When the rain fell New councillors - May 2020 - Our flooding special What makes our new councillors tick?
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May 2020 When the rain fell Our flooding special From page 3 New councillors What makes our new councillors tick? Page 20
Contents
February’s floods – a look back 3-13
More than a pond 14
Coastal Plan 16
Pest advice online 18
Proud to be Ag Proud 19
New councillors 20
Updates 22
Time to think about... 23
On the farm 23 We have been open for Southlanders are
business even if our resilient and we will get
Out in the field 24
offic e has been c losed. through these uncertain
Very early on in the Covid-19 response the times.
majority of our staff were set up to work
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted our
remotely.
lives, livelihoods and communities in ways
We have continued to deliver our essential we couldn’t have imagined. My thoughts
services such as pollution incident are with those who have experienced
response, harbourmaster activities, flood personal loss and hardship.
warning, flood protection and support for
Both the February flood and Covid-19 have
Emergency Management Southland.
set ongoing challenges and our farmers,
What field work we do is subject to as high quality food producers, now
Covid-19 requirements and ensuring our find themselves at the forefront of New
staff and people in the community can be Zealand’s economic recovery.
Envirosouth is published three times a year kept safe.
by Environment Southland. It is delivered to The flood was the largest on record for
every mailbox in the region. We welcome your Our engineers have mostly completed the Mataura.
comments on anything published in repairs to our stop banks following the
this magazine. Fortunately, our stop bank infrastructure
February flood.
ISSN 2537-8902 (Print) protected a lot of people and property.
ISSN 2537-8910 (Online) The stop banks continue to prove their It performed well in urban areas, though
Contact Us worth, and we have responded to the there were some breaches in rural areas
call for infrastructure projects to aid the that caused damage.
Cnr North Rd & Price St, Invercargill
(03) 211 5115 | 0800 76 88 45 economic recovery with a $34 million
During the flood, Southlanders really
service@es.govt.nz | www.es.govt.nz proposal to upgrade some of Southland’s
www.facebook.com/environmentsouthland looked out for one another and we need
stop bank infrastructure.
to continue to do that as we forge a new
Cover
Southland Federated Farmers normal.
president Bernadette Hunt (in high vis
vest) joins the Farmy Army clearing fence
lines after the February floods.
See story page 7.
Rob Phillips, Chief Executive, Environment Southland Nicol Horrell, Chairman, Environment Southland
Environment Southland
A thriving Southland – te taurikura o Murihiku
2 Envirosouth May 2020
FEBRUARY FLOODS FEATURE
Smiles, games and kitten
sitting during flood response
A smile and a friendly face can make a big difference in an emergency. That’s
the view of Kevin Whitney from New Zealand Red Cross Disaster, Welfare and
Support Team in Invercargill.
Volunteers from the Invercargill Red Cross Disaster, Welfare and Support Team train weekly for deployment to places affected by disasters. That training
came in handy when they were sent to support the Te Anau and Mataura communities during the February floods. L-R Kevin Whitney, Thomas Driver,
Connie Reid, Gita Bhendari and Nigel Pau’u.
K
evin was one of the volunteers who Mataura Community Hub where they already important responsibilities –
were activated to support tourists supported local people who had been looking after a rescued kitten. Despite all
and locals in Milford and Mataura evacuated and were returning home. the volunteers willing to take it home, the
during February’s floods. kitten was very happy to be reunited with
In Mataura the team’s role was slightly
its 10-year-old owner the next day.
“We initially spent the day in Te Anau, different. “We were filling out needs
supporting staff and tourists being assessment forms with people, putting Red Cross volunteers also spent some
evacuated from Milford. We were mainly together care packages of food and blankets, time with the Farmy Army helping with the
providing lots of cups of tea and coffee and and providing that emotional support.” fence clearing during the clean-up, and
support; just being there.” making follow-up needs’ assessment calls
The trailer also came in handy at the local
from the Emergency Coordination Centre
The team had its trailer, which is loaded marae where the Red Cross team helped
in Invercargill.
with everything anyone could need to set up for evacuees not able to return
in an evacuation, even games. “It was home. “The marae had enough mattresses, Kevin says the thing that has stuck with
really handy to have games and balls to but we were able to provide pillows and him from his experience is how the
entertain the kids on the basketball courts blankets from our trailer.” community stepped up and took care of
in the centre,” Kevin says. each other. “The community support has
The team took the night shift at the
really been excellent.”
