In this issue: Unsung environmental heroes and garden paths worth exploring.
Chairman's chat
Welcome to our new regional newsletter
David MacLeod
Kia ora tātou katoa, greetings to you all. Today we’re launching Talking Taranaki, which will appear online and in community newspapers every couple of months.
It’s designed to let you see the many ways in which the Council and community are working together to support livelihoods, improve lifestyles and take Taranaki forward.
As Chair of the Council, I get a good overview of the progress being made and where more effort is needed. I’ll be sharing these insights with you in Talking Taranaki.
And I can think of no better way to start than with our new video, Taranaki Taku Tūranga - Our Place. It’s already generated a lot of interest online, so sit back and enjoy!
David MacLeod
Chair, Taranaki Regional Council
Taranaki Taku Tūranga - Our Place
Taking Taranaki forward
Environmental champions - but who knew?
Hāwera Christian School’s ‘Habitat Heroes’ were among this year’s Environmental Awards winners.
The Council has made 16 Environmental Awards for 2017 and, as always, there was a real buzz at the presentation ceremony on 9 November.
The overwhelming feedback each time is that so many people aren’t aware of the fantastic work taking place all over the region to care for and improve the environment. The awards are a great way to showcase and recognise these efforts.
Presenting the awards, Council Chair David MacLeod praised the commitment and determination of the award winners, saying it explains why Taranaki is at the forefront in environmental achievement in so many ways. “If there was a Ranfurly Shield for good work in the environment, we’d have that in our trophy cabinet too,” he says.
The awards were made in five sponsored categories, and bring the total to 265 since they were started in the 1990s. This year’s awards went to a wide variety of individuals and organisations including farmers, schools, businesses large and small, community groups and trusts, and a marae-focused waste minimisation campaign.
“Looking at this year’s winners, we can be assured that the region’s in good heart, more than ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead,” says Mr MacLeod.
Improving lifestyles
Garden paths you'll want to explore
The Council’s three public gardens – Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens – are gearing up for summer after hosting bumper crowds during the recent Powerco Taranaki Garden Spectacular.
Pukeiti’s been the scene of much excitement since the opening of the new Rainforest Centre but gardeners at all three properties busied themselves with improvement projects over winter, and the results are now evident.
“Tūpare, Pukeiti and Hollard Gardens are all looking stunning going into the summer season,” says the Council’s Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine. “Tūpare’s immaculate landscaping has been fine-tuned to good effect, and the old driveway entrance to Hollard Gardens has been replaced with an attractive path that meanders through colourful plantings to the Hollard Centre. It’s a big enhancement to the visitor experience.”
The three gardens are open all day, every day, and a full summer schedule of free public events is planned at them all, including music, garden fairs, family fun days and home gardening workshops. Visitors at any time can enjoy the free gas barbecues at Tūpare and Hollard Gardens, the quirky playground at Hollards, and Pukeiti’s Explorer Treehouse Trail especially designed for kids.
Visitors make their way along a new path to the Hollard Centre.
Around & about the region
Eely good news ...
New underwater footage by one of the Council’s Environment Officers offers a rare glimpse of the abundant life and creatures in a key native ecosystem in north Taranaki.
Dozens of regionally-distinctive longfin eels (tuna) and schools of juvenile whitebait (inanga) can be seen in the Oakura stream, where the private landowner is working with the Council to enhance indigenous biodiversity.
All about Key Native Ecosystems
Looks great – and we can do even better
The latest trends from more than 20 years of monitoring the ecological health and physical and chemical state of our rivers and streams show most measures are improving or not changing significantly. And in-stream life – the primary indicator of water quality – is again the best since measurements began, according to the Council's 2017 waterway report card, published in October. “We’re firmly focused on working with the community to achieve further improvements,” says the Council Chair, David MacLeod.
Progress and surplus
The Taranaki Regional Council finished its latest financial year well within budget and with pleasing results in key environmental programmes, Chair David MacLeod says.
TRC reports progress and surplus