GRETEL LAGOONS. Neil Hayes QSM CEnv PhD FIED FRSA FNZIM MCGI

Transcription

1 GRETEL LAGOONS Neil Hayes QSM CEnv PhD FIED FRSA FNZIM MCGI INTRODUCTION TO GRETEL LAGOONS In 1990 Sylvia and I purchased 10.4 hectares at the western end of TAUMATA LAGOON, using some inherited funds (hence the John Hayes Memorial Lodge), plus a bank loan with the bank manager announcing that he would knock-off 1% on the interest rate for every duck he could shoot on the place! As soon as we had title we promptly named the area GRETEL LAGOONS - because of an abundance of grey teal. Taumata Lagoon is a historic and outstanding oxbow lagoon with a water area of approximately 12-hectares. Whilst there is no documented history it seems likely that the lagoon was naturally created several hundred years ago. There are many striking features about Gretel Lagoons & Taumata Lagoon; such as, 200+ indigenous mature kahikatea and 100+ mature totara - numerous indigenous mature tawa, matai, mairie, kowhai and titoki, an outstanding oxbow lagoon, together with the numerous bush birds and an abundance of waterfowl. Within a few months of purchasing Gretel Lagoons we commenced long-term indigenous tree planting and wetland restoration programme. TAUMATA LAGOON is perhaps New Zealand s most striking oxbow lagoon and together with its remnant block of indigenous bush represents an increasingly important part of New Zealand s natural history, natural environment and natural ecology which will hopefully become a permanently preserved record of such an important part of New Zealand history in the Wairarapa. The Wairarapa is a large rural dairy, sheep, cattle and forestry farming region one hour s drive north of Wellington. TAUMATA LAGOON (Photo taken Sept 2012) The lagoon in right in the middle of a large dairy farming area Taumata Lagoon is possibly the country s best example of an oxbow lagoon and in In 2008 the Greater Wellington Regional Council declared Taumata Lagoon A WETLAND OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE 1

2 INITIAL MANAGEMENT In March 1990, soon after we received title to Gretel Lagoons, a draft management plan was quickly beaten into shape. The two key objectives in the Plan were: (1) TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A WILDLIFE HABITAT AREA THAT ACCOMMODATES AND SUPPORTS THE LARGEST POSSIBLE NUMBER OF WILDLIFE SPECIES - (Excluding predators and possum) (2) TO ESTABLISH A PROTECTIVE COVENANT OVER THE BUSH AND WETLANDS (In 1992 a QEII National Trust Open Space Covenant was placed on the entire 10.5 hectares. This covenant was added to the land title and protects the area in perpetuity) It was planned to achieve these objectives by: (a) Fencing off both blocks of native bush (b) Fencing off the wetland areas (c) Removing the jungle of willow along the edge of the lagoon - in front of the native bush (d) Planting large numbers of native trees and plants (e) Checking and maintaining existing fences (f) Establishing six predator control sites; using a mixture of Fenn, Timms and cage traps (There are now 20 trapping stations) (g) Arranging for the lagoon to be fished for eels at regular intervals (h) Creating a new lagoon at the far end of the existing oxbow - in front of the smaller of the two areas of native bush (i) Enhancing the habitat along the lagoon edge of the bush, by digging and by creating islands over the poisoned willow stumps (j) Constructing viewing hides/maimais (duck shooting hides) VEGETATION In 2004, on behalf of the QEII National Trust, a complete inventory of trees and plants at Gretel Lagoons was completed by Pat Enright of Featherston. This very comprehensive inventory identified close to 100 different species of trees and plants, with the predominant indigenous/endemic (found only in NZ and usually referred to as native trees) being: TOTARA, KAHIKATEA, TITOKI, TAWA, MAIRE & MATAI. Many of our trees are several hundred years old. Considerable natural regeneration has taken place in the main area of bush since all cattle were removed, and with the assistance of our native tree planting programme the bush will soon be reminiscent of the site in the 1940 s, when the whole area adjacent to the lagoon was covered in bush - before logging commenced! Since 1990 close to all vacant areas of bush have been replanted, with total planting being over 8,000 native trees and plants. Our main planting programme has involved the planting of - kahikatea, totara, cabbage and native flax. In addition to native plants and trees some exotic trees were also planted in areas outside the native bush - for instant shelter and as firewood. These species include, swamp cypress, pinus radiata, pin oaks, tree lucerne and niten gums. 2

