Our Activities and Events
The Trust holds field days, workshops and presentations, all geared toward specific topics of interest.
Past Events
Hurunui Weedbusters Old Man's Beard, Port Robinson
Hurunui Weedbusters volunteers at the Port Robinson working bee on Saturday 23rd were treated to spectacular ocean views looking out over the cliffs, before we hiked down the path to enter a tangle of Old Man’s Beard that has established in the northern part of the reserve.
Under the guidance of Andrew Ashley, who does volunteer work at the reserves and also as a DOC contractor, our task was to locate and poison the base roots of these messy, smothering vines. The job involved a lot of scrambling through the undergrowth and coordinated team work. It took sharp eyes to identify the leader stems and each successful lopping and paste application felt hugely satisfying.
These coastal reserves south of Gore Bay have been transformed by extensive native revegetation undertaken by the Port Robinson Reserve Advisory Group. Since the early 1990s local volunteers have established many thousands of plants and also do trapping and weeding. Our group of Weedbusters was thrilled to see such mature regeneration and hear the likes of wood pigeons (kereru), fantails (piwakawaka), kingfishers (kotare) and even a tui!
Hurunui Weedbusters Pigs Ear, Waipara 19th October
Hurunui Weedbusters’ latest session, on Saturday 19 October, attracted 10 keen volunteers to remove more of the pig’s ear threatening the Mount Brown QEII covenant, west of Broomfield.
We were delighted to be joined by Maeve Baxter, from Amberley School, and her parents. Maeve, (pictured below with her Dad Derek), is taking part in the William Pike Challenge this year, and came to Weedbusters to complete her 20 hours of community volunteer work. Maeve says she feels it’s important to contribute to the community and enjoyed her morning with us.
Pig’s ear is a succulent that has become invasive in parts of the district, and the hope is to eliminate it from the properties near the QEII covenant, which was created to protect a rare native gentian.
Hurunui Weedbusters Birdsong Project, 21 September
Hurunui Weedbusters’ spring outing was to this new restoration at Scargill Domain, near Greta Valley. Working alongside people planting, our volunteers weeded out broom and gorse plants that have established due to stock no longer grazing the area.
This significant project at the Scargill Domain got underway in 2023 and is run by a the Birdsong Project Trust. On the last planting for the 2024 season, more than 500 native plants went in the ground, thanks to keen local volunteers and some Weedbusters who stayed on for the full day to help.
Scargill Domain now boasts nearly 4000 new plants in total, 2000 going into the ground each winter. It’s been a tremendous effort supported by a great team of locals. A hearty lunch was provided by the Birdsong Project Trust.
Special event for QEII Miles Giller, 23rd August 2024
Miles Giller has recently retired as QEII Trust rep for North Canterbury. For the past 23 years in the role (which first encompassed all of Canterbury), he has been a tireless advocate for protecting our district's special and varied biodiversity, working alongside landowners to help them establish QEII covenants. On Friday 23 August, in the Omihi Hall, the QEII Trust joined with Hurunui Biodiversity Trust to co-host a send-off for Miles and his wife Gillian, likewise an experienced botanist who has helped Miles on his field work. The event was also an opportunity to introduce the new North Canterbury QEII rep, James Kilgour.
Bringing together a large group of local covenant holders and others with close association to the Gillers, the occasion featured a presentation by Miles of his experiences over the years, the 'weird and wonderful' flora and fauna that he has encountered, and the challenges and the breakthroughs of protecting our vulnerable native species. He concluded on an optimistic note, observing that as more people are actively protecting biodiversity, this is gaining greater acceptance as a positive value when integrated into farming practice.
Thanks to QEII Trust for sponsoring the event and to everyone who helped make it such a special occasion, not least the Greta Valley School caterers who kept up a steady supply of tasty fare.
Hurunui Weedbusters Ram Paddock Road, 21 July
After a cool start, it was a rare warm winter’s day for the fourth outing for the Hurunui Weedbusters. The target weed for Sunday’s event was pig’s ear (Dicotyledon orbiculata), an African succulent that has ‘jumped the garden fence’ and become a serious problem in dry areas of Hurunui like Gore Bay, and on the Port Hills of Christchurch.