Next, the team was redeployed to the community hub, and added to their
3
FEBRUARY FLO
Preparation pays off
during February floods
When your full-time rivers rose, evacuations got underway and
communities needed support.
both impressed to discover their unique
experience came at no cost and humbled
job is spent preparing “Our approach has been about building
by the care they received.
and waiting for the relationships with key people, building For Angus, who has been in Southland for
that trust and confidence and knowing just under five years, he always imagined
big emergency, what who to talk to. We were able to delegate the big emergency would be a flood.
does it feel like when it decisions to local people who were in the
“We’ve stood up the Emergency
best position to make those decisions and
actually happens? let them get on with it. We supported them
Coordination Centre to assist with other
things, like the velvetleaf incursion and
F
to do what they knew was best.”
or Emergency Management provided support during smaller events, but I
Southland manager Angus McKay, he Angus said the evacuation of tourists from expected a big flood would come eventually.
hasn’t really taken time to reflect on Milford is believed to be the biggest air
“It was a bit of the unknown because
that since the beginning of February when evacuation in New Zealand and required a
we had lots of flood protection that was
a major flooding event in Milford rapidly huge team effort to ensure the tourists were
amazing but it really hadn’t been put to
merged into an even bigger flooding event not only safely evacuated, but that their needs
the test. On the whole it stood up really
for Southland. were met when they arrived in Te Anau.
well, but it was a reminder that we will
He does believe though that the event “Many of these people arrived wet, cold still get lots of flooding even with the best
proved that the team at Emergency and quite distressed. Some of them protection in place, that’s the reality.”
Management Southland is on the right track had nothing with them and many were
The highlights for Angus include the success
with the approach they’ve been working concerned about what all this was going to
of the emergency mobile alert system, the
on for the last few years and the benefits cost them.”
community approach, the efforts of the
were obvious as the rain continued to fall, Angus said the overseas tourists were team in the Emergency Coordination Centre
and the support of the wider Civil Defence
community, including the fly-in team
(teams formed at a national level who fly
in to support regional Civil Defence teams
during an event).
“But at the end of the day it’s about the
people and they all performed really well.
You can have all the great processes and
systems, but it’s the people who make it
happen.”
And while the recovery continues, Angus
is all too aware that there’s no time to take
a breath.
“We actually don’t know what’s around the
corner – we have to be ready if this was to
happen again in another two weeks. And
we would be…”
This story was written before the Covid-19
lockdown when Angus and his team were
Environment Southland councillor and Civil Defence Emergency Management Group chair Neville
Cook and Emergency Management Southland manager Angus McKay sign the declaration of a state immediately put into action to support the
of emergency for Southland on Tuesday 4 February. Government response.
4 Envirosouth May 2020
O O D S F E AT U R E
People the key to success
during an emergency
This February’s severe flooding might have been a first for many of those
involved in the response, but for Southland Civil Defence Emergency
Management Group chair Neville Cook, it was his third major flooding event.
D
uring his long Police career, Neville Neville said he will remember this event
worked through the 1978 and 1984 as a success. He acknowledged there are
floods, before overseeing the most people who have suffered losses from the
Emergency Management
recent event from a broader perspective. flooding but the outcomes could have
Southland is a shared service
been so much worse.
It puts him in the unusual position of being established by the four
able to compare the events and reflect on “The amazing team we had made a Southland councils (Environment
how much technology and knowledge has difference, they were prepared to make Southland, Invercargill City
supported improved management and decisions and adapt when something Council, Gore District Council,
helped reduce the impacts of events like unexpected came up. We’ve also proved Southland District Council). They
these. that we can evacuate Milford if we need to are responsible for the delivery
and that people can be safely looked after of Civil Defence and emergency
“This was so much better managed, but
in there in the event of an emergency. management responses
this was also our first real opportunity to
throughout the region.
test the new structure set up several years “There’s a lot of learnings from these
ago, with the shared service model. It really floods but personally it was a delight to be
showed its value as the situation escalated involved with people so good at their jobs.”
pretty quickly, we had a dedicated team
there ready to go and we weren’t rushing
around trying to get councils together.”
He acknowledged the entire Southland
community who responded superbly
to the emergency, making the work of
emergency services staff so much easier.
Neville also paid credit to Emergency
Management Southland manager Angus
McKay and his team who had spent a long
time preparing for an emergency, training
staff and working with communities
to ensure they knew how to support
themselves and each other.