3 When we add both natives and exotics planted the total number of trees planted at Gretel Lagoons is well over 12,000. Over the next decade many of the gums are likely to be logged - the pines were logged in 2016 and are being replaced by native trees and plants. INVENTORY OF BIRDS, ANIMALS & FISH SEEN AT TAUMATA LAGOON, CARTERTON, WAIRARAPA, NZ Over 50 bird species have now been identified some of these are: COMMON WATERBIRDS MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) GREY DUCK (Anas superciliosa) GREY TEAL (Anas gracilis gibberifrons) N.Z SHOVELER (Anas rhynchotis varigata) BLACK SWAN (Cygnus atratus) CANADA GEESE (Branta canadenis maxima) N.Z PARADISE SHELDUCK (Tadorna variegata) PUKEKO (Porphyrio porphyrio) RARE BIRDS OFTEN SEEN NZ PIGEON (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) N.Z DABCHICK (Poliocephalus rufopectus) ALL THREE SPECIES OF DOTTEREL OCCASIONAL WATERFOWL VISITORS N.Z SCAUP (Aythya novaeseelandiae) MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) ROYAL SPOONBILL (Platalea regia) NORTH AMERICAN WOOD DUCK(Aix sponsa) RARE BUSH BIRDS SEEN QUITE REGULARLY BELLBIRD (Anthornis melanura) FALCON (Falco novaeseelandiae) COMMON BUSH & WETLAND BIRDS MOREPORK (Ninox novaeseelandiae) HARRIER HAWK (Circus approximans) FANTAIL (Rhipidura fuliginosa) TUI (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) MAGPIE (Gymnorhina tibicen) STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) EASTERN ROSELLA (Platycercus eximius) RIFLEMAN (Acanthisitta chloris) WAXEYE (Zosterops lateralis) WHITE FACED HERON (Ardea novaehollandiae) OTHER COMMON BIRDS SHINING CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx lucidas) KING FISHER (Halcyon sancta) SPUR WINGED PLOVER (Vanellus spinosus) BLACK SHAG (Phalacrocorax carbo) WELCOME SWALLOW (Hirundo neoxena) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) PIED STILT (Himantopus leucocephalus) STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula) SPARROW (Passer domesticus) CHAFFINCH (Fringilla coelebs) YELLOW-HAMMER (Emberiza citronella) PIED STILT (Himantopus leucocephalus) ROOK (Corvus frugilegus) GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis) 3

4 OTHER BIRDS SIGHTED CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Lophortyx californicus) BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus dominicanus) RING NECK PHEASANT (Phasianus torquatus) WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) ANIMALS FERRET (Mustela putorius furo) FERREL CAT (Felis catus) STOAT (Mustela erminea) WEASEL (Mustela nivalis) HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus euorpeus) RABBIT (Oryctolagus cuniculus) HARE (Lepus europaeus) RAT(Rattus rattus)& (Rattus norvegicus) POSSUM (Trichosurus vulpecula) now a rare visitor FROGS (Litoria aurea and L. raniformi) FISH BROWN MUDFISH (Neochanna bilious) EELS (Anguilla australis schmidtii) PERCH (Perca fluvitalis) WILLOWS Whilst willow removal on the inside edge of the lagoon started in 1990, it was not until 2007 that another major removal of invasive willows commenced - in an area that was close to being an impenetrable jungle of willow and water. However, sufficient cover has been retained to provide vital aerial protection for waterfowl broods - from the Australian Harrier and the Black Shag. So, by 2018 we are close to achieving all our aims and objectives. A WATER LEVEL VIEW OF TAUMATA LAGOON IN 2016 A willow forest in front of the native bush was eliminated in

5 MORE PLANTING During the 2007, 2008 & 2009 planting seasons over 500 additional totara, kahikatea and over 300 native flaxes were planted in the area between the main block of bush and the block of native bush on the edge of Broadlands Lagoon. Some spectacular growth of Kahikatea & Totara here - 8-years down the track For 5-years we mowed between the rows to keep the grass under control, but with so much rain weed growth was incredible and the trees were getting buried! Mowing between the rows ceased in 2016 largely because the mower on the rear of our ever faithful 1954 TEA Massey was in rapid decline! The totara & kahikatea in this block are heading skywards very rapidly! In 1999 the historic stand of Kahikatea was enhanced by the planting of over 350 Kahikatea and 30 cabbage trees. Every tree planted has survived. In 2009 over 300 native swamp flaxes were planted adjacent to the block of Kahikatea where the ROSS LAGOON had been created (see page 11). These planting have given the historic Kahikatea s a new lease of life! 5

