My Work in News and Media
March 20, 2024
Motueka Guardian, Page 5
The Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust has been selected as one of the three finalists for the 2024 Ministry for Primary Industries BioHeritage Challenge Community Award. The BioHeritgae category is based on groups or individuals being recognised for their biosecurity work protecting our natural and physical resources from pests and diseases that can cause harm.“ Being selected as finalists in the awards is fabulous recognition and great publicity to encourage others to do similar things and why community Groups can be successful?”, says co-founder and project manager Charmaine Petereit.
March 1, 2024
Ministry for Primary Industries
The New Zealand Biosecurity Awards finalists have been announced, recognising the diverse and inspiring biosecurity activities happening nationwide. The awards honour individuals and organisations dedicated to safeguarding New Zealand from pests and diseases, contributing to the resilience of the biosecurity system. A wide range of finalists, including individuals, community groups, and iwi, showcase projects protecting the economy, taonga, and environment. The judging panel faced challenges in selecting finalists due to the high-quality entries, reflecting the significant contributions made by entrants. Winners will be revealed at the awards event in Wellington on 8 April. The New Zealand Biosecurity Awards page provides more information about the finalists.
January 15, 2024
Nelson Mail
A rare discovery of threatened Nelson Green Geckos on Tākaka Hill has raised hopes for the species' survival. Charmaine and Norman Petereit found three geckos on private land near Kahurangi National Park, suggesting a potential thriving population in the area. The geckos, known for their camouflage and solitary nature, face threats from predators like rats and stoats. The Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust is working with partners to develop a conservation plan for habitat protection and predator control to safeguard the gecko population and preserve the region's biodiversity.
October 26, 2022
Motueka Guardian, Page 7
The Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust has received a $30,000 grant from the Rātā Foundation. The grant will support pest-plant and predator control programs and fund smaller projects like monitoring habitat protection for rare local fauna. The Trust uses acoustic bird recorders to monitor birdcalls as indicators of habitat health, providing valuable data on the impacts of predator control and habitat restoration efforts. This data will help the Trust identify areas that require more intensive intervention or a refocus of predator control efforts.
July 30, 2021
National Wilding Confier Control Program
The Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust has received a $250,000 grant for the second phase of its National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, extending efforts until 2023. The project involves targeted control of wilding pines based on diverse land uses, including working farms, 'back to the land' properties, and former plantation forests. The community-led initiative prioritizes an "all-of-terrain" approach, using stem herbicide drill-and-fill for effective control. The work is vital for water catchment on Takaka Hill, with a focus on sustained impact beyond 2023.
February 26, 2021
Ravensdown
Allanah Kidd, our Sustainability Manager, met this week with Charmaine Petereit, Project Manager, Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust, local landowners and members of our Lime Operations Team to discuss common biodiversity objectives at our Ngarua Lime Works.
September 17, 2020
Stuff
Takaka Hill landowners, backed by a $97,000 Department of Conservation grant, are establishing a trapping network to protect birdlife between Kahurangi and Abel Tasman national parks. The Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group's 24 landowners aim to combat predators and contribute to the Predator Free 2050 initiative. The funding also supports their efforts to control wilding pines on the hill, aligning with the broader Jobs for Nature program. The collaborative approach emphasizes landowners as guardians and aims to create a lasting legacy of predator control.
Date 2020
Tasman District Council
Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust has secured $250,000 for Year 2 and 3 of its wilding pine control project, building on the completed Year 1 initiative funded with $119,750. The project aims to expand control efforts, including work on public conservation land within Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, contributing to a 30-year strategy to preserve the unique karst ecosystems on Takaka Hill. Wilding pine control is scheduled to start in mid-September and operates independently from the Tasman District Council’s Jobs for Nature program, although there is collaboration between the two.