Sunday’s property is directly below a QEII covenant which hosts a suite of limestone-loving plants, some of which only grow in this district. Pig’s ear and other weeds are a threat to these plants because they grow bigger and faster than the native plants, thriving in the same challenging environments as the plants like the very rare Waipara gentian (Gentiana calca). Botanist Gillian Giller joined the group for the day and spoke of the specific values of the covenant. “Weeding around precious sites such as the covenant is as important as weeding within them, and it’s great that the Weedbusters group is doing this important work,” she said.
There were 11 people in attendance ranging from teenagers to some in their early seventies. Collectively they formed a huge pile of the weed as individual plants were either pulled out or cut down at ground level and poisoned at the base. Because each leaf can grow into another plant if left on the ground, all plant material needed to be removed. Morning tea of homemade biscuits and cake was provided by organisers Hurunui Biodiversity Trust’s Belinda Meares and Hurunui District Council’s Water and Land Coordinator Rima Herber. By Rima Herber
Hurunui Weedbusters Waiau-Uwha River, 22 June
On a fine Saturday morning last week, local volunteers and others from as far as Christchurch weeded native plants at a site on the banks of the Waiau-Uwha river. What a beautiful setting! This large restoration project on John Faulkner’s farm has been designed by planting specialist Sue McGaw, and both she and John were there to explain the background of the project and the characteristics of the plants selected. The site is located on a former Māori route, and was used as a campground (nohoanga) on the way to mahinga kai food gathering places. Among the 70 different species planted – all endemic within a 5km radius - are included traditional Māori medicinal plants. After only four years since planting began, Sue has identified 12 species that are already regenerating.
Our job was to release plants from long grass and encroaching weeds, to cut and poison old man’s bed and blackberry, and to remove protective guards from the more mature plants. Morning tea break was an opportunity to look out at the braided river islands, which are important habitat for endangered birds such as the black-fronted tern, wrybill and black-billed gull. An earlier Hurunui Weedbusters outing in May rooted out lupins from the Shark’s Tooth island nesting site there.
Our next outing is on Sunday 21 July - details coming soon. If you are interested, contact hurunuibiodiversity@gmail.com or rima.herber@hurunui.govt.nz
Hurunui Weedbuster Waipara River, 25th May
Gnarly tangles of Old Man's Beard took a hit from a keen group of Hurunui Weedbusters at our working bee on Saturday 25 May, at a site near Waipara River. We got in amongst it to ferret out where the origin of each vine was rooted, then cut it clean through and applied a dab of weedkiller. OMB is a smothering vine that's spreading through areas of native bush around the district. It's easily noticeable in late autumn because it's seeding. Our efforts were rewarded by a wonderful lunch provided by our hosts, and a chance to relax in the sun after a frosty start.
Hurunui Weedbusters is a volunteer venture, which the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust is running with Rima Herber, Water & Land Coordinator at the Hurunui District Council. For our next event keep an eye on our Facebook posts, send a message to this page or email hurunuibiodiversity@gmail.com Our first Hurunui Weedbusters day in early May on the Waiau-Uwha River was hugely enjoyable and rewarding. We’d love you to join us for future events, which we’re aiming to organise all around the Hurunui district, wherever our precious native biodiversity is threatened.
If you’re keen to help, please contact: Belinda Meares, hurunuibiodiversity@gmail.com, tel 0221600383 or Rima Herber, rima.herber@hurunui.govt.nz, tel. 0278722329
Hurunui Weedbuster Waiau-Uwha River, 4th May
It was a clear sunny autumn day for the inaugural Hurunui Weedbusters event on the Waiau Uwha River on Saturday 4 May. Six volunteers and the HDC Water and Land Coordinator, Rima Herber, cleared tree lupin and other weeds from an island in the river that has been managed as a safe haven for the rare birds that nest on the riverbed. Birds such as terns, wrybills, dotterels and native gulls nest on the bare gravels of Canterbury’s braided rivers, but their eggs and baby birds are a tempting feed for cats, rats, stoats and hedgehogs. Without protection, survival of chicks can be as low as 6%. With careful management, the black-fronted tern colony on Sharks Tooth Island had 96% hatching success in the 2023 season.