6 PREDATOR CONTROL Another major part of our activities is predator control, which started in 1990, targeting - FERRET, FERAL CAT, STOAT, POSSUM, HEDGEHOG, & RAT. Since 1990 trapping to 2018 has produced the following results for predators eliminated: MUSTELIDS 350 HEDGEHOG 420 POSSUM 295 RAT c3500 FERAL CAT 400 TOTAL c5,000 Since 2000 the predator control programme has been largely undertaken by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and we are indebted to the Council, particularly staff member Steve Playle, for this very significant support. Between 1990 & 2000 predator control was carried out only on the Hayes property, but since 2000 and the support of the Greater Wellington Regional Council the predator control programme now covers the entire 30 hectares of Taumata Lagoon and its environs with twenty trapping stations - involving the use of Timms, Fenn, Cage traps & the DOC250 trap. By 2018 predator eliminations are down to an average of only 3-4 animals/month, but ongoing control is essential! A RECORD SIZED FERRET (1.6kg) ELIMINATED AT GRETEL LAGOONS - ON 31/7/07 THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LARGEST FERRET EVER ELIMINATED IN NEW ZEALAND - ELIMINATED BY THE IMPRESSIVE NEW ZEALAND DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TIMMS TRAP ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR POSSUM CONTROL, BUT PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN ELIMINATING FERRETS, RATS, HEDGEHOGS AND HARRIER HAWKS! 6

7 Possibly the largest Stoat ever eliminated in New Zealand. This monster measured 50 centimetres from its nose to the end of its Fox-like tail! In addition to Mustelids feral cats are also at the top of the elimination hit list At Gretel Lagoons a mix of the highly successful TIMMS (possum trap), the world s most successful rat and mustelid trap the UK s FENN trap, cage traps and the DOC250 trap, are used to control all alien animals that have been responsible for the elimination of huge numbers of New Zealand s endemic birds: birds that evolved from the very beginning of live in New Zealand. Our success - heavily supported by the totally professional input of the Greater Wellington Regional Council has been the key to the 50 (plus) bird species being identified at Gretel Lagoons, together with their continued survival and successful reproduction. 7

8 A PAIR OF ENDEMIC NZ PIGEON (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR OFFICE. NZ PIGEON ARE REGULAR VISITORS TO THE HOME BLOCK & THE BUSH BLOCK. SINCE THE NZ PIGEON BECAME TOTALLY PROTECTED THEIR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN STEADILY INCREASING IN THE AREA THE HOME POND - CREATED IN 1992 Regular visitors to the home pond are NZ Shoveler, grey teal, grey duck, lots of mallards and in Oct 2012 a Carolina Wood Duck male visited the pond on two occasions. And in 2007 we had a pair of Royal Spoonbill spent some time on the home pond and the lagoon! 8

9 EXTERNAL FACTORS IMPACTING ON TAUMATA LAGOON Between 2002 & 2008 the Taumata Oxbow and its environs were seriously affected by adjacent dairy farm irrigation. The impact on water levels can be seen from the following photograph. This irrigation had a disastrous effect on the native trees and shrubs and on the birdlife and the instant and massive drawdown of water (nearly 1 metre in 3-weeks) destroyed twelve 200-year old kahikatea on the edge of the lagoon: all eliminated by he instant draw-down of lagoon levels 1 metre in 2-weeks! This disaster ended up in a 3 day GWRC Environmental Hearing and with massive support from the QEII National Trust, TV3 NEWS (TV3 produced a 5-minute news item), the Department of Conservation, neighbours, hydrologists, ecologists, and many others the three commissioners unanimously declined the irrigators application to continue irrigating from the existing bores. BROADLANDS LAGOON IN NOVEMBER 2006 BROADLANDS CAN BE SEEN ON THE FAR RIGHT OF THE AERIAL PHOTO ON PAGE 1 Broadlands Lagoon was created in 1992 soon after we received a substantial cheque from our good friend Norman Marsh & his conservation society Broadlands Wildfowl Trust ; with a note stating: THIS IS TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR WAIRARAPA PROJECTS! BROADLANDS LAGOON ON FOUR DAYS AFTER THE TWO IRRIGATION BORES ON ADJACENT DAIRY FARMING LAND WAS SWITCHED ON, WITH THE TWO BORES REMOVING 48 LITRES OF WATER PER SECONDOUT OF THE GROUND - AND THE LAGOON! (One bore was 80-metres from the lagoon & the other 120-metres) 9

