Clarity sought over sea lion conservation
Sam Henderson outlines highlights from the Otago Peninsula Community Board.Tools for tackling weeds
The Otago Peninsula Community Board has granted just over $1700 to Save The Otago Peninsula to buy tools such as loppers, saws and gardening gloves.
Volunteers will use the tools for weed removal and native planting, especially the ''Gorse Force'' team clearing gorse in the Smith's Creek revegetation area.
Sea lion management discussed
The board has written to the Department of Conservation (Doc) seeking more detail on sea lion management on Peninsula beaches.
Although the board was strongly supportive of sea lion conservation, it asked whether a longer-term management strategy existed.
Board chairman Paul Pope said after a low point of one mainland sea lion birth in 1992, there were now roughly 30 each year.
''What I would like to see is like a memorandum of understanding between the [Dunedin City Council] and Doc around who does what and how it is managed.
''Let's plan out the season, what's happening, who's doing what.''
The board hopes to invite a Doc representative, such as coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies, to its next meeting.
The board supports increasing sea lion numbers but wants a strategic approach that helps local organisations work together.
Thanks for doctor's dedication
The board has written to Otago Peninsula Medical Centre GP Dr Peter Cooke, who is retiring after 43 years, to thank him for outstanding service to Peninsula residents.
Funds for museum
The board approved a grant of just over $260 to the Otago Peninsula Museum and Historical Society, which is running an oral history project.
The museum sought funds to buy a digital voice recorder and transcription kit to interview longtime Peninsula residents.
The grant will help the museum preserve local memories for future generations.
Youth scholarships extended
With no initial applicants for the board's annual Youth Scholarship, the deadline has been extended to May 31, 2025.
The $1000 scholarship is earmarked to support a local young person in education, leadership or community service .
The board urges eligible Peninsula youth to apply before the new deadline so the money can go to a worthy recipient.
An extra board meeting is planned in June to consider any late applications.
The board will also decide how to allocate the remaining balance of its project fund at that meeting.
sam.henderson@thestar.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Inside the Taupō farm taming wild Kaimanawa horses
Each year the Department of Conservation (DoC) conducts musters of wild Kaimanawa horses on the sweeping ranges south of Lake Taupō. The size of the herd must be kept at a manageable level to avoid overpopulation. In the upcoming July muster, there are 132 horses who will be culled, with
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
‘Love Shack' For Endangered NZ Falcons – NZ Raptor Trust Secures Rare Breeding Permit
NZ Raptor Trust Chair, Jenni Fraser sums it up nicely We have the permit, we have the birds (well nearly Stella and Jet are still in Blenheim), all we need now is a completed facility. 18th June 2025 DOC has issued to the New Zealand Raptor Trust a Permanent Captive Holding for Species Management permit to enable them to develop a Falcon captive breeding programme, only the third ever in Aotearoa. The Kārearea is New Zealand's only falcon and our most endangered bird of prey. The NZ Raptor Trust, based in Timaru, has been working with DOC over the past two years to secure this exclusive privilege – establishing a captive breeding programme for Kārearea, our native Falcon. The programme gained momentum with the arrival of an ideal female falcon, Stella. Found injured in South Canterbury, Stella was assessed by the NZ Raptor Trust and spent weeks in intensive care. While she's made a remarkable recovery, ongoing issues – including a droopy wing affecting her ability to fly and a slight head tilt from the trauma – means she can't be released back into the wild. She is now living at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim, where she has partnered up with Jet. With any luck, the upcoming breeding season (October to March) will bring the pitter-patter of tiny talons. Focus has now turned to creating a facility and home for Stella and Jet to continue their significant and valuable contribution to the NZ Kārearea population. NZ Raptor Trust Chair, Jenni Fraser sums it up nicely 'We have the permit, we have the birds (well nearly Stella and Jet are still in Blenheim), all we need now is a completed facility.' Containers are already on site; these will provide the main frame and structure of the breeding facility, the next stage is to convert these into the perfect home and breeding 'love shack'. The trust is now looking for sponsorship and funding for this exciting next step in their work with birds of prey from individuals, groups, clubs, whanau and businesses. You can do via the give a little page the QR code or the donations page at Captive breeding programmes see birds that are not suitable for release, such as Stella and are successfully paired and breed chicks improving the NZ Falcon population and working to bring them back from the brink of extinction. The NZ Raptor Trust was established in 2016 and provides and cares for sick, injured and orphaned raptors until they are fit for release back to their natural habitat. We aim to educate and inspire current and future generations, raising awareness and boosting populations of our vulnerable birds of prey. Alongside this crucial rehabilitation work for owls, hawks and falcons the Trust has a cohort of long-term residents of hawks and owls that are trained for interaction with people and you can book an experience session. Joining the two existing Captive Breeding programmes based at Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim and Wingspan in Rotorua. There is a great collaborative spirit across the three organisations. The New Zealand Raptor Trust is based in Timaru, South Canterbury and for the past eight years the trust has been licensed to hold all New Zealand Raptors for treatment, rehabilitation and release. This next stage is an important step forward in their journey.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
‘Love Shack' For Endangered NZ Falcons - NZ Raptor Trust Secures Rare Breeding Permit
18th June 2025 DOC has issued to the New Zealand Raptor Trust a Permanent Captive Holding for Species Management permit to enable them to develop a Falcon captive breeding programme, only the third ever in Aotearoa. The Kārearea is New Zealand's only falcon and our most endangered bird of prey. The NZ Raptor Trust, based in Timaru, has been working with DOC over the past two years to secure this exclusive privilege - establishing a captive breeding programme for Kārearea, our native Falcon. The programme gained momentum with the arrival of an ideal female falcon, Stella. Found injured in South Canterbury, Stella was assessed by the NZ Raptor Trust and spent weeks in intensive care. While she's made a remarkable recovery, ongoing issues – including a droopy wing affecting her ability to fly and a slight head tilt from the trauma – means she can't be released back into the wild. She is now living at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim, where she has partnered up with Jet. With any luck, the upcoming breeding season (October to March) will bring the pitter-patter of tiny talons. Focus has now turned to creating a facility and home for Stella and Jet to continue their significant and valuable contribution to the NZ Kārearea population. NZ Raptor Trust Chair, Jenni Fraser sums it up nicely 'We have the permit, we have the birds (well nearly Stella and Jet are still in Blenheim), all we need now is a completed facility.' Containers are already on site; these will provide the main frame and structure of the breeding facility, the next stage is to convert these into the perfect home and breeding 'love shack'. The trust is now looking for sponsorship and funding for this exciting next step in their work with birds of prey from individuals, groups, clubs, whanau and businesses. You can do via the give a little page the QR code or the donations page at Captive breeding programmes see birds that are not suitable for release, such as Stella and are successfully paired and breed chicks improving the NZ Falcon population and working to bring them back from the brink of extinction. The NZ Raptor Trust was established in 2016 and provides and cares for sick, injured and orphaned raptors until they are fit for release back to their natural habitat. We aim to educate and inspire current and future generations, raising awareness and boosting populations of our vulnerable birds of prey. Alongside this crucial rehabilitation work for owls, hawks and falcons the Trust has a cohort of long-term residents of hawks and owls that are trained for interaction with people and you can book an experience session. Joining the two existing Captive Breeding programmes based at Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim and Wingspan in Rotorua. There is a great collaborative spirit across the three organisations. The New Zealand Raptor Trust is based in Timaru, South Canterbury and for the past eight years the trust has been licensed to hold all New Zealand Raptors for treatment, rehabilitation and release. This next stage is an important step forward in their journey.
