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Issue 173

Issue 173

November 2017

 

  • Sad news inside
  • Canadian catch-up
  • Pukaha good breeding
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From the President

From the President
Obituary Nancy Payne Nancy Payne passed away recently at 93 years, 31 years of which she had been a Ducks Unlimited NZ member. With the support of her son David and his wife Sheryl, Nancy attended many annual DU conferences the last one being at Martinborough in August 2017. In the past she was known…
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DU has lost three stalwart members

Audrey Pritt, Nancy Payne and Ian Pirani
Recently in the last couple of months, Ducks Unlimited has lost three stalwart members. They are Ian Pirani, Nancy Payne, and Audrey Pritt. You will find their obituaries, along with photos on pages 3 to 5 in flight magazine. Nancy Payne one of the oldest members of DUNZ will be missed, always had a smile,…
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Originals and stalwarts – strong and resolute

The Originals: At AGM and Conference held in Palmerston North three years ago. From left Di Pritt, Jim Campbell, Ian Parani, Dawn Parani, and Paul Parani.
Ian was a great guy I met him at one of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society branch meetings around 1966. He and Dawn lived at Pauatahanui on a few acres – right next to Dawn’s brother’s farm of close to 400 acres. In 1969 we decided to establish a pheasant breeding and shooting club – called…
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QSM for DUs first president Ian Pirani

In July 2015, Andy Garrick CEO of Eastern Fish & Game (left) and DU life Member Ian Pirani was recognised for his long involvement with F&G. The inscription reads: In recognition for your long term dedication and commitment to the conservation and management of New Zealand’s water fowl and their wetland habitats.
Ian received a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) in that year’s Queen’s Birthday honours for services to conservation. In 1974 Ian was a co-founder of Ducks Unlimited and was the first president of DUNZ until 1980. During that time Ian and his wife Dawn initiated a Pateke breeding programme and nesting boxes for Grey Teal throughout…
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Gone but not forgotten

Inspirational – Nancy Payne and her special bunch. 2015.
48 hrs ago we lost our Mum That is the only time I can ever say that. There is only ever the one Mum and there are no second times. It’s a strange concept and feeling that began in our case in 1923 when Mum’s life first began. In that time since, she has seen…
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Audrey Pritt – Always had a smile

Audrey Pritt – Always had a smile
Obituary: Audrey Pritt Audrey Eleanor Pritt, born 2 January 1926 in New Plymouth, in the same month as George Martin who became the Beatles producer, and the German airline Lufthansa was formed. Audrey died on 4 September this year, aged 91. She moved to Ohakune at 6 years old – her father working at the…
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A unique New Zealand wetland enhancement project

A wetland of national importance and a classic oxbox lagoon.
In 2008 Taumata Lagoon, south east of Carterton in the Wairarapa Region of New Zealand, was classified as “A WETLAND OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE”. The lagoon is also recognised as the country’s best example of an “Oxbow Lagoon” – with both ends of the lagoon being only 300-metres apart. In addition, the inner area of the…
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Spring Has Sprung

Black stilts: Breeding pair.
The 2017/18 breeding season has begun and The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust (ICWT) once again reached its busy rearing phase. Early October saw the collection of the first clutch of critically endangered New Zealand shore plover eggs for artificial incubation. Critically endangered black stilt/kaki pairs had also begun laying eggs. ICWT is happy to…
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Pukaha Mount Bruce welcomes new General Manager

Pukaha has a new general manager, Emily Court. She started in her role immediately after Labour weekend. Ms Court moved to the Wairarapa from Christchurch two years ago after spending the previous five years working in a business recovery role after the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. She led a recovery programme for the international…
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New hatchings at Pukaha Mount Bruce

Check out the ducklings with their mother.
September 2017: Pukaha Mt Bruce Since staff at Pukaha last caught up, the Pateke pair now have six ducklings in their care. The Whio, that live in their free flight aviary have also been sitting on a clutch of five eggs. Also the first monitored wild kiwi chicks were safely hatched in the reserve. Staff…
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Musings from the Marsh – Habitat te Henga

Trees going in: Rotary International’s call to plant a tree to mitigate against Global Warming was taken up by a group of local Rotarians who managed to do far better than just one tree and included 20-30 large sized kahikatea and pukatea.
Having just returned from trip to Southern Africa where brown was in fashion, I was glad to visit our wetland and rejoice in the green of all the wetland and surrounding bush flora. A good year for white also with heketara and clematis splashing through the canopy. Making my way quietly to the oxbow where…
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The new green scene

A row of homes in Oak Bluff, Man., is reflected in a naturalised storm water system constructed by DUC’s Native Plant Solutions. Growing in popularity, these wetland-like systems offer attractive, sustainable green infrastructure solutions that support biodiversity and connect residents with nature.
Harnessing wetlands as green infrastructure solutions to our water woes For one weekend every July in Canada, the village of St. Pierre-Jolys hosts the National Frog Jumping Championship. It’s part of the annual Frog Follies Festival. The thriving Franco-Manitoban community is also proud of its parks, a new residential compost pickup service and the Trans-Canada…
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Shore Plover breeding success at Pukaha Mount Bruce

Shore Plover breeding success at Pukaha Mount Bruce
The mission to save more than one endangered bird species has been enriched by last year’s successful breeding programmes at Pukaha Mount Bruce. The Shore Plover programme saw over 10 birds transported from Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre to Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf and Portland Island off the Mahia peninsula. The shore…
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