10 FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GRETEL LAGOONS ENVIROMENTAL ENHANCEMENT IN APRIL 2007 THIS AREA IS PART OF THE MAIN LAGOON AND WAS ALMOST TOTALLY WILLOW INFESTED WITH LITTLE OPEN WATER THE RESULT IN SEPTEMBER 2007 NOW SUPERB HABITAT, BUT RETAINING SUFFICIENT AERIAL COVER TO PROTECT BROODS OF WATERFOWL FROM THE AUSTRALIAN HARRIER AND THE BLACK SHAG. SINCE 2007 THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE WILLOW HAS CONTINUED 10

11 THE ROSS LAGOON CREATED IN DECEMBER 2008 BY MURRAY ROSS FROM AKITIO, WITH THE SURVEY WORK CARRIED OUT BY BARRY SILVESTER. MURRAY AND HIS DIGGER ALSO STARTED THE 2007 WILLOW CLEARANCE ONSLAUGHT. OVER 450 NATIVE FLAX PLANTS NOW SURROUND THE ROSS LAGOON & THE ADJACENT AREAS THE CHATEAU D MAIMAI & VIEWING HIDE (Built by Barry Silvester in 2007) This photo clearly shows the impressive stand of ancient kahikatea 11

12 THIS AREA OF THE MAIN BUSH AT GRETEL LAGOONS WAS LOGGED IN THE EARLY 1960 s AND, WHERE, IN JULY 1990 THE HAYES FAMILY COMMENCED ITS RE-VEGETATION PROGRAMME - WITH BARE-ROOTED KAHIKATEA & TOTORA AND ALL HAVE DONE EXTREMELY WELL. OVER 8,000 NATIVE TREES AND PLANTS LATER WE ARE NOW WELL DOWN THE TRACK TO RE- ESTBLISHING THE AREA AS A REPLICA OF THE 1941 PHOTOGRAPH BELOW This is the aerial photograph (courtesy the GWRC Masterton) was taken in 1941 and shows that the whole inner circle of the TAUMATA oxbow was covered in native bush and that Gretel Lagoons was all native bush We were informed that the bulk of bush logging took place in the early 1960 s, but now know that logging started much earlier, as in many areas there are native bush stumps remaining in several areas of bush that can be seen in this photograph: in fact it is a miracle that any native bush survived! 12

13 MORE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT JANUARY 2010 BARRY SILVESTER & BOB HARD AT WORK REMOVING THOUSANDS OF INVASIVE WILLOW TREES. BARRY PURCHASED 5-HECTARES OF GRETEL LAGOONS IN 2010 AND IS A TRULY DEDICATED ENVIRONMENTALIST IN 2008 WORK COMMENCED ON RESTRUCTURING THE EXISTING WEIR AT THE TAUMATA LAGOON EXIT NUTTY FARM (At the end of the lagoon), SO THAT WHEN THE RUAMAHANGA RIVER IS IN FLOOD WATER ENTERS THE LAGOON VIA THE LARGE PIPE WITH A FLAP VALVE WAS FITTED AT THIS END OF THE INLET PIPE IN ORDER TO CAPTURE AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE LAGOON IS FULL THE EXCESS WATER EXITS OVER THE CENTRE OF THE WEIR THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL SINCE THE IRRIGATION DISASTER WAS RESOLVED. 13

14 FRAN WILDE (Chair Greater Wellington Regional Council) & NIGEL CORRY (GWRC Environmental Manager) WITH SUPPORTERS ALAN WILDE & BARRY SILVESTER (RESIDENT SURVEYOR). AS A RESULT OF THE VISIT BY Ms WILDE & NIGEL IN 2008 RAPID PROGRESS WAS MADE IN ELIMINATING THE DEVASTATING IRRIGATION PROBLEM A GOOGLE-EARTH IMAGE OF TAUMATA LAGOON IN 2010 THE HOME BLOCK CAN BE SEEN CENTRE LEFT. THE MASSIVE WILLOW INFESTATION CAN BE SEEN ON THE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE END OF THE LAGOON. ALL THIS WILLOW HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED. TAUMATA LAGOON IS ALMOST A COMPLETE CIRCLE AND IT IS AN OUTANDING EXAMPLE OF AN OXBOW LAGOON 14

