Sunday, 20 January 2019 03:32
In Brief
Symposium in Napier
The National Wetland Restoration Symposium will be held in Napier on 26-28 September, with Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage delivering the opening keynote address. The theme for this year’s symposium is Living Wetlands in the Living Landscape.
Other speakers are Australian ecologist Matt Herring and the new CEO for Fish & Game, Martin Taylor.
Forum seeks changes
The Land and Water Forum wants a new national body to oversee freshwater management to prevent the decline of wetlands and ‘outstanding water bodies’. Forum chair Dr Hugh Logan said, “A motivated effort at a national level is required to improve water quality. It will require better coordination and deployment of resources, which we believe should be delivered through a new Land and Water Commission.”
In its report, commissioned by the Government, the forum said the Resource Management Act should be stronger to prevent decline of wetlands.
Environment Minister David Parker said some, but not all, of the forum’s recommendations would be adopted. Suggested changes to the RMA were not likely to be introduced to Parliament this year, he said.
Injured bittern found
A severely malnourished bittern (matuku) has been found with a damaged wing by SH16 in Helensville.
A few weeks earlier in August, another bittern was caught on video at the Orangihina Wetlands in Te Atatu, West Auckland.
Rescue Charitable Trust hospital operations manager Lyn McDonald said the injured bittern would not fly again because of its injury.