“We had the Ministry for Civil Defence
sitting with us, there were people who
came from so many organisations to work
in the Emergency Coordination Centre and
there was a real sense that everybody who
was there wanted to be there.”
“The potential for damage was high and
if we hadn’t had the flood protection
infrastructure in place that we do, some
of the predictions for possibly disastrous The busy Emergency Coordination Centre operated 24/7 during the first week of the floods, with
outcomes would have been realised.” people from a variety of services involved.
5
FEBRUARY FLO
Recovery will
take time
"As a community we have
to find a new normal,
it won’t be the same as Recovery
before, not just physically coordinators
but emotionally too."
KEN SWINNEY
In Fiordland, where
businesses will face
project work, his expertise and years of disruption from the impacts
experience as an alternate controller for of the flooding on the
Milford Road for some time,
Civil Defence made him the obvious choice
Community Board chair Sarah
to lead the recovery.
Greaney is coordinating the
Ken says the Southland community is well local recovery, supported by
known for pulling together and helping each Southland District councillor
Ken Swinney, Recovery Manager other out when times are tough, so it’s more Ebel Kremer.
important than ever that we remember For Eastern Southland the
For many, the impact people still need help and the recovery from local recovery coordination
these floods could take a long time. is being done by Gore District
of February’s flooding Council team member Shelley
“As a community we have to find a new Lithgow (focusing on Gore)
is already becoming a normal, it won’t be the same as before, not and Mataura community
distant memory, but for just physically but emotionally too. There
are people who have been forced out of
development coordinator
Eleanor Ranstead (focusing
those most affected, their homes by the flood damage, farmers on Mataura).
who have lost their winter feed supplies
there are still many and businesses who are struggling.”
Recovery coordination for
the rural sector continues to
challenges ahead. As part of the recovery plan, local recovery be led by the Rural Support
Trust.
E
coordinators were appointed in March and
mergency Management Southland they will be the main point of contact for
has appointed former Environment affected communities.
Southland strategy and corporate
planning manager Ken Swinney as the “Our biggest challenges over the next few
recovery manager. Ken left his full- months will be the Milford Road, getting
time role last year after nearly 40 years damaged homes repaired and people back
involvement at the Southland County into them and supporting the rural sector
Council, Southland District Council and to tackle their problems,” says Ken.
Environment Southland. “However, people will always be our
Although he always planned to return in number one priority, so we need to make
a part-time capacity this year for some sure we are all looking after each other.”
6 Envirosouth May 2020
O O D S F E AT U R E
Community responds
to call for help
When the community pulls together great things can happen and this has
been clearly demonstrated during and after the February floods.
R
ealising early on that the flooding in “The farmers were really moved by the for help from the service and although the
Southland was going to be a serious support, you could see it on their faces. flood is over, there are still a number of
event, Southland Federated Farmers Having help with time consuming, basic recovery projects and people that need
president Bernadette Hunt sent out a clean-up allowed them to start to focus on support. The rural recovery programme is
Facebook call for people to join their 'Farmy the bigger clean-up issues.” being led by the Southland Rural Support
Army’ and the community responded. Meeting points were set up in Gore, Trust which is an active part of the wider
The flooding caused an estimated 100 Edendale and Riversdale to support a range emergency response.
kilometres of damage to fencing that needed of areas that were affected. The support The Southland Rural Support Trust also
to be cleared or repaired, and destroyed or became so widespread that smaller played a key role in the flooding response,
damaged over 2000 bales of hay. individual groups made up of neighbours, initially creating a base in a building at
The only requirement of helpers was a family and friends started springing up Environment Southland alongside the
willingness to get stuck in. creating their own mini farmy armies. Emergency Coordination Centre.
The initiative was well received, with up The volunteers worked clearing fences and For weeks, a dedicated team was kept busy
to 100 volunteers a day coming forward, picking up plastic baleage wrap. “It doesn’t phoning farmers throughout the region to
including local lawyers, families with seem like a big job but its massive when you check on the state of their properties, what
young children, SIT students, high school think about the 100 or more kilometres of help was required and then putting in place
classes and experienced retired farmers fencing that needed to be cleared.” a variety of support.
from up north. “The comradery and support from town to They worked closely with the Farmy Army
“We’ve done this a few times in the past, country was overwhelming, it echoes the to get volunteers out to properties and also
but this was by far the biggest turn out of nature of our community. Southlanders ensured those who needed supplies got
volunteers we have ever seen,” Bernadette really pull together.” what they needed, including delivering a
says. By March over 50 farmers had signed up large number of care packages to remind our
rural community they were not alone.
