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Ali Kennedy is placing protectors
around vulnerable trees
to keep hungry rabbits away.
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There’s some frustration in this area! We see sediment from harvesting as one of the key issues for river health, but we are not making a lot of progress on getting any change. The ideal would be for replanting to be in mixed species or native trees – but there are issues such as Ngati Koata (the new owners of a lot of the forest in the valley) being locked into a 30 year contract with forestry managers, Hancock.
The FOM hope is to see a Code of Practice for forestry, which is well monitored. It’s a long road to get there, but there is another opportunity to contribute to council policy coming up when they publish their Nelson Plan on November 11. We have a meeting at 252 Nile St, 7pm, Weds Nov 18 to work on our submission to this important long term plan.
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Shared Pathway:
The Council have been looking at the options for shared pathways in Nelson for several months, including a workshop for councillors on 7 July (which was public excluded) and two partner workshops on 21 and 22 July for special interest groups. This led to a report entitled "Active Travel and Pathway Based Recreation Policy" that went to the Council meeting on 15 October. This report recommended a new policy for shared pathways, and this policy was accepted by that Council meeting in principle. The report and policy are available online as part of the agenda for the Council meeting of 15 October, pages 84 to 109. The report is not always accurate (e.g. the list of people attending the partner workshops is wrong), but it is very clear from the Council acceptance of the new policy in principle that it wishes to proceed in the direction of developing a large set of shared pathways in many parts of Nelson. All the details would have been in the four appendices to this report, but they were all marked as "To be developed", so all the details are missing.
More detailed recommendations are due to be presented to the Council Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting that starts at 9am on 26 November. This should begin the process of making detailed design decisions about the Maitai Shared Pathway between Collingwood Street and Nile Street.
We remain very clear that changes in this very beautiful area of riverside park running through the central city must happen in a clear and transparent and open way, so there are no surprises. We are continuing to watch the developments on this project very closely.
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Do you have a facebook page? Please help us spreading information about when, how and what we are doing and how you, your friends, family and neighbours can help us return the Maitai to a Cool, clear and clean flowing Maitai river.
All you have to do is 'LIKE' our facebook page so our news will show on your timeline.
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofthemaitai/?ref
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The year long NIWA project that FOM was involved with has demonstrated that public involvement works. The results show consistency across New Zealand, which indicates that community groups are capable of certain measurements. Some other groups are carrying on with their monitoring as FOM is doing. If you would like to get involved with this worthwhile project contact us at info@friendsofthemaitai.org.nz
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NIWA and TDC staff
took a look at
FOM monitoring at
Riverside Pool last week
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Education & other Community Riffles
International Solidarity on Climate Change on Saturday Nov 28 starts with a march from Tahuna to Anzac park starting at 10am and a picnic from 11am. The Friends of the Maitai flag will be flown at the picnic acknowledging the effect that climate change has on the health of our river. Come and play the Against the Flow board game and see if your native fish can survive.
Victory Science Family Fun Day Sunday Nov 29 – Friends of the Maitai are collaborating with Mel McColgan to provide an interactive display of macro-invertebrates and other river monitoring techniques. We are seeking more volunteers to help out for a couple of hours. Contact Alison Horn for more information on how you can help on 03 5456169.
Here is a chance to help Friends of the Maitai to get their message out using video and the internet.
The Community Led Development Group annual training event and morning tea
When: 10.00am/12.30pm Monday 16 November
10am: morning tea provided
10.30/12.30: training session
Where: Activity Room, Elma Turner Library, Halifax Street
What:
How to make your stories powerful - tips, tools and techniques for creating and sharing stories.
A picture is worth a thousand words - in our modern digital age using videos to reach people and report outcomes is becoming the norm. Our final CLD Network session for 2015 follows on from last year’s Story Telling workshop with Moya Sayer Jones. It’s a practical, hands on session, aiming to help us all create and share stories through recording video on our own devices (do bring a device if you wish).
Please rsvp for catering numbers
Contact Ami for more information 03 5488467
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The trees at Groom Creek look fabulous and Dennis has been working diligently to remove the old-man’s-beard from the riverbank area. Every little bit that is removed helps! The transformation of a few poplar logs now provides a lovely area to sit, have a cuppa and watch the wildlife.
Over the next few months we will be focussing on mulching, weed control and trimming grass
The trees look fabulous and Dennis has been working diligently to remove the old-man’s-beard from the riverbank area. Every little bit that is removed helps! The transformation of a few poplar logs now provides a lovely area to sit, have a cuppa and watch the wildlife.
We are beginning to plan for the 2016’ Friends of the Maitai planting days. We will keep you posted.
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Jane, Pat and faithful hound Archie have planted and continue to care for 10 trees just above the river side of Handby Park. They enjoy spending a few minutes every week or two taking time to check the plants, clear grass and remove any invasive weeds. This is a fine example of a small but vital contribution each of us can make to improve our precious Maitai. Imagine what could be achieved if every dog walker took a minute or two to pull some old-man’s-beard.
Nelson Weed Busters recommend that any pieces of old-man’s-beard removed need to be taken with the root ball and hung above the ground to prevent regrowth.
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On many occasions we have been treated to Ali Kennedy'd delicious Oat Biscuits. Some of you asked for the recipe.
Ali was willing to share this with us:
Ali Kennedy’s Oat Biscuits
Ingredients
3 cups of oats (fine are best)
1/2 cup of white wheat flour (rice, tapioca or finely ground nuts also work)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sesame seed
1/4 cup oil (sunflower, olive or coconut)
3/4 cup of boiling water with…
1/4 tsp baking soda
Ami likes to add ginger or cinnamon – be creative
Method
Mix dry ingredients then add water and baking soda mix
Mix to form stiff dough
Roll out to about 1/2 cm thick and cut into desired shape
Bake at 150°C for 20-30 minutes
These sustaining morsels are great with any topping and are excellent when tramping in the hills or just as a snack after a hard day's work.
Favourite serving suggestions from the kennedy’s
Goat cheese & pickled gherkins' Avocado, tomato & basil,
Quark & fresh pear, Peanut butter & honey,
Cucumber & cheese, Blue cheese & quince paste
ENJOY
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Visit us online
Our website can now accept donations for those who would like to make a monetary donation towards the work being done by the Friends of the Maitai. The donation application is located in the How To Help page found at http://friendsofthemaitai.org.nz/how-to-help/. The donations are administered by Give A Little who take no commission and supply receipts to donors.
We’d like some for the River Monitoring and Community Education ‘about ‘pages. If you have any photos of the activities of these groups that we could use for the website could you please email them to comms@friendsofthemaitai.org.nz
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For your diary:
Summer Plantcare Fridays - 5:30pm at Groom Creek
Come join an end of the week wind down and connection with the wildlife with background music of the river
Just before the Maitai Motor Camp & across the forestry bridge
November 6th, 20th
December 4th, 18th (Holiday Break)
January 8th, 22nd
February 5th, 19th
March 4th, 18th
April 1st, 15th
Come along we'd love to see you there !
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