October 2021 News

Contents:
Wilding Pine eradication: Your chance to make a difference
Covid measures
Special General Meeting, 4 November 2021
Trip Planning Meetings
Vic Bullock
Rissington Bridge Closure
Wild Ruahine Calendar

Wilding Pine eradication: Your chance to make a difference

At long last, everyone who loves the Kawekas has been given the official go-ahead to start tackling the scary menace of wilding pines. An agreement has been reached between DoC and the Hawke’s Bay Wilding Pines Community Group, of which our club is a member, to take action.

Now we need your personal support.

The first step will be to focus on a 98ha block surrounding The Lakes at Kuripaponga.

Graham Leech at Afoot, Giles Pearson and Maree Langford have led this initiative, with support from DoC personnel.

The plan is to make the first impact at The Lakes, and then move on to other areas. Graham Leech says: ‘We hope to have a bit of fun too – after all, if the day involves a yarn or two, a dip in the lake and a bit of fishing as well, then that’s great – if we all only got one pine each day we went up there, it would be progress!’

The kick-off is a “train the trainers” day with Alan Lee from DoC. This is planned for Tuesday 9 November.

Graham says: ’We are hoping to establish a group of about ten who can join and lead operations on volunteer days over the next year or so to clear this area completely of wilding pines. We aren’t starting from scratch, with DoC having commenced some operations in this area already.’

For the first outing, Pan Pac Forest is allowing access through the old Lakes Road off the Napier/Taihape road – this will park the pioneer team beside the lake. It’s proposed that everyone meets at about 9am at the turn-off (next right after the sign-posted access to The Lakes and Mackintosh car parks) and for the initial mission to end at about 3pm.

DoC says it will supply some tools but if you have your own equipment, please bring small pruning saws, secateurs, a pouch or a bum bag. If you own a GPS, bring that as well. DoC staff can help you to use it to mark larger problem trees. DoC will also supply herbicide gel and will have other supplies onboard. DoC staff will also have PLBs, first aid kits and radios. They will provide a briefing before we start.

For every member of the team of five million, there are tens of thousands, of not millions, of wilding pine seeds waiting to take over our wilderness. It could take 200 years to finally eradicate this menace, but we have to make a start somewhere. And why not here in our own backyard?

A sheet has been created on the Tramp Registration site. More details about the event can be seen there.

Other info about this project is available at

www.afoot.co.nz/conservation

The reference to consent forms there does not apply to the first mission.

Covid measures
On trips, mask-wearing in the van must be compulsory for the time being.  Some members will struggle with this if they are prone to motion sickness sitting in the van on winding roads; wearing a mask may exacerbate the nauseous feeling.

They can of course make their own arrangements for transport in a private car to the start of the day’s tramp, where you are free to choose not to wear a mask.

Depending on numbers registered for the day’s tramp, it may become uneconomical to take the van.  Eight people or less is uneconomical. If this situation arises, we will need to use private vehicles for everyone.

So, if you need or want to take your own vehicle to avoid mask-wearing, please indicate that on the registration spreadsheet at the time you book. Also, if you usually are a van user but have a car you are happy to use if numbers don’t add up, please indicate that. This will give the tramp organiser the information he or she needs to manage transport for us all.

Meetings will require appropriate distancing and the wearing of masks. It is hoped all members will be double-vaccinated by 2022.

Attached is an information sheet on Covid and the pfizer vaccine that Colin Jones (Dr) supplied.pfizer vaccine b_

Special General Meeting, 4 November 2021
At the committee meeting on 14 October, the committee decided to recommend to members that the van fee be increased to cover increased costs. At the next club meeting on Thursday 4 November, there will be a brief Special General Meeting before the main meeting.
The following motion will be put to the members: It is proposed that the base fee per person for the van be increased to $25 (and where there are additional costs such as excess kilometres, a higher fee could be set). Please note that on these trips, the private car fee shall be the same as the van fee.

Please attend the club meeting on 4 November and have your vote on this motion.

Trip Planning Meeting Dates: To be held at Alison’s house on Monday 15 November (for January 2022 to June 2022).
Wednesday Tramps – at 1pm
Saturday and Weekend Tramps – at 7pm
Alison’s address is 14 Hyatt Grove.
Members are welcome to attend. If you cannot attend, you can forward your ideas to a committee member.

Vic Bullock. At the club meeting on 7 October, we celebrated the 90th birthday of Vic Bullock. He received his ‘Happy Birthday’ and cake with candles. Vic is our go-to plant expert.

Vic with Dorothy on the Longview Hut track

Rissington Bridge closure
The Hastings District Council is scheduling an upgrade project for the Rissington Bridge. This may impact public access to the Kaweka Forest Park via Puketitiri Road. The bridge will be closed during the proposed times below:

1. During school holidays (2-17 October): 8.30am-4.30pm
2. During school (19 October-13 November): 9.15am-2.45pm.

We are advised by Randall Goldfinch that this applies to the working week; the bridge will be open on weekends.

There will be signs going up at the bridge and at intersections next week.
An alternative route if you get caught out is via Dartmoor/Waihau Roads.

“Wild Ruahine” calendars are available again for 2022.
Produced by volunteer Anthony Behrens on behalf of the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust, this is a limited edition fund-raiser for the trust. Photos are all taken in the Ruahines and donated by local photographers, most of whom are trap line volunteers too. Proceeds will go towards the costs of maintaining the volunteer-run trapping network in the Ruahines. If you would like to support the trust, calendars can be purchased by emailing jwilson@inspire.net.nz. Cost is $20 + p&p. Cash sales are available from Bivouac Palmerston North. Or, Julia Mackie will have four calendars for sale at the 4th November club meeting.