Members of the Farmy Army, including Federated Farmers president Bernadette Hunt (in high-vis vest) work to clear debris from fence lines during
the clean up after the floods. Hundreds turned up to offer their support.
7
FEBRUARY FLO
Not a bag lost dur
successful air evac
Having more than 1100mm of rain over three days wreaked havoc in the
Milford area, causing multiple slips, widespread flooding and damage to
many tracks, huts and roads.
D
epartment of Conservation working here for the summer, and others communicated with everyone twice a day
operations manager Nedra who have been here for a few years. and we set up social committees to keep
Burns, Southern Lakes Helicopter There’s a number of internationals who people entertained. They played charades,
operations manager Lloyd Matheson and work for different companies plus tourists board games, face painting, especially for
Tony Woodham, operations leader for in the township and on boats.” the kids, to keep everyone engaged.”
Milford Sound Tourism were in the thick of
He says they are a capable little For Lloyd Matheson, the highlight wasn’t
the response from the get go.
community, and in the thick of it they only that no one was seriously injured but
Tony says there were around 420 people simply focused on looking after their also, despite the pressure and constantly
isolated in Milford – a mix of guests and tourists. “It was important that they were changing nature of the emergency
staff. “It’s generally made up of travellers well looked after, fed and watered. We response, they didn’t lose any of the 400-
Helicopters played a key role in ensuring everybody (and their luggage) was safely evacuated from the Milford area.
8 Envirosouth May 2020
O O D S F E AT U R E
ring
cuation
The Community Hub in Te Anau was kept busy catering for all those evacuated from the Milford area.
odd suitcases, bags or backpacks. “That’s Nedra says she’s incredibly proud of the They concentrated on getting the
a huge achievement – not even Air New way the Fiordland community pulled tourists out as soon as possible, but also
Zealand can claim that.” together and supported each other. “It recognised they could have some fun and
has obviously had a financial impact on do some fundraising for the Mayoral Relief
He believes it’s one of the largest air
many businesses and individuals and it’s Fund at the same time.
evacuations in New Zealand. Training and
been great to be part of the community
local support were crucial to the smooth “We held a couple of community events,”
approach to developing solutions.”
running of the evacuations, with each Tony says. Particularly popular were the
helicopter having a local water rescue ‘Meat Masters’ cooking contest, painting
volunteer on-board as well as the pilot. classes, yoga and an intro to DJ-ing –
“The evacuations were probably a bit hair- "The evacuations were which Tony admits he was terrible at.
raising for the evacuees, but that’s what we probably a bit hair-raising “We put collection boxes on the boats and
train for and it was a good team effort.” in the classes, and asked for a gold coin
for the evacuees, but that’s donation. It helped to galvanise people’s
For the Department of Conservation, the
what we train for and it was attention.”
concerns were for the wellbeing of the
people and damage to the infrastructure. a good team effort." “Milford is a special place, and it’s kinda
They had to close 75 tracks across weird when there’s no one here,” Tony
LLOYD MATHESON
Southland and Otago following the storm says. Once the tourists were evacuated
event, including two Great Walks, Milford the crew left behind moved into clean-up
and the Routeburn. “This caused major mode and started preparing for business
disruption and disappointment for walkers In Milford, despite being isolated, Tony again. It was a relief when tourists were
from all over the world who had booked says they could see there was a bigger able to start flying back in later that week.
their experience of a lifetime in Fiordland,” problem brewing for Southland more
Lloyd and Tony agree that the liaison and
Nedra Burns says. widely. “We recognised that other people
cooperation between civil defence teams
were far worse off than us and we wanted
“Many of our rangers are long-term and all other emergency services and
to be the ‘solved problem’ for Emergency
builders, maintainers and users of this agencies was outstanding. “The whole
Management Southland so they could
infrastructure and have a strong emotional operation was brilliant,” Lloyd says.
focus on other areas and we could take the
connection to it and to Fiordland, so
pressure off.”
they were saddened to see so much
devastation.”
