News & Events
Although there is still much to do to safeguard our biodiversity for now and the future, there are already many things going on in the region. Individuals and community groups are taking action locally and in their backyard. Various agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs) have initiatives and programmes on the go, and at a national level there are events such as SeaWeek and Conservation Week.
You can keep up to date with what is going on in the region by regularly checking the News and Events sections below.
Another way to keep in touch is to receive the Canterbury Biodiversity e-newsletter, which is e-mailed out several times per year and will let you know the latest news, recent happenings and upcoming events you may want to get involved in. Sign up here.
The latest Biodiversity newsletter is out and available at:
January - March Newsletter (1 MB)
If you know of an interesting or inspiring story related to biodiversity in Canterbury that we could feature here or in our next e-newsletter, click here to let us know.
To view our newsletter and events Archive click here.
Volunteering in Christchurch parks - Christchurch City Council - Learn about volunteering in urban parks, regional parks, riversides, wetlands and coastal areas around Christchurch. Here you'll find Volunteer Day schedules as well as information on obtaining advice and funding support for your community project. Just click on the below link:
Christchurch City Council - Events and Volunteer in Parks Site
Meet the Regional Biodiversity Coordinator
Come to Okains Bay (Waitangi Day celebrations) or the Kaikoura A&P Show and meet the Regional Biodiversity Coordiantor. Wayne will have a display at the Okains Bay Museum on the 6th of February, and will be sharing a site with the Huttons Shearwater Charitable Trust (Kaikoura) on Saturday the 27th February. Come and see, learn and share . . and pick-up a free copy of Backyard Biodiversity in Canterbury.
Biodiversity Speaker Series
For the International Year of Biodiversity, the Regional Biodiversity Coordinator is collaborating with partners to promote a speaker series that focuses on biodiversity concerns. First up in the series is Associate Professor Hiroki Oikawa, from Yokohama National University, Japan, who will speak at the Waiau Theatrette on the 1st of March, 1 - 3:00 pm. The topic of the presentation will be on the policy concept of 'resourcefulness' and what it implies for efforts to promote biodiversity in Japan and elsewhere.
Space is limited so please register your attendance with Mary Hill at DDI 372-7236 or at mary.hill@ecan.govt.nz.
For more details on the event, please go to the link, below.
Biodiversity Speaker Series - March 1st 2010 (120 KB)
World Wetlands Day - A Successful Celebration in Canterbury
After a period of unsettled weather, beautiful sunny conditions at Wainono Lagoon (Waimate) and Boggy Creek (Lake Ellesmere) provided the perfect platform for the celebration of World Wetlands Day 2010 (WWD), on Saturday 30th January. With activities as diverse as duck calling competitions, bird watching and plant 'safaris', flax weaving, and free sausage sizzles, there was a lot for people to do at both events. Turn-out was high at the respective locations, with over 80 attending the southern event and 200-plus at the Boggy Creek site. Check out some photographs from the Wainono event, below.
Left. Julia Crossman, Environment Canterbury, WWD coordinator at the Wainono event, with John Coles, mayor of Waimate district, opening proceedings at Wainono; (Centre), Rob Smith, QE II representative for Canterbury (South) describes the role of the Trust as a body promoting wetland protection around Wainono; (Right) John Stevens, local land owner and keen wetland restorationist, shows how to plant a shrub (miki miki), at the Wainono event.
Participants at the Wainono celebration also learnt of efforts by the Regional Biodiversity Coordinator, Environment Canterbury and the QEII Trust, working in collaboration with a local landowner, David Johnstone, to protect over 40 hectares of land around the margins of the Wainono lagoon. This work includes the fencing out of livestock and the control of willows which, if left unchecked, would inundate the wetland and damage much of its biodiversity value. Environment Canterbury has supplied $40,000 over the last two years to this work; a crucial contribution to one of the wetland jewels of Canterbury.
Ohau Conservation Trust - Wilding Conifer Control Day
This Sunday!
The Ohau Conservation Trust's first workday for 2010 is this Sunday, 7th February, at Lake Ohau. Meet at the ski-field road gate, Ohau Lodge, starting at at 10-00 am. The event will focus on wilding re-growth, maintaining areas of previous wilding control work.
All equipment is provided; sturdy shoes are recommended.
Contact Eileen MacMillian at eileen.mcrae@paradise.net.nz for more details.
Conservation Volunteer Opportunities
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand have a range of upcoming projects that can provide you with the opporunity to get into the outdoors and make a positive contribution to New Zealand's natural environment and heritage. Upcoming projects include a tree planting event at Poynter Nature Reserve, Waimakariri River on the 6th of February.
You can download all the information you need, including contact, details at:
Conservation Volunteer NZ Information Sheet (56KB)
Tui Art 'Celebration'
An exhibition of paintings celebrating efforts to return tui to Banks Peninsula will open on the 19th of January at the Christchurch Art Centre (Gallery O, Level 1). The exhibition features paintings by noted local artist, Clare Riley, whose previous work has combined Banks Peninsula landscapes with native birds, including the native wood pigeon (kereru). The evening opening will feature a presentation by Dr Laura Molles, Lincoln University, on the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust tui restoration project, at 6:15 pm (repeated at 2 pm, Sunday 24th January).
Download details at:
A Focus on Dunes "If you go down to the beach today . . ."
The Duneland Restoration Trust of New Zealand plans to launch into the
International Year of Biodiversity with two major events. On the 
28th of February, at New Brighton, the trust is sponsoring a free workshop for all those interested in learning more about the form and function of Canterbury's local dune environments, their biodiversity and the opportunities for plant restoration within these dynamic ecosystems. Registrations for the day should be made to info@dunestrust.org.nz or 07 345 5453 or 027 361 7695. For further details download the free flyer at:
Christchurch Dune Workshop (65 KB)
On March 3rd and 4th, the trust is coordinating its 2010 National Conference, whose theme is "True Grit - East Coast South Island Beaches". The venue for this event will be the Caroline Bay Tearooms at Caroline Bay in the heart of Timaru. Details, including those of pre-workshop
events, early bird registrations, costs and field trips are available from DDI: 03 6877274 or you
can view them by 
looking at the flyer link, below:
Duneland Restoration Trust National Conference (74 KB)