Clearing the island of weeds is an essential part of protecting the birds, as they won’t nest where there isn’t open gravel, and predators are attracted to vegetated areas where there is cover to hide in. In just one morning the seven members of the Hurunui Weedbusters crew removed over 1000 tree lupin plants, as well as other emerging weeds such as gorse, broom, alder, old man’s beard and blackberry. Lupin are a particular problem as they’ll grow to over a metre in a season. Saturday was a great example of how rewarding and enjoyable it can be to get together with others, in the beautiful Hurunui landscape, to do an important service to the environment. T
The next Weedbusters event on Saturday May 25
iNaturalist Workshop
From the tiniest bug to a grand old totara, the iNaturalist workshop with ecologist Colin Meurk at Hurunui College on the 21st of November introduced participants to the fascinating world of nature-identification with iNaturalist. Big thanks to science teacher Tim Kelly and his Enviroclub students for hosting the workshop. The totara is in the school grounds and could be over 100 years old. It is bearing little blue cones, evidence that it's a female tree. It would be interesting to know more of its history.
Sign up - https://www.inaturalist.org
Download tutorial (apple)
Action for Biodiversity in Hurunui
On the 23rd of August the Trust held a community meeting/presentation to members of the public.
The focus was on presenting the Biodiversity Resource that was formulated by Ecologist James Lambie and Environmental consultant Michael Bennett with the added addition of local knowledge and expertise.
The evening was a positive one with inclusive interactions from the public with many questions and concerns/queries brought to light. As this document will be forever evolving and developing it was paramount to get more feedback and input from the community.
The hope is that this resource will be used between advisors, individuals and organisations to empower but also take advantage of the prolific biodiversity/environmental opportunities we have in the Hurunui, that is actually consider a "hot spot" for biodiversity.
Tiromoana Bush Field Trip
On April 17, we enjoyed a perfect autumn day of warm, windless weather for our long-planned field trip to Tiromoana Bush Reserve.
The event was facilitated by Transwaste Canterbury which runs this significant conservation and restoration project at the Kate Valley landfill site. With expert commentary from our trip guides
Emeritus Professor David Norton and Fraser Madigan, we learned more about the vision for the project and its practical management. Attendees were stimulated to ask plenty of questions about how the experience at Tiromoana can be applied to other biodiversity actions in the district, bearing in mind various challenges such as pest control, plant sourcing, and factoring in changing climate to ensure the bush's resilience into the future
Huge thanks and appreciation to Transwaste Canterbury for help organizing and funding the day!
Fore more additional photos
Seed Collection Workshop for Native Plants
Two native-plant seed collection and sowing workshops in Cheviot and Culverden, were hosted by Hurunui Biodiversity Trust and NZ Landcare Trust on 22nd March 2023.
It was a very practical day in the field where attendees learnt the principles of eco-sourcing seed and how to collect, store and sow seed. It was a very successful day full of interaction, involvement, interest and many question from all the participants. Be on the look out for more of these to come!
Super enlightening discussions were led by Jamie McFadden (Hurunui Biodiversity Trust) and Tom Ferguson (Wai-ora).
Further thanks and acknowledgment for every one involved!
Waiau Uwha Braided River Birds Field Day
Our Braided River Birds field day on Wednesday afternoon, 30 Nov., was a great outing, with the weather cooperating despite a dubious forecast as we visited two sites along the Amuri’s Waiau-Uwha River, near Mouse Point. Our group of around 50 gathered first at the Culverden Rugby Club rooms to learn from Prof Ken Hughey about Canterbury’s braided-river bird species, particularly the endangered black-fronted terns, wrybills, black-billed gulls and banded dotterels, then from ECAN's Zipporah Ploeg of the efforts to protect them by a team from ECAN and their contractors from Wildlife Management International, Keegan Miskimmin and Marcia Welch.