15 A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL GRETEL LAGOONS Historically the most desirable lagoon water levels have relied heavily on flood water from the adjacent Waiohine River, but in 2014 a Waiohine River stop bank burst its banks the result being that flood water pours through the gap and heads straight to the Ruamahanga River instead of the lagoon! The Waiohine & the Ruamahanga rivers converge five kilometres to the south of Taumata Lagoon and each rivers floods 3 to 4 times each year. The Regional Council informed the four owners of Taumata Lagoon that they had no funds available to rebuild the stopbank and the owner of the stopbank property said he didn t want the stopbank rebuilt! On September 14 th at my instigation, a meeting was held on site to discuss how best the problem could be resolved. Involved were GWRC staff, the lagoon owners, the Wairarapa QEII National Trust representative and the landowner of the stopbank area. With full support of all involved the outcome of the meeting was to reverse the flow of water through the adjacent neighbours flood drainage channel (which normally puts flood water back into the Waiohine River), construct a culvert under the road, construct a channel on the Hayes property and join it up with the culvert. Work on the project commenced in January soon after Resource Consent was granted. In 1942, in the same area, there were large numbers of endemic Totara (Podocarpus totara) and the endemic Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), but these trees, apart from 8 totara, were milled between 1950 &

16 Many of the Totara & Kahikatea in the main part of the natural forest were also milled at the same time, but approximately 100 ancient Totara and 250 ancient Kahikatea survived and most of these now have a QEII National Trust Open Space Covenant over them, which protects them in perpetuity. All finished five days later with grass seed spread throughout the flat ground Flow of water from the neighbours drain was reversed - and instead of the water flowing back into the Waiohine River it now flows into Taumata Lagoon. The first flow of water from the Waiohine River was in April

17 THE CANAL IN FULL FLOW JULY 2017 BY WHICH TIME A ROW OF NZ SWAMP FLAX (Phormium tenax) HAD BEEN PLANTED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CANAL. (Now named the SUEZ #2 ) NZ Swamp Flax grows rapidly and provides an excellent wind break for other endemic plants and trees and food for the endemic TUI (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), BELLBIRD (Anthornis melanura) & the native FANTAIL (Rhipidura) the NZ Native flax provides an array of insects and nectar. The first flow through the canal and into the lagoon was in April 2017 SUMMARY ON THIS SECTION A superb outcome to a complex wetland management problem Sincere thanks to the GWRC s, Masterton Branch; the GWRC Head Office, all landowners involved; particularly the adjacent neighbours - the Herrick Family - for the use of their drain and the QEII National Trust, for their support 17

18 OTHER ACTIVITIES AT GRETEL LAGOONS At the house site, which is some 150 metres from the main lagoon, we have five purpose built aviaries for breeding the rare and endangered N.Z Brown Teal (Pateke) - a project we have been part of since the early 1970 s. (In September 2001 one of our early brown teal - a pinioned female - died at the age of 24 years & 3 months) FIVE AVIARIES SPECIALLY BUILT FOR BREEDING & PAIRING BROWN TEAL PATEKE THE HAYES FAMILY HAS REARED OVER 300 PATEKE IN CAPTIVITY SINCE 1973 & PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN HELPING SAVE BROWN TEAL FROM EXTINCTION THIS SUPERB BROWN TEAL (Pateke) PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN BY LYNDA FERINGA OF THE WAIRARAPA TIMES AGE NEWSPAPER IN ONE OF OUR AVIARIES. WHEN EUROPEANS STARTED TO ARRIVE IN THE EARLY 1800 s PATEKE WHERE SPREAD THROUGHOUT NZ IN MILLIONS! FOSSIL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENT HERE FOR OVER 10,000-YEARS. IT IS BELIEVED THAST THEY EVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING OF LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND! PATEKE ARE NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD 18

19 MORE PLANTING THE FINAL PLANTING PROGRAM In August 2015 our neighbour, who has leased 2-acres from the Hayes Family for ten years headed back to Australia and because we are insane we decided to put it into native trees and plants. August is really too late for planting trees, but we managed to plant 34 native swamp flax plants and all are doing well. (Thanks to a $100 donation from the QEII National Trust who have protected the 10.4 Hectares of GRETEL LAGOONS in perpetuity). Since then we have planted another 100 native swamp flax plants, 44 Totara, 10 Kahikatea & 50 other native trees & shrubs in this area! Our FINAL planting program ended in June By 2018 we have proven this ancient Greek proverb to be incorrect! A society grows great when old people plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. SYLVIA HARD AT WORK IN JULY PLANTING TOTARA- 19

