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Kia ora and welcome!
In this issue we’re all about wildings and it’s not a fan club, get your nominations in before they close, and there’s a new way to report pests.
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Rates increase less than forecast
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Council has adopted Annual Plan 2025–26, which will see ORC rates increase 5.5% overall in the year ahead — a significant drop from the 13.8% originally forecast in the Long-Term Plan.
The reduction was achieved by cutting some planned public transport upgrades, reprioritising environmental implementation funding, reduced inflation costs and a focus on finding efficiencies in the work programme.
Also benefiting ratepayers, $2 million of Council reserves will be used to pay for the first year of a new environmental fund investing in large, community-led initiatives that deliver enduring environmental outcomes and value for money.
The overall rates increase for 2025/26 is 5.5%, but the rates impact for individual properties is different and can be influenced by a range of things, including location and the services provided.
Less than half of ORC’s funding comes from rates — the rest is from fees and charges, grants, reserves, dividends from Port Otago (increased by an extra $2 million, which helps to offset costs that would otherwise need to be paid by rates) and investment income.
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L is for … Lamina minor, an incy wincy pūngāwerewere (spider).
Classified as At Risk — Naturally Uncommon, these tiny translucent, green-skinned spiders are shrub-dwellers in native bush. Endemic to Otago, they are often tricky to see, being just 3 mm long and blending into the green leafy backgrounds of trees like horopito.
The genus Lamina was first described by Dr Raymond Forster in 1970, and some of the original specimens collected by Forster are still in the Otago Museum collection.
Given their tiny size and skills at blending in, there is still a lot to learn about these wee green beauties.
Spidey senses atingle? Check out the latest resource on our website, dedicated to our eight-legged friends: Spiders of Otago.
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Volunteers of all ages helped a recent Rotary planting project
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The Rotary Club of Oamaru, which celebrated its centenary in April, has dedicated itself over the past 100 years to improving life in North Otago, from funding playground upgrades to enhancing historic landmarks, supporting youth education, and contributing to local health facilities. One of its signature community endeavours is the Rotary Centennial Glen project, located below Observatory Village on Eden Street.
In April, a group of approximately 50 volunteers — including Rotary members — planted around 100 native plants at the Centennial Glen, beginning the transformation of this space into a vibrant public reserve. The site, enhanced with walking tracks overlooking Oamaru Harbour, now offers Observatory Village residents and the wider community a tranquil, accessible greenway for recreation or reflective moments.
A grant from the Otago Regional Council’s ECO Fund supports the continued planting work, alongside funding from Rotary and Observatory Village Charitable Trust and in-kind contributions from Ambler Contracting, K South, Ireland Signs, and Apex Engineering.
Plans are already under way for the remaining planting in August, further expanding this leafy urban refuge. Well done to all involved!
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Why are wilding conifers a pest?
If left uncontrolled, wilding conifers can have a huge impact on the environment. They can quickly develop into dense forests, with the potential to permanently alter ecosystems and landscapes, reduce water yields and land productivity, and limit future land use options.
Otago’s iconic landscapes are vulnerable to the invasion of wilding conifers, particularly the high country and tussock grasslands — environments that tend to have short plants and sparse vegetation, as well as being lightly grazed.
Māori cultural values can also be impacted through physical changes to culturally important landscapes, landforms, and sites; impacts on mahika kai; and potential impacts on the mauri of wetlands and waterways.
How do they spread?
Wilding conifers establish through natural seed spread, either from mature wilding conifers or from planted conifers. Seeds are mainly spread by wind but can also be moved by stock, vehicles, and machinery.
Although most conifer seeds will fall within a few hundred metres of the parent tree, the seeds of some species can be blown very large distances in high wind. Consequently, wilding conifer infestation is often characterised by scattered trees over large distances, as well as more dense growth close to the parent tree(s).
Early detection and control are important, as control costs escalate exponentially as infestations become established.
What should I do?
Preventing the spread of wilding conifers is one of the most important actions landowners and occupiers can take to protect Otago’s unique landscapes, primary industry, tourism, and the economy from the impact of wilding conifers.
However, achieving regional and national objectives for wilding conifers will require landowners and occupiers, community groups, industry, researchers, and local and central government to work together. And although land occupiers are responsible for controlling wilding conifers on their land, there is a role for all New Zealanders to be aware of this expanding issue and take action.
Community groups have been established with a focus on the control of wilding conifers so that you can get in touch and lend a hand(saw):
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Some of our Biosecurity team and catchment advisors with the goodies that could be yours!
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We’ve got a cool giveaway thanks to our friends at the national wilding conifer control programme!
They’ve given us some caps, bandanas and drink bottles to give away. Simply email us a photo of yourself dealing to a wilding conifer in Otago, and you’ll go in the draw for some sweet wilding warrior merch to keep you cool while you’re saving the region from infestation.
Send your pics to onstream@orc.govt.nz by Friday, 1 August, to be in the draw. Winners will be contacted by email. Ts and Cs apply.
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Wilding conifers, Central Otago
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The Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group is a community group and charitable trust focused on protecting Central Otago from the damaging effects of our highest risk weed — wilding conifers (pines).
What’s the problem?
Left unchecked, 70% of Central Otago is susceptible to wilding conifer cover in just a few decades. That’s about 700,000 hectares lost forever. The cost to control infestations can increase by 30% each year, and the tipping point is only a few years of inaction away.
Increasing invasion of wilding pines means:
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We lose an enormous amount of native biodiversity.
