Awards Galore!
Following the recent NRC award for Environmental Action in the Community (See earlier news item), the Trust has received two additional awards this year:
On July 2nd, the Trust’s efforts were publicly recognized yet again, in the form of two awards at the annual Trapper of The Year (TOTY) Awards Dinner hosted by Piroa Brynderwyn Landcare. This year’s event was held in the Coronation Hall in Waipu and attended by over 100 people engaged in pest and weed control in the district. The awards were presented by NRC Councillor Rick Stolwerk.
2022 Award #2: Weed Warriors of the Year
The Trust was awarded Weed Warriors of The Year (WWOTY)
Dawn Morrison receiving the WWOTY award on behalf og the Trust - presented by NRC Councillor Rick Stolwerk, Coastal South Constituency
This was the second time the Trust has won the WWOTY award, having been awarded the inaugural award in 2020.
The evidence of the Trust’s work in weed control is clearly seen in dramatic changes in the wetlands of the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve, the roadside plantings on Cove Road between Hector Lang Drive and The Crescent, and more recently at the start of the Waipu Coastal Walkway opposite Waterman Drive.
The Trust is also working with neighbouring properties in the Langs Beach Estate to eradicate significant swathes of invasive weeds along the southern boundary of the reserve, with a community planting day undertaken last Queens Birthday Weekend.
A further weed control initiative is underway to deal with weeds along the Waipu Coastal Trail, in conjunction with our programme of track improvements.
2022 Award # 3: Trapper of the Year
A second honour for the Trust that night was when the titular award - Trapper of The Year - was awarded to Kathryn Clark, the second member of the Trust to have received this award - Simon Cox having received it in 2020.
Kathryn Clark shares some highlights after receiving this year’s TOTY award -
To Kathryn’s right is Graeme Giles, leader the Waipu Kiwi, who oversee predator control activities in the area.
The award this year recognizes that Kathryn had single-handedly dispatched over 500 predators from the 15 hectares of the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve over the past 18 months.
Kathryn recounted some amusing highlights, but also acknowledged the hard work of the many groups in the Piroa Brynderwyn area who deploy and manage traps and bait stations in the bush reserves, protecting native flora and fauna, contributing to the nation’s Predator Free 2050 goals, and more excitedly, to the recently heard calls of the korimako (bell bird) in the immediate area!
Listen to the audio file below to get a preview of the new sound you can expect to experience as more of these beautiful birds appear back on the mainland thanks to the predator control activities being undertaken in our area.
The recent string of awards is indicative of the growing recognition and respect for the Trust and the efforts of its volunteers in track development and maintenance and habitat restoration in the Langs Beach Area.
The Trust acknowledges the ongoing support and guidance it receives from Weed Action and Waipu Kiwi divisions of Piroa Brynderwyn Landcare, the Bio-Diversity team of NRC, and Whangarei District Council’s Parks & Reserves department.