9
FEBRUARY FLO
The knowledge behind th
During a Civil Defence Team leader hydrological response Chris
Jenkins has spent his whole working life
“We were lucky that, given the huge flows,
particularly in the Mataura catchment, all
emergency, big watching the weather, measuring rainfall our flood warning sites stayed intact and
and river levels and predicting just what performed as they were supposed to. We
decisions have to be the impacts will be on our river systems. did have a couple of river level monitoring
made, often quickly For him, this year’s event wasn’t really any
sites wiped out by debris, but overall we
got through with enough information to
and with potentially different to other significant rainfall events.
know what was happening.”
His sense of calm never wavers, he gets on
huge consequences if with running a number of models which While Chris was monitoring the rainfall
they are wrong. Having provide the information on where, when and
how high rivers are expected to peak. It’s not
and river levels, Environment Southland
catchment operations manager Paddy
access to the right an exact science, but one based on formulas, Haynes and his team were watching over
geography and a wealth of knowledge. And the flood protection systems, many put in
knowledge is crucial. it’s pretty accurate, certainly enough to give place after the 1978 and 1984 floods. These
D
confidence to those who need to make calls systems, including 458kms of stop banks
uring February’s flood, there was
about possible evacuations. and many hectares of designated flood
a dedicated team of Environment
spill zones, were facing their biggest test
Southland staff with many years of It means long nights for Chris and his team
since their construction.
knowledge and expertise to provide the during an event and a reliance on a network
valuable information needed. of sophisticated equipment doing its thing.
Stop banks in Gore were pushed to their limit as floodwaters raged.
10 Envirosouth May 2020O O D S F E AT U R E
FLOODING
he big decisions 2020
the numbers...
There were some hairy moments, but the around the Oreti catchment, blocking
catchment team, many of whom have roads and flooding farmland but no towns
clocked up 30+ years in their roles, were on the Oreti were threatened.
confident the banks would hold – even
While many in Southland were busy trying
when predicted peaks were expected to be
higher than design capacity.
to stay dry and away from flooded areas, the EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
catchment team were out inspecting banks,
200 Staff worked in the Emergency
“The stop banks at Mataura have a design looking for potential trouble spots and flying
Coordination Centre
capacity of 2400 cumecs. At one stage over to get a view of hard to see areas.
1,000
it was looking like the peak could hit People were assisted at Gore &
The stop banks did their job, holding the
2700 cumecs, but fortunately that didn’t Mataura Community Centres
water and protecting the townships.
eventuate,” Paddy says.
The Oreti River also faced some challenges,
“We know that we can’t protect everything
during a flooding event, but the flood
26 Community Hubs opened
with extremely high flows. Sections of
protection systems are firstly designed to
stop banks were breached in the upper
protect townships, to protect people and
catchment near Lumsden and Five Rivers.
create safe areas for the water to pond.
In the Taramoa area, a number of banks
They did exactly that.
overtopped as they were designed to do
when certain levels were reached. Surface
PEOPLE EVACUATED
flooding occurred in a number of areas
"We know that we can’t 2,400 Gore
protect everything during 1,500 Mataura
a flooding event, but the
flood protection systems 500 Wyndham
are firstly designed to
protect townships, to 500 Milford Sound
protect people and create
safe areas for the water
to pond. They did exactly
that." FARMING ASSISTANCE
900 Farmers
PADDY HAYNES contacted by
Southland Rural Support Trust
100 Farmers helped by the
Farmy Army
“There was a lot of investment in these
systems, both at a regional and central
government level, and that has certainly
paid off.”
Paddy says although there are repairs to
be done and investigations to ensure the
RIVER FLOWS
ongoing integrity of the banks, overall Mataura River at Gore peaked at
the results have been excellent. He says
ongoing investment so the stop banks can
2,400 cumecs (usually 65 cumecs)
cope with future challenges is important. Oreti River at Wallacetown peaked at
1,279 cumecs (usually 40 cumecs)
11FEBRUARY FLO
How one couple beca
more than flood victi
On 4 February, Amber Geerlings-Parker and Luke Howden of Gore were
packed and ready to head to Dunedin to see the Elton John concert and then
continue onto a road trip with their dog Scruffy.
