As 2022 draws towards the end, it’s a great time to reflect on what the year has delivered. For those that work in the Taiao space it can be challenging because we are constantly focused on big picture challenges that need to be addressed. But when you stop and reflect as I have done it’s so inspiring to acknowledge what is being achieved. Much of this is thanks to an incredible network of care groups, conservation projects, hapū and agencies investing tireless passion and energy.

The achievement that stands out the most this year is the weaving together of people. People are at the heart of all solutions. So, to everyone that has contributed – much thanks from us. Wishing you and your whānau a restful festive break.

Ngā mihi,

Michelle Elborn

BCA CEO

John McLeod

Colin Hewens

Julian Fitter

It was fantastic to be able to come together as a collective again in late November and host our annual members group event. We were lucky to have an exciting line up of speakers.

We heard from Louise Saunders and her team at the Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust. It’s been a huge year for this team who have now supported multiple new hapū led projects get set up across the Kaimai Mamaku. They also launched a new engagement platform this year which you can check out here.

Catherine Kirby from Eco-Index provided an informative presentation on the innovative work Eco-Index is doing which has a research focus on guiding biodiversity investment in Aotearoa New Zealand. Focus areas include a bold research-backed vision for 100 years of ecological restoration; the development of digital dashboards that link biodiversity investments with their measurable impacts along with the development of improved artificial intelligence tools to assess biodiversity from satellite and aerial imagery. This provided so much food for thought.

We also heard from Alfred Duval, the Chair of the KEEP project about the exciting developments underway to create a kokako corridor between Kaharoa and Ōtanewainuku forests.

A real highlight was hearing from some of our post cadets – Monique NeeNee, Misty Peni, Kirsty Brown and Mark Vevers and the awesome conservation paths they are on.

Thanks to everyone who joined us, it really was an inspirational night.

Here is your chance to show off your photography skills and be in with a chance of winning a double pass for the awesome Rotorua Canopy Tours! 

The pass is for 2 people to take part in a 3-hour forest journey through a network of zip lines, swing bridges, walking trails and tree top platforms, while learning about the Canopy Tours conservation efforts and the rare and remarkable native birds found in the forest.

To win you need to email your photos to claire@bayconservation.nz before the closing date, and please include a return email address and your phone number.

The theme is ‘NZ Native Species or Community Conservation Action’, so your photo needs to feature NZ plants, animals or communities in action to be accepted. Up to three photo entries per person are permitted.

The closing date is 31st January 2023, after which the top 5 photos will go before our impartial panel of judges to pick a final winner.

Please follow this link and make sure you read the rules and full terms and conditions.

Any questions, feel free to ask. We look forward to seeing your pics!

The BCA education programme has ramped up this year with new schools coming on board and new organisations supporting our nature education activities. In total, we ran 30 field trips, 37 in-class lessons with 2300 students over the year. Many of those students were part of our termly BCA programme and it was lovely to get to know them throughout the year and see their curiosity peak during the field trips to the forest, dunes, wetlands and estuaries.

We have hosted 8 schools for field trips to Ōtānewainuku, supporting the Kiwi Trust with educational adventures in the ngāhere. Next year, we will spend more time at Aongatete Forest Project, using the new kohanga education building for school’s visits.

A highlight this year was collaborating with Multicultural Tauranga on two forest workshops. Despite rainy weather for both dates, we managed to get out and explore the forest at the Historic Village and Ōtānewainuku, looking for bugs and interesting plants. The goal of these workshops was to introduce migrant whānau to the NZ native forest. Next year, we are planning further workshops to explore the estuary, rocky shore and wetlands.

At the end of this year, we provided trophies, medals and books for the schools on our programme. Students who showed a particular passion for the environment and biodiversity were chosen by the schools to be awarded the prizes at the end of year award ceremonies.  

We want to extend a special thank you to our funders, Western Bay of Plenty Council and Ballance Agri-Nutrients. We also want to thank those who have partnered with us this year on our education programme; Ōtānewainuku Kiwi Trust, Aongatete Forest Project, Manaaki Taiao, Friends of i’Anson Reserve, Coast Care BOP, House of Science, Predator Free BOP and Whakamarama Pest Library.

Migrant family day

We really want to acknowledge the role funders play in enabling positive outcomes across communities.

Firstly, big thanks go to BayTrust who recently moved the combined funding application BCA undertakes on behalf of member groups into their Strategic Partnership Fund. This application has resulted in a significant investment of $550,470 across seven groups over three years. Three-year funding gives groups real certainty in their operations.

Earlier this year we formed a new agreement with the Acorn Foundation that funds allocated to BCA would be paid forward to our member groups in the Western BOP, through our new SEED discretionary fund. Member groups can now apply for up to $4k through this fund. Four groups have already received funds through our first round. Other donations BCA receives are available to our Rotorua and Eastern BOP member groups through the SEED fund.

TECT this year allocated $175,174.05 across eight groups as the next installment of a two-year funding agreement.

Big thanks to these three funders for recognizing the importance of our environment. Thanks also go to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Ministry for Environment, Department of Conservation, Lottery and councils across the BOP for your support across different projects.

And while we talk funding, a heads up the DOC Community Fund is currently open for applications until the 31st January 2023.

Thanks to funding support from Bay of Plenty Regional Council and some technical support from Department of Conservation, BCA is hosting a summer coordinator role focused on supporting community groups looking after our nesting shore birds. Species like the New Zealand dotterel and oyster catchers unfortunately aren’t the smartest when choosing nest sites and often nest in open areas of the beach. This makes the nest sites very vulnerable to disturbance from human activity, dogs and predators.

The endangered New Zealand dotterel was once widespread and common. Now there are only about 2500 birds left, making dotterels more at risk than some species of kiwi.

The impacts of coastal development on habitat, introduced predators and disturbance during breeding seasons are all factors in the drop in numbers.

We’re really lucky to have Stu Attwood in this role. Stu helped form DotWatch Waihi and is an avid nature lover. The role will help us build an understanding of the outcomes of this season across the western bay from Waihi to Matata and will help us put improved planning protocols in place for future seasons.

We can all help these vulnerable birds by keeping our dogs on a leash and doing our best to not disturb nests.

As we all head into a summer break, why not check out some of the beautiful nature spots here in the Bay of Plenty. Here’s a few useful links to help you plan some adventures:

Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park Walks

Waterfalls

Nature & Wildlife areas

Forest zip lining – Canopy Tours

Mountain biking – Redwoods, Rotorua

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas. And looking forward to further positive action in 2023.