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Kia ora and welcome to our July issue!
Can you believe we are over halfway through the year! In this issue, we’ve got a vascular spectacular, a brand-new website and an air plan for Otago. Talk about a breath of fresh air!
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While Otago’s air quality has improved over the last 20 years, ORC’s science shows a need to do more. Some things are working well, but others could do with a new perspective.
Air quality monitoring and research shows that the main culprit for air pollution in Otago is home heating from solid fuel burners. Other recognised pollution sources are outdoor burning, vehicle and industrial emissions, dust, odour and agricultural spraying.
We have identified potential approaches to manage air quality and would like to hear what you think.
Staff are visiting communities throughout Otago in late July and August. Come along to one of our in-person drop-in events or attend an online session and let us know your thoughts on these issues and approaches.
There is also an online form for you to give feedback as well as additional details about your current home heating and burning habits at orc.govt.nz/freshair
Get involved, because we all want clean air — for us and the generations after.
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LOCATIONS, TIMES AND VENUES
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ŌAMARU
Thursday, 1 August
12–2pm & 4–6.30pm
Ōamaru Opera House, 94 Thames Street
ONLINE
Monday, 5 August
12.30–1.30pm & 7–8pm
(see orc.govt.nz/freshair for links)
BALCLUTHA
Tuesday, 13 August
12–2pm
Cross Recreation Centre, 18 Glasgow Street
MILTON
Tuesday, 13 August
4–7pm
Tokomairiro Community Hub,
Cnr Union and Shakespeare Streets
RANFURLY
Wednesday, 14 August
4–7pm
Maniototo Golf Club, 72 Tyrone Street
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ARROWTOWN
Tuesday, 20 August
1–3pm & 4–6pm
Arrowtown Community Centre, Jack Reid Park, 12 Centennial Avenue
WĀNAKA
Tuesday, 20 August
12–2pm & 4–7pm
Wānaka Recreation Centre, 41 Sir Tim Wallis Drive
ALEXANDRA
Wednesday, 21 August
12–2pm & 4–7pm
Alexandra Community Centre, 15 Skird Street
CROMWELL
Wednesday, 21 August
12.30–2.30pm & 4–7pm
Cromwell and Districts Presbyterian Church, 10 Elspeth Street
ROXBURGH
Thursday, 22 August
12–3pm
Roxburgh Service Centre, 120 Scotland Street
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Feedback closes 26 August.
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Get the dirt on Otago’s soil
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The new factsheets developed by Dr Button in collaboration with internal and external scientists and led by feedback from an industry body and an Otago catchment group.
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Not all soils are the same.
Formation of soil is determined by climate, organisms, land features, time, and the geological parent material. With Otago’s diverse geology, climates and landscapes, a range of very different soils have formed.
Of the 15 New Zealand Soil Classification soil orders that exist nationally, ten are found in Otago, with eight of these making up 99% of soils in the region.
If you like getting your hands dirty, you’ll be pleased to hear ORC Land and Soil Scientist Dr Erik Button has recently developed a series of fact sheets highlighting what makes each soil different, where in Otago they can be found, their environmental vulnerabilities and management considerations for productive and sustainable land management — perfect for land managers or anyone wanting to better understand Otago's natural resources.
Learn more about what you’re farming or walking on at orc.govt.nz/otagosoil
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Profiles of the eight soil orders that make up 99% of Otago’s soils, from most to least common: Brown, Pallic, Semiarid, Podzol, Recent, Raw, Gley and Melanic soil.
Photos courtesy of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research 2023.
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Why is boneseed a pest?
A strong-growing plant that will push out other native plants, boneseed survives dry, infertile soils and can reduce or prevent public access to coastal and beach areas. Boneseed is highly flammable and will come back strong after fire. One plant can produce up to 50,000 seeds in one year!
Boneseed can grow up to three metres tall with green, toothed leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers.
If you think you’ve spotted boneseed on your property, visit our Pest Hub for information on how to manage this pest plant: www.orc.govt.nz/boneseed
If you need help identifying one of the plant pests on our Pest Hub, email biosecurity@orc.govt.nz with a few clear photos of the plant.
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Close-up shots of boneseed flowers and plant
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Waitaki facilitator Chantal points to the silver reflection sticker at Weston School
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Weston School near Ōamaru held their holistic reflection for Enviroschools and reflected at silver last year — an incredible achievement for the school.
The school celebrated with a community event last month, bringing together many from the community who had supported their environmental journey. Our Waitaki Enviroschools Facilitator, Chantal Barnes, and Regional Coordinator Lead, Leisa de Klerk, attended the rainy celebration with hangi and kapa haka performances included.
Leisa said, “We look forward to seeing more great work from Weston School this year!”
Enviroschools Holistic Reflection is a process Enviroschools undertake when they pause to consider the past, present and future of their journey. It is a process of open enquiry, which includes celebration of strengths and honesty about weaker areas as we explore opportunities for growth. It is a collaborative process of discussion, reflection and future planning based on contributions from a diverse range of people.
