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President Allan welcomed 31 members and our guest speaker to this mornings meeting. As we have a significant list of activities over the next six months, (as has been highlighted by President Allan and via the last two Bulletins,) Allan took the opportunity to again go through the list once more. If you missed the meeting you can review the list in last weeks Bulletin.  IPP Peter B was our Snap Chatter this morning and he took the opportunity of recapping the Clubs visit last week to Little Barrier Island. The visit has been hailed as a great success and the club was very priviledged to have had this experience. The Club's sincere thanks to Peter B, David Stone and the Hauturu Trust for making this a reality . This picture of the group was taken on arrival back at Sandspit.  Guest Speaker - Dr. Bruce Burns; Bruce is on the Board of Motutapu Trust and is Chair of the Natural Heritage Committee and his addressed slotted in perfectly following the Clubs visit last week to Little Barrier Island. Motutapu Island is 175 million years old, one of the oldest in the region while Rangitoto, which is joined by a small causeway, is only 600 years old. The Island was originally populated by Maori and it is one of the most important archaeological sites in New Zealand. During WW2 it was occupied by the NZ Military and 5 years after the War, DOC saw a huge opportunity for conservation and recreation. In the early 1990's pests, such as Wallabies and Possums, were eradicated and a programme of planting native trees began in 1994. To date 500 hectares have been planted with a goal of 1000 hectares. The current planting programme sees 3 - 5 hectares planted per year. Apart from the beauty of the bush, which is now beginning to mature, there is an abundance of native birds populating the island. One of the success stories is the repopulation of Coromandel Kiwi's - 93 were reintroduced in 2012, with a goal of 180 to be settled by 2022 and in 2023 there are plans to breed Kiwis on Motatapu that will then be sent to other parts of the country where repopulation hasn't been as successful. |
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Actions of Choice Inspires Communities
Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please remember to RSVP your attendance to our Evening meetings!
Please click on "Read More', to view the latest letter received from our sponsored student Mwanahawa who is attending St Judes School in Tanziania. For those newer to the club a little background;
Club Services Director (Brian Fergus) is looking for Guest Speaker ideas. If you have recently heard (or heard of) a guest speaker who you think would appeal to our membership - please let Brian know. Email: b.fergus@xtra.co.nz