We observed the black-fronted tern nesting colonies on the Sharkstooth island, which had been cleared of weeds and separated from the main bank by a deepened channel to prevent predation. We then visited diary farmer John Faulkner’s impressive revegetation site on the river bank, which has been designed by local native-planting consultant Sue McGaw. We ended a most enjoyable afternoon with a BBQ provided by Farmsource.
This field day event was timely as it marks the culmination of the 5-year Hurunui and Waiau Uwha Braided River Bird Project, which you can read more about on ECAN’s wesbite. (Thanks to Rima Herber and Belinda Meares for the pics).
Report by Mike Bennett
Tuhaitara Coastal Park
The Trusts field trip to Tuhaitara Coastal Park (Woodend) on Sunday 25th, led by park director Greg Byrnes, delivered a wealth of learning and insights. For instance the red pond “weed” (as some assumed) is in fact a native floating fern Azolla rubra, which fixes nitrogen and is food for tadpoles. Greg’s plan was to take us on a 5 km loop walk, but there was so much to observe and discuss along the way that we didn’t make it that far, so there’s a suggestion of another tour in summer. We were impressed by the approach of facilitating local groups (including schools and whanau) to adopt and look after specific ‘biota nodes’. In this extensive reserve (800 hectares) stretching from Waimakariri River to Waikuku Beach, there are many varied ecosystems that are evolving and interlinking as regeneration efforts take effect. The project only got started 12 years ago, so with 188 years to go to fulfill the Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust’s 200-year vision, this special part of North Canterbury’s coast promises to teach us lots about how to build a resilient, biodiverse future.
Community Meeting - Hurunui Biodiversity Action Waipara Memorial Hall, Wednesday 29th June
An open invitation to learn about and provide input into a new project: creating a resource to help landowners and community groups better manage and protect biodiversity across Hurunui.
More info and presentation on the Action Project page
Media release by Grant Mangin
Rohe Koreporepo The Swamp The Sacred Place
June 16th Amberley School Hall
In the last 150 years, 90% of Aotearoa’s swamps and wetlands have been destroyed in the name of development. Wetlands support rich ecosystems, provide natural flood control and are significant carbon sinks. They have always been regarded as sacred places and mahinga kai food gathering places by Māori tangata whenua.
This documentary, by acclaimed Christchurch filmmaker Kathleen Gallagher, celebrates the efforts of 60 community kaitiaki/guardians around the country to restore and enhance those that remain today, and explains why they are vital for a healthy and balanced future on Papatuanuku/Earth.
After the screening public discussion was led by Greg Byrnes of Tūhaitara Coastal Park Trust, Greg Bennett of Coastal Restoration Trust NZ, John Preece local wetlands ecologist, Kate Steel Waimakariri District Council Biodiversity Officer and Kathleen Gallagher filmmaker.
Media release by Grant Mangin
Native Shrubland Field Day May 2021
On the 25th of May the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust held a Native Shrubland field day out in near Scargill on the adjoining Chris Earl and Duncan Murray’s farms. The focus was on the QEII covenant block that runs across both properties in conjunction with the Scargill Creek.
Our inspiring panel of speakers were brilliant and covered aspects such as: planting, spraying, land management, shrub values and benefits and other general information. The most important message I took away from this field day were; firstly, the importance of famers and landowners to better understand their givens environments and the ecosystems that reside, because no two pieces of land are exactly the same and all require slightly different requirements/management. Secondly, it is vital that we farmers find a balance between protection and productivity, creating the "sweet spot" of having native shrub/forests amongst having areas of high productive land.
Notes from the address by Shawn Nicholls
Ruud Kleinpaste "Bugs & Biodiversity" March 2021
The ever popular “Bug Man” Ruud Kleinpaste brought his eclectic knowledge, electric passionate energy and such a warm heart when he came to the Waikari Hall to present “Bugs and Biodiversity” to a captivated audience of adults and children.