Want to get in touch? Contact Leisa.deKlerk@orc.govt.nz
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V is for ... vascular
Vascular plants have a system of tubes which connect all parts of the plant — roots, shoots, and leaves — to transport water and nutrients from one part of the plant to another, much like the circulatory system in humans.
The main groups of vascular plants are flowering plants, conifers, ferns, and club mosses.
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Craspedia argentea
Photo: John Barkla
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For the first time, we have led an assessment of the threat status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago. There were 1,242 plant species identified, making Otago one of New Zealand’s most botanically diverse regions.
There are some key findings:
• 227 species are regionally “threatened"
• 275 are regionally “at risk"
• At least 36 species are only found in Otago
Learn more about the Regional Threat Assessment report for vascular plants in Otago.
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Helichrysum simpsonii subsp. tumidum
Photo: John Barkla
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We are proposing changes to councillor numbers for Dunstan and Dunedin wards due to the fact that the population of the Dunstan ward has dramatically increased in the past few years.
Read all about these proposed changes and make a submission in just two clicks right here.
Feedback closes 11 August.
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This month we’re loving Aroha Kaikorai Valley (AKV), a new charity cleaning up the Kaikorai Stream and its surroundings — and celebrating a year since they formed by catching their 400th predator! Such a big impact in such a short amount of time.
As the trap installations increase, so do catch numbers, and they just caught their 100th possum. When you think that a possum eats roughly 300 grams of plant life per night, and AKV have removed 100 possums, that means allowing an extra 10.9 tonnes of vegetation to grow over a year. Throughout July, AKV has been showcasing the documentary series Fight for the Wild, playing one episode each Thursday evening.
Watching this beautiful series on the big screen has been a great way to grow a community of volunteers while navigating the dark and cold of winter. Keen to get involved? Reach out: www.akv.nz
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Movie night at AKV headquarters on Kaikorai Valley Road in Dunedin
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Say kia ora to our new website!
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We’ve launched an improved website that will make it easier for you to find information and services faster, no matter what device you use.
Great new features include a brand-new A-to-Z search function and dedicated Orbus public transport pages.
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Live in North Otago? Have you seen nassella tussock?
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Nassella tussock.
Photo: Environment Canterbury
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Nassella tussock is a pest plant which displaces other grasses, leaving pasture unpalatable to stock — dense infestations can cover hectares of productive land.
What does it look like?
It is a tufted tussock grass with a swollen stem. Its fine, tightly rolled, light green or yellowish-green leaves feel needle-like and very tough. It flowers with purple-pink flowers during the November-December period. Each mature plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds each year. Roots are deep, matted and fibre-like. It can be hard to tell the difference between nassella tussock and other tussocks, but a good way to test the difference is by running your fingers down the leaves — if the texture is rough, it’s probably nassella tussock.
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Flower/seed heads are drooping and purplish,occurring mid-spring to mid-summer
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Stem bases are swollen, hard, and look like small shallots
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Duntroon, Kurow and Otematata have been the locations of several new and significant nassella infestations recently, and with infestations of nassella tussock on the rise in North Otago, ORC’s biosecurity team are growing concerned that there could be a significant outbreak. Joining forces with Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), ORC is appealing to landowners, stock agents and those in the agricultural industry to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for signs of nassella on rural properties.
How did it get here?
In the late 1970s, hay was brought into the Duntroon area during a drought and feed shortage. One of the properties that received this hay now has a significant nassella tussock infestation, which is being controlled by the landowner with support from Environment Canterbury. If you know more about the introduction of this hay, other stock feed or machinery movements originating from North Canterbury, Marlborough, or the North Island from the 1970s to now, this information would be helpful for us.
There are currently approximately 54 sites and properties where nassella is known to occur in South Canterbury/North Otago, with dense infestations covering 35 hectares of productive land in some instances.
ORC’s Manager Environmental Implementation, Libby Caldwell, says a successful search and surveillance programme relies on local information.
“North Otago covers a vast amount of land, and we really need the public’s help with this one. Information from the community will help us design a targeted surveillance programme for nassella tussock and give us more pathways to follow up on.”
“We are urging the local community to report anything that looks unusual or out of place.”
Book your nassella tussock contractor early!
If you are planning on using a contractor to remove plants this season, we recommend booking them early to avoid potential delays. Timing is important — all control work needs to be completed before the plants seed and spread in spring.
If you have seen nassella tussock anywhere in the region, email biosecurity@orc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 082.
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‘Te Mātāpuna | The Source’ July edition
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The July edition of our newsletter ‘Te Mātāpuna | The Source’ is out!
Catch up on more of the latest ORC news and stories. Find out what a natural hazards analyst does, discover how new buoys are helping to keep our coastal waters safe, and more!
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Find out about upcoming community events and 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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