A
s they prepared for their holiday to evacuate their home immediately and This became the base for the couple
they noticed water was pooling given 15 minutes to collect anything they for the next 72 hours. By 6pm that day
in the back yard. “I didn’t initially could carry with them. Emergency Management Southland
worry,” says Amber, “The back yard did had issued an emergency mobile alert
The couple left their home with just two
that sometimes when we had really heavy and evacuation notice and Amber and
duffle bags and their dog. ”As we walked out
rains, but when it didn’t dissipate and Luke had become the local source
of the house, I remember thinking ‘this is like
started to creep up to our back step I for channelling information updates,
something out of a movie’. The water was up
thought ‘okay, this isn’t going to stop is it’. community support messaging and
to our waist by that point,” Amber says.
That’s when Luke and I started to worry.” breaking news.
For most people in this situation, their focus
Within an hour the couple’s entire back “We were interviewing people on
would understandably be on protecting
yard was flooded and water was starting the ground in affected areas, getting
themselves, but not this couple. Luke, a
to creep into the house. The Gore Fire Civil Defence messages out, sharing
local DJ at the Hokonui radio station in
Service arrived and much to the couple’s information locals provided and letting
Gore, had a co-worker pick them up and
horror they were told they would need people know where to get help, says Luke.
take them directly to the radio station.
Floodwaters took time to recede, even though the sun was shining. Family and friends got stuck in to help Luke and Amber with the
12 Envirosouth May 2020O O D S F E AT U R E
came much
ims
“The whole reason I got into radio was to
connect with people. Not everyone has
internet and in an emergency situation the
radio can be a great source of information
and comfort. People on the other end
knew we were there for them and they
were going to be ok.”
Now that the water has receded the clean-
up has begun. While Luke and Amber say
they feel really lucky to have been able
to support their community through this
time, they are humbled by the support
they received as well.
“Amber and I could not have gotten
through all of this without the support of
all our friends especially Chris Giles who
was driving tractors through the water to
keep the station running.”
Hokonui radio announcer Luke Howden (left) takes a selfie with his partner Amber Geerlings-Parker
and friend Chris Giles, who used his tractor as transport to ensure the radio station kept operating
during the floods.
e clean-up. The mark on the hedge behind Amber shows
how high the flood waters got.
13A giant pond to
improve wa
It might look like volumes of sediment and any
rubbish picked up along the way
with really constructive outcomes
has been a fantastic experience.
just a giant pond, that wasn’t caught by the grates in
“It was exciting to be part of such
the pumps.
but this project to a positive project. Here we had
Leonardo says they knew the a ditch and the water we were
reduce sediment water quality could be improved purging was just rubbish, but we’ve
and nutrients by lengthening the time the water made big improvements and that’s
spent getting to the river, allowing great.”
entering the the sediment and rubbish time to
It’s not only the water that is
Waihopai River and settle and sink to the bottom.
benefitting from the pond, the
“Ponds like this have been very environment around it has also
New River Estuary, successful in other regions in seen significant improvement, with
is already proving New Zealand, so we followed the around 9,000 plants added to help
Christchurch City Council’s guide support the area’s biodiversity and
successful. quite closely.” assimilate nutrients like nitrogen
I
and phosphorus.
nvercargill City Council capital “Improving the water retention
projects technician Leonardo time is the simple key to improving A community planting day was
Ramirez says the sediment the water quality at the outlet, the held to get the plants in the
pond near the river at the bottom sunlight then has the opportunity ground and this was the first real
of Beatrice Street in Invercargill to kill much of the bacteria and opportunity for the public to take
has been constructed to collect that has to be positive.” a look at something that had
stormwater from drains within been the subject of much public
Just a week after the pond was
82 hectares of the city. speculation about its purpose
installed, Leonardo says results
during construction.
The $500,000 project was were already obvious, with
completed late last year, after sediment reduced by up to 50%. Leonardo would like to see a
first being mooted by drainage The pond is likely to need the second pond built, which he thinks
manager Malcolm Loan in 2012. sediment removed every 5-10 would complement the first and
years, but will hopefully require improve the water quality more.
The 24-metre by 200-metre pond little other maintenance. He hopes this may be part of the
holds approximately 5,000m3 of longer term planning for the city's
water. The water from stormwater For Leonardo, who moved from
infrastructure.
drains has traditionally fed straight Colombia several years ago, being
into the river, taking with it large involved in such a large project
14 Envirosouth May 2020o help
ater quality
The new sediment pond near the bottom of Beatrice Street (above and background).
Regan McRandle from The Roading Company, ICC Parks operations manager Chris McAulay
and ICC capital projects technician Leonardo Ramirez get busy at a planting day at the new
sediment pond.
