World Wetlands Day 2003: New Zealand

World Wetlands Day The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2003: New Zealand

World Wetlands Day 2003 - Events and Activities

(all events take place on Sunday February 2 unless otherwise indicated))

National Activities

Launch of 2003 Gamebird Habitat Stamp (at the WWD national event) Income from the sale of the stamp is used to fund the Game Bird Habitat Trust Board’s grants to wetland restoration. Gamebird Habitat Trust Board, New Zealand Post.

Announcement of Fish and Game New Zealand’s “Gold Medal” Award winners (at the national event). The Gold Medal is given to individuals or organisations who have made a meritorious contribution to the fish and game movement. This predominantly involves wetlands restoration and creation. Fish and Game New Zealand.

Northland

National Event: Minister of Conservation: Opening of Flaxmill Wetland. Fish and Game, Northland Regional Council. Contact: Rudi Hoetjes 09 438 4135.

Auckland/Waikato

Crocodile Island Clean Up Day and picnic Orewa Estuary. Saturday February 1. Forest and Bird. Contact Spencer Drinkwater Forest and Bird PO Box 310, Orewa.

Kahikatea Information Sharing Field Day, Walton, Saturday 1 February Environment Waikato, DOC, Q E II Trust, CBER, Landcare Research Contact: Karen Denyer 0800 800 401.

Wetland Tour, BBQ and architect’s vision for the National Wetland Interpretation Centre. Fish and Game, National Wetlands Trust DOC. Contact: Shonagh Lindsay 09 360 5801.

Wellington

Open Day Nga-mahu Reserve Waikanae. With presentation on the wetlands from NIWA. Greater Wellington Council, NIWA. Contact: Melanie Dixon 0800 496 734.

Wairarapa Wetlands Tour. Ducks Unlimited (to be confirmed) Contact: Juliet Oliver 06 304 9160.

Rotorua

Lake Okareka Event. Opening of a walkway, talks, guided walks, water testing and discussion group. Fish and Game. Contact: Andy Garrick 07 357 5501.

Tour lower Kaituna Wildlife Reserve near Te Puke. This is the site of a major enhancement programme over the past 10 years. DOC.

Tour of the Norske/Skog/Carter Holt Harvey wetlands in Kawerau. Forest and Bird.

Taranaki

Field trip to the Nowell Lakes south of Hawea. Fish and Game, Taranaki Regional Council Contact: Allen Stancliff 06 757 9676.

Nelson

Shop Display Fish and Game.

Field trip and wetland interpretation at Pearl Creek, Sunday 26 January Fish & Game, DOC, Tasman District Council Contact: Lawson Davey 03 544 6382.

Christchurch

Weed walk exploring the shores of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere on a weed-spotting mission, March 26. DOC, Taumutu runanga. To be confirmed. Contact: Ann Paltridge 03 371 3719.

Field trip to Moana Rua/Lake Pearson to look at lake and special species e.g. crested grebe and native fish. Fish & Game, DOC, Ngai Tahu Contact: Rochelle Hardy 03 366 9191.

Ashburton Community Open Day. Tour of wetland’s project at Langdon’s Farm. Ashburton.Environment Canterbury, Royal Forest and Bird Society. Contact Janine Holland 03 365 3828.

CSI

Ealings Springs Wetlands Visit. (To be confirmed). Fish and Game Contact: Mark Webb 03 615 8400.

West Coast

Wetlands Display, Department of Conservation office, Sewell Street, Hokitika. DOC.

Wetlands Display, Haast Visitor Centre. DOC.

Otago

Tree “Plantathon” at the Otikia Wetland near SH1 20 minutes south of Dunedin. Fish and Game, Otago Regional Council, Taieri Trust. Contact: Richard Fitzpatrick 03 477 9076.

Southland.

A bus tour of Fish and Game’s wetlands in the Lumsden area, showing some of the fish species present with various netting techniques and discussing some of the wetland bird species. Fish & Game, DOC, Environment Southland, Iwi and Southland District Council will be represented. Fish and Game. Contact Zane Moss 03 215 9117.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 13 February 2003, Sandra Hails, Ramsar.