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Industry and productive lands are significantly impacted. Wilding pines are thirsty and can reduce water flow to rivers and lakes by 30-81%!
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Wildfire danger becomes extreme.
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Central Otago’s iconic landscape will be comprehensively changed — no more ‘World of Difference’ … just a world of conifers.
But all trees are good, right?
It is true that they do sequester carbon. But if we rely on pines to do this, then we need to be aware and prepared for the consequences. Once past the tipping point, we will be powerless and forced to watch the slow degradation.
Bang for buck
A study over 50 years found that extending investment in wilding conifer control in Otago delivers a benefit–cost ratio of 93:1 — meaning every $1 spent returns $93 in value. The group focuses on proactive prevention, building awareness of what we stand to lose and enabling people to mitigate infestations before they get financially crippling.
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Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group volunteers at the Earnscleugh Tailings Conservation Area.
In 2024 almost the entire 66-hectare block was removed of small wilding pines over three evening events, triggering a commitment from the Department of Conservation to remove the remaining mature seed source wildings.
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The trust assists landowners/managers by helping them create a strategy and choose a control method, lending tools, planning volunteer days and providing National Wilding Conifer Control Programme funding assistance and follow up monitoring and support.
Get involved! Head to centralwildingconifers.co.nz
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What are wilding pines?
Any species of pine tree or conifer that is self-seeding and spreading. Common species include:
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Have you seen a rook? What about Mediterranean fanworm?
Our new online ‘report pests’ form is a quick way to alert our Biosecurity team to priority pests or any potential biosecurity threats in Otago.
Our region is home to many threatened and taoka species. We can help to protect these and the region’s wider indigenous biodiversity if we all work together, especially if biosecurity staff have timely information on pest sightings and exact locations.
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Mediterranean fanworm
PHOTO: NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL
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The form can be found on the Report pests page of the ORC website and collects pest sighting details, precise location data, and other information for the team to investigate.
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A 3D-printed map of Ōtepoti Dunedin
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Our advanced 3D printer is more than just a gadget — it’s a community engagement champion!
We start by using digital elevation, river, and other environmental data to craft a virtual 3D model, which is then converted into a blueprint for the printer. Using environmentally friendly, biodegradable material, each model comes to life in 10–20 hours, depending on its complexity and size. These models make conversations about our environment engaging and accessible, sparking lively debates on topography, land use, natural hazards, and water science.
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Did you know that we measure air pollutants at many sites across Otago to track air quality trends, investigate sources of pollution and measure air quality against national standards and guidelines?
The latest addition to our air monitoring network, pictured above, was installed in Frankton, Queenstown, earlier this year. Data from this new site will soon be available along with data from our other air monitoring stations currently on the LAWA website.
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Do you have what it takes? Maybe you know someone who would make a great advocate for your community?
Nomination forms and everything you need to know about the role of a councillor are on our ‘Do you want to stand?’ page.
You can see who’s been nominated here.
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Assessment shows little gravel build-up in Clutha River/Mata-Au
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The rail bridge across the Clutha River/Mata-Au at Balclutha, with Balclutha Bridge (SH1) in the distance
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An independent assessment of the Clutha River/Mata-Au riverbed at Balclutha has found that while features of the river have changed in recent years, there is no evidence of rising bed levels or gravel build-up — changes that would cause an increased risk of flooding.
We commissioned NIWA (now Earth Sciences New Zealand) to undertake an assessment of the river morphology — the shape of the river channel and how it has changed through time. The report analysed cross section profiles of the river from 1994 to 2024, as well as other survey information dating back to 1878. As well as giving assurance about the state of the Clutha River/Mata-Au at Balclutha, this assessment will also be used by ORC as information for our flood protection work.
Did you know?
Changes in the Clutha River/Mata-Au riverbed at Balclutha and the wider Clutha Delta area are regularly monitored by ORC. If gravel did build up and present a flood hazard, gravel removal would need to be considered carefully, as removing gravel starves locations downstream, which can cause erosion, including at the coastline, and may affect flood protection infrastructure such as floodbanks.
The assessment and a presentation explaining the analysis can be found here.
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Enviroschools tīma guide reflection
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Term 2 has been busy for the Ōtākou Enviroschools tīma, as we have been offering professional development for the teachers who help lead the programme within their kura (school).
2025 has brought about change within the Enviroschools reflection process, known as a Holistic Reflection. Formally a stage-based approach with a set of criteria for schools to meet their Bronze, Silver, or Green-Gold stage, now schools will simply have opportunities to showcase their mahi on sustainable practices, celebrate their achievements, and identify their next steps as a school.
The Central Otago / Queenstown Lakes tīma, consisting of Lucy, Nicky and Damian, began their key teacher hui by hosting at Goldfields Primary School. It is always a pleasure to hear kaiako (teachers) share the student-led sustainable practices within their kura. The team guided key kaiako through the simplified reflection process before kaiako were guided through one of the many reflection tasks from the Enviroschools kit. In true Enviroschools fashion, the day was broken up with activities, kai and cuppas.
Connection is important to the widespread Ōtākou team, so our ki uta ki tai | mountains to the sea template supports schools to visualise this journey in Otago-specific wording that can be used in ways unique to them. From raindrops in the clouds above our mountains to finding our way to the ocean — it represents the journey that schools will undertake during reflection in a cycle. These hui wouldn’t be what they are without the support of local experts, who generously offer their time to support the professional development of teachers as well as our Enviroschools facilitators.
For more information, contact the Enviroschools team at enviroschools@orc.govt.nz.
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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 onstream@orc.govt.nz
If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here.
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