We had an amazing turn out, though no surprise due to his popularity with kids and adults alike.
His talked touched on the importance of a process called "Biomimicry", which is the ability to understand nature’s processes and mimic them for our own utilizations as a society. He showed nature performing as a guide for humans to follow, emphasizing that we are a very young species in relation to life that has existed and evolved over millions of years.
There was also a strong emphasis on re-connecting the modern world with nature, the importance of nature literacy, and how reliant we are on other life for our own survival, as every biological organism, ranging from large mammals to micro-organisms, has its role to fulfil.
Notes from the address by Shawn Nicholls
Ngai Tahu Kaumatua Tā Tipene O'Regan, Nov 2020
Tā Tipene gave an interesting and thought-provoking address. His suggestion that defining biodiversity protection as a "one size fits all" absolute that can lead to unintended practical consequences, struck a chord with many.
His personal perspective as a Māori is that protection efforts should restore species to levels that allow evidence-based sustainable resource use, while respecting and incorporating the cultural/spiritual aspect of Māori relationships with the land.
Notes from the address by Shawn Nicholls
Port Robinson Reserve Gore Bay, Oct 2020
Attendees at our Plant & Animal Pest Control field day enjoyed this beautiful reserve, extensively planted in natives by local volunteers. Speakers with a wealth of knowledge shared their experience and gave hands-on demonstrations.
Through organisations such as ECan and DOC, much has been achieved in the control of target species. Ian Hanken (DOC) and Noel Crump (ECan) stated they can only do so much with limited funds and manpower, so commended and encouraged community initiatives such as Jane Demeter’s “Bring on the Birds” trapping project around Gore Bay. The weed and pest threat to biodiversity is daunting, but with high involvement at community level, energetic leadership and strong relationships with organisations supplying knowledge, strategies and funding, tackling that threat is do-able.
Note from field day by Dave Nicholls
Weed Pictures
Spring 2019: Field Day on Wetlands
On the dairy farm, “the Triangle”, sharemilker Nigel Gardiner is protecting a natural flax wetland, creating new wetlands, and doing extensive riparian and dryland native plantings. The property features one of the best remaining natural wetlands on the Amuri Plains and a 3.5 km section of Dry Stream with a population of endangered freshwater mussels (kakahi). We visited these and other sites to learn about the values of wetlands and streams, options for protection and enhancement, and ongoing management challenges.
Note from field day by Dave Nicholls
Fools and Dreamers: the Hinewai Documentary, Sept 2019
Hugh Wilson has been the kaitiaki/manager of Hinewai for 30 years, overseeing the regeneration of native canopy through a minimal interference method, allowing invasive gorse to grow as a nursery plant for self-sown native trees.
At first people were skeptical of his plan, referring to it as something that only "fools and dreamers" would think of. Now, Hugh is considered a local hero, after giving life to more than 1500 hectares of native forest which is abundant with wildlife.
Our public screening was co-hosted with TimeBank Hurunui’s Learning Exchange at Amberley School. View the doco at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VZSJKbzyMc
Winter 2019: Biodiversity in Hurunui
Then, now and what can be in the future.
Wednesday, 10th of July 7-8:30 Greta Valley Tavern
Two noted biodiversity experts Nicola Toki and Alice Shanks presented info and invited discussion on our native flora and fauna, some of which is unique and endangered.
Nicola Toki slides
Alice Shanks slides
Field Day at Davaar, Greta Valley, March 2019
There was a great turnout to our inaugural field day, supported by an impressive panel of speakers. Dave Nicholls offered his farm, Davaar, as an illustration of the challenges and opportunities for farmers to enhance biodiversity, with specific focus on two steep and non-productive gullies. One was a gully in which stock had been excluded for the past 10 years, to allow natives to regenerate in conjunction with planted exotics. The other was a gully where little had been done to encourage biodiversity, so presenting a chance to debate about what the best approach might be.
Land Use Options
Notes from field day by Grant Hunter, FFA.