Frank Film07:00, May 28 2021
FRANK FILM
The West Coast s Ōkārito Lagoon is an ancient and pristine wetland, but New Zealand’s largest unmodified wetland is on fragile ground.
Sunrise over the Ōkārito Lagoon. It is an ancient and pristine landscape, stretching 3200 hectares across estuary waters and brackish inlets, home to more than 70 species of birds, many threatened. On a flat-bottomed boat Paula Sheridan and Swade Finch, owners of Ōkārito Eco Boat tours, slide through watery channels shrouded by rainforest beneath the rumpled outline of Aoraki Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. A lone kōtuku gazes through its reflection in search of food, one of a resident population of about eight to 10 that stay here year round.
South Westland predator-free project massive win for biodiversity, economy
12 Mar, 2021 02:00 AM
2 minutes to read
The Country
The $45 million predator-free project announced for South Westland yesterday was a massive win for biodiversity and the local economy, former Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says.
The five-year mountain to sea project, which encompasses the Whataroa, Okāritō and Franz Josef townships, is being supported by $3 million of Jobs for Nature funding in addition to another $9 million from DoC, and $12 million from Predator Free 2050 Ltd.
The 50 jobs expected to be created during the five-year assault on possum, rat and stoat numbers was also excellent news for a district hit harder than many by Covid-19 economic fallout, said Milne, who has taken on the role of chairing Predator Free South Westland.
Press Release – Federated Farmers The $45 million predator-free project announced for South Westland today is a “massive” win for biodiversity and the local economy, Katie Milne says. The former Federated Farmers President, who has taken on the role of chairing Predator Free South Westland, …
The $45 million predator-free project announced for South Westland today is a “massive” win for biodiversity and the local economy, Katie Milne says.
The former Federated Farmers President, who has taken on the role of chairing Predator Free South Westland, said the 50 jobs expected to be created during the five-year assault on possum, rat and stoat numbers was excellent news for a district hit harder than many by Covid-19 economic fallout.
Predator Free South Westland
The area from Ōkārito lagoon to the Southern Alps will be part of the 100,000ha targeted for pest removal. The block was used to research how areas bordered by rivers, mountains and the sea could be protected from reinvasion. Zip used 1080 and traps to remove the pest, then kept them out using natural barriers like rivers and mountains plus lured trail cameras and traps. Allan said the $45m funding over five years would be used to eliminate possums, rats and stoats between the Whataroa and Waiho rivers and the Southern Alps. The funding was made up of $3m from the Jobs for Nature scheme, $24 from the Department of Conservation and $12m from Predator Free 2050 Ltd.
Thursday, 11 March 2021, 4:39 pm
The $45 million predator-free project announced for South
Westland today is a massive win for biodiversity and the
local economy, Katie Milne says.
The former Federated
Farmers President, who has taken on the role of chairing
Predator Free South Westland, said the 50 jobs expected to
be created during the five-year assault on possum, rat and
stoat numbers was excellent news for a district hit harder
than many by Covid-19 economic fallout. We’ll also
be bringing back native birds to their former glory,
protecting habitat for the rowi - New Zealand’s rarest
Kiwi - and the recently rediscovered Ōkārito gecko.