15Complex coastal conun
for plan development
There’s no denying that as Southlanders, we love our coast. It forms part of
our identity – as individuals and as a community.
O
ur coastline, the longest of any population (approximately 50,000 people) direction and a number of discussion
region in New Zealand, is valued for living within five kilometres of the sea. papers covering key issues for the coast.
its outstanding natural character
Environment Southland’s acting policy “This year we have sought feedback on
and landscapes, recreational and economic
and planning manager Alex Morgan protecting young toheroa on Oreti Beach
opportunities, as well as its biodiversity,
says reasssessing how we manage this by proposing vehicle restrictions. This is
ecology and cultural significance.
special part of Southland by reviewing the just one issue the community will be asked
The coastal marine area is an important Regional Coastal Plan is not only timely, to share their thoughts on over the next
habitat for numerous species of plants and but will also ensure our rules are relevant year or so as the review moves towards a
animals, some of which are nationally and and provide appropriate protections. new Southland Coastal Plan.”
internationally significant.
“In the 23 years since the plan was notified, The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
Historically, the coast has been very the environment, how we use the coast, was updated in 2010 and provides the
important to Southland, providing food for and the legislative requirements have all legislative framework that all regional coastal
early Māori and European settlers, creating changed. Our current plan is no longer plans must meet. “The new coastal plan will
trade opportunities (sealing, whaling, protecting all the things that we value be more restrictive than our current plan as
and fishing), and enabling transport of about this place,” Alex says. the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
Southland produce (including meat, wool, 2010 sets a higher bar than the previous
Environment Southland, with Te Ao Mārama
and dairy products) overseas. version, which will ensure we can protect
(the environmental arm of Ngāi Tahu Ki
our special coastal areas for generations to
Our connection to the coast remains Murihiku) began the review process in
come,” Alex says.
significant today with 54% of the 2018 with the development of a strategic
Our coast
Foveaux Strait/Te Ara a Kiwa is less than 60m deep.
Southland's coastline is 3,400 km long, the longest of any region in New Zealand.
Southland’s coastal waters total 23,110 sq km.
There are currently 11 marine reserves, seven mātaitai reserves, two marine mammal
sanctuaries and 23 ‘china shops’* within Southland’s coastal marine area.
Approximately 54 percent of Southlanders live within five kilometres of the sea..
At its narrowest point, the strait between Stewart Island/Rakiura and the South Island
is 10 nautical miles.
The Coastal Marine Environment is managed by at least 25 pieces of legislation and 14
government agencies
* China shops are identified and defined in the Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy. They include
small discrete areas that are outstanding for the abundance and/or diversity of animal communities,
mixed animal and plant communities or particular animal species.
16 Envirosouth May 2020undrums
Toheroa – a national
treasure Kaumatua Michael Skerrett
F
or kaumatua Michael Skerrett, wide, flat beach for the wave energy to run He believes the El Nino conditions in
protecting this indigenous species off. The spat comes in on the tide, right up certain years have had a strong impact on
isn’t only about their survival, but to the dunes. When they’re tiny like that they not just toheroa but also how well oysters
importantly, it’s about manaakitanga, too. live just under the surface – they can be dug and mutton birds have fared.
out easily by waves or crushed by vehicles.”
“Manaakitanga is an important part of “We must be aware that from time to time
Maori culture, essentially it’s about looking Recently, Environment Southland sought there will be high mortality events, as
after people,” Michael says. In the early feedback on potential vehicle restrictions happened in 1993 when probably three
days local Maori had to adapt to the on Oreti Beach to help protect the taonga quarters of the toheroa population died. At
seasons for food, while toheroa could be shellfish species, toheroa. Vehicles cause the time, toheroa were tested for disease
harvested all year round. significant damage to juvenile toheroa but none was found and starvation was
in particular, so it is hoped by restricting considered a likely factor.”
“In some of the histories, early settlers said
vehicle access to at least some of the
they couldn’t have survived without food Michael says it’s all about balance. “We
beach, the population can thrive.
from the local tribe. That’s manaakitanga.” have a responsibility for looking after these
“We need to maintain the juveniles so that things. We know people value the beach,
That’s the philosophy Michael operates
there’s enough for them to come back and driving on it. We need to provide for
the current permit system for collecting
should something happen. Especially with that while doing the least damage and
toheroa on. Michael is a Tangata Kaitiaki –
the increased pressures from a changing helