows, and change the nature of the landscape from tussock and native shrubs to a tree-dominated environment.
One of the biggest risks of wilding tree spread is the risk of fire. In 2018 there was an out-of-control fire on Mt Maude above Lake Hawea. The area has been recently identified as having the highest density of wilding pine infestation and spread.
Local residents had to quickly evacuate their homes. Upper Clutha Wilding Tree group member Di Kenton says she couldn’t believe how quickly the fire spread: “It was like watching a dynamite trail being lit.”
Di had already been removing wildings from her property, but the fire was the impetus to finish the job and join the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group.
"I am keen to provide whatever support I can, to assist in managing the wilding pine spread in our area before it is too difficult and costly to get on top of.”
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S is for swamp edge fingers.
Sounds like the damp touch of wrinkly fingerpads after lake swimming, but finger ponds are bodies of water smaller than lakes (usually 5-12 metres) that extend into wetland like fingers, hence the name. They can enhance the natural productivity of wetlands and floodplains.
Swamp edge fingers are, therefore, finger ponds surrounded by swamp.
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2023 TUIA Rangatahi Leadership Programme
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Previous TUIA Rangatahi Leadership Programme participants at Rongomaraeroa Marae, Te Papa, in Wellington
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Do you know an exceptional rangatahi?
Tell them about the 2023 TUIA Rangatahi Leadership Programme, supported in Ōtepoti by the Dunedin City Council.
TUIA is a long-term, intergenerational programme designed to develop and enhance the contributions of rangatahi Māori within communities throughout New Zealand. The programme builds a network of support for rangatahi to help them serve their communities well while developing relationships between a diverse range of rangatahi throughout the country.
In 2023, Mayor Jules Radich will support rangatahi from Ōtepoti to join this national programme. The selected rangatahi will attend five nationally organised wānanga throughout the year to build networks and receive exposure to a diverse range of people from across the country. Travel costs for rangatahi to attend the wānanga are funded by the Council.
For more information, contact becks.new@dcc.govt.nz by Friday, 3 February 2023.
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We hope that students and teachers have been able to spend time in te taiao over the break and are coming back refreshed for a new year.
Otago facilitators are busy planning hui and events to support Enviroschools with the creative thinking, innovation, and environmental action they are involved in to create sustainable schools and communities.
We have individual hui planned for senior secondary students, teachers, and students of all ages.
This year’s focus is on creating a clear sustainability vision and sharing ideas for environmental action. Enviroschools’ aim is to always spark students’ imaginations about sustainable actions they can be doing at school, at home, and in the community.
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New ideas: Teachers try out an Enviroschools activity before handing over to the kids
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Find out about monthly Otago Regional Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing lisa.scott@orc.govt.nz. If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here. |
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