July 2022 Newsletter

Kia ora and a very warm welcome to our Winter 2022 newsletter. In this newsletter some changes to the WPN team, a conference update, nominations for NZ Biosecurity Awards are open, updated wilding control guidelines and a change of web address for a key information source.

Changes to our Network team - We would like to extend a huge thanks to Rowan Sprague our first coordinator who left at the beginning of May and moved to a new role in native forest regeneration. Her parting words were “It has been so wonderful to work with you all, and I am inspired everyday by the amazing work that you are doing. I hope I’ll see you again soon!”

Jo Ritchie is the new coordinator!

We would like to welcome Jo Ritchie. Jo started in mid May and has an extensive background in animal & plant pest management & eradication. Much of this work has been with community groups but she has also worked with crown agencies, Councils and private landowners. Jo lives on Rengaru - a 100ha sheep farm in the Kaipara Hills, about 1.5 hours NW of nd. Jo plans to get around and meet all our partners in the next year. She has done one South Island Trip (the photo below is in the Lindis Pass) which confirmed that the Wilding Pine network is where she wants to be. Hard working pragmatic people walking the talk actively on the ground.

Please contact Jo at jo@wildingpinenetwork.org.nz or 0275 818464. A key part of her job is to work with our partners on existing work but also to help new groups get established and get funding.

New NZ Forest Owners Representative on the WPN Management Committee

We would also like to extend a warm welcome to Peter Oliver. Peter is based in Dunedin where he is the General Manager Forest Assets for City Forests. Thank you to Zac Robinson who was our previous NZFOA rep.

2022 Wilding Pines Conference in Blenheim

13-15 September - Registration open now

We look forward to seeing you at our 2022 conference in Blenheim at the Marlborough Conference Centre. We have a great line up of speakers and field trips into the Marlborough Sound and the Branch Leatham catchment (refer above photos) to see some of the achievements and challenges facing those working in the Marlborough area.

Register through the conference page on our website: wildingpinenetwork.org.nz Previous registrations are still valid. Just connect with the email link on the conference page to confirm.

We would like to acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors; Biosecurity NZ, Boffa Miskell, Marlborough District Council, UPL-Ltd and PGG Wrightson.

NZ Biosecurity Awards 2022

Calling all biosecurity champions - It takes all of us to protect what we've got but we want to celebrate those biosecurity heroes going above and beyond for New Zealand – could this be you or someone you know?

It’s time to shine a light on their achievements in the 2022 New Zealand Biosecurity Awards.

These awards recognise the incredible individuals and teams who are working hard to help ensure our country and its unique environment is safe from pests and diseases through their contributions to biosecurity – in our communities, businesses, iwi and hapū, government, in the bush and in our backyards.

There are nine Award categories, and you can enter more than one. Entries for the Awards are now open until 5pm, 31 July 2022. Visit ThisIsUs.nz to find out more and enter - it’s easy and all online

Updated Wilding Pine Control Guidelines available by late August (on WPN website and available as hard copy)

Thanks to funding from the Department of Conservation Community Fund we have been able to update these guidelines first published by the NZ Forest Research Institute in 2009. They are designed to help landowners, community groups and anyone keen to get involved in wilding pine control with choosing the right control method.

Our guidelines do not replace the Good Practice Guides (GPG’s) produced by the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme. Rather our guide compliments the GPG’s by providing those working outside the national programme with a summary of control methods. The GPG’s provide detailed instructions based on best practice to undertake the control method/s once chosen.

Keep an eye on our website for the release of these guidelines. They will also be available at the Blenheim conference

Change of website address for key wilding information

If you’re looking for information or ways to share with your networks about wilding conifer control in Aotearoa and the National Wilding Conifer Programme - Visit https://wildingpines.nz (replaces wildingconifers.org) for a range of up to date information about the National Programme and resources to help promote your projects locally and spread the word about the wildings issue