20 ENTRANCE TO THE TREVOR THOMPSON (QEll NATIONAL TRUST WAIRARAPA REPRESENTATIVE) & THE JOHN BLATCHFORD BLOCK TWO SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER 200 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS TO THE AREA. THIS AREA ALREADY HAD A QEII NATIONAL TRUST OPEN SPACE COVENANT OVER IT A VIEW FROM THE HAYES LOUNGE WITH GROOSUM & PATRICIA ON THE STEPS & A PAIR OF WILD PARRIES ON THE LAWN 20

21 PATRICIA PATRICIA WAS A FAMILY PET AND WAS WITH THE HAYES FAMILY FOR 15-YEARS. PATRICIA IS FEMALE NZ PARADISE SHELDUCK THE ONLY SPECIES OF WATERFOWL WHERE THE FEMALE IS MORE COLOURFUL THAN THE MALE. NZ PARADISE SHELDUCK ARE ENDEMIC TO NEW ZEALAND (found nowhere else in the world) AND ARE THE ONLY ENDEMIC WATERFOWL SPECIES TO HAVE INCREASED IN NUMBERS, HAVING BENEFITED FROM THE LAND CLEARANCE STARTED IN THE EARLY 1800 S - SOON AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF EUROPEANS. THEY ARE NOW A GAME BIRD IN MOST REGIONS. SADLY, IN 2017 PATRICIA WAS RUN-OVER OUTSIDE OUR GATE! THE NZ PARADISE SHELDUCK IS WELL KNOWN FOR IMPRINTING ON PEOPLE GROOSUM A COMPLETELY INSANE CANADA GOOSE, BUT A SUPERB WATCH-DOG HERE HE IS SUPERVISING THE UNLOADING OF A SHIPMENT OF TURKISH SHOTGUNS. GROOSUM ARRIVED HERE AS A JUVENILE 16-YEARS AGO HAVING BEEN HAND REARED BY A LOCAL FARMER 21

22 BAZ A VERY IMPORTANT FAMILY MEMBER AND A GREAT RETRIEVER (BAZ ARRIVED ON SYLVIA S BIRTHDAY IN 2008 VERY MUCH TO HER SURPRISE!) L-R: Associate Professor Dr Elizabeth Jones, Bud Jones QSM (the Jones have created 25 wetlands and planted over 30,000 trees on their properties in Northern Wairarapa), Sylvia Hayes and Barry Silvester our neighbour at Gretel Lagoons. This photo was take in November 2017 when all land owners with a QEII Open Space Covenant on their property were invited to attend Government House in Wellington to celebrate the 40 th Anniversary of the launch of the QEII National Trust. This was the Hayes 4 th visit to Govt House Horrie Sinclair MBE in 1984, Neil Hayes QSM 2005, Bud Jones QSM 2012 & the 40- year celebration and we ve got to like the place! 22

23 A BRIEF SUMMARY We thought it time to bring our activities up to date since our 2012 version of what we ve achieved at GRETEL LAGOONS (over the past 28-years) and with the help of many people with our planting programme and we are now close to achieving all the initial objectives of our native bush and wetland restoration programme. During the 28-years we ve had lots of dignitaries visit; including, Dr Janet Kear of the UK s Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (twice) Janet was a prolific author of waterfowl of the world books and wrote glowing comments about our work in our copy of her book MAN & WILDFOWL about our work with PATEKE, Dr Glyn Young from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Dr Frank Todd from SeaWorld in San Diego, Sir Brian Lahore, the Mayors of Masterton & Carterton and two TV film crews! (We also had 3 TV film crews to film our back yard work when we were in Wainuiomata!) We are (modestly) proud of our work at GRETEL LAGOONS and aim to continue the enhancement and sustainability of the area for the benefit of future generations of people and wildlife. Much of what we ve achieved would at GRETEL LAGOONS would not have been possible without the fantastic support we ve received during the past 28- years; particularly Arthur Thomas, Jim Glover, Jen & Bob Pomeroy, Alan Wilde, Howard Egan, Ted Hansen, Steve Playle, Barry Silvester, John Blatchford, Bruce Cole, Brian Hamer, Trevor Thompson (QEII), Chris, Julian & Kyle Hayes, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, the QEII National Trust and our neighbours and we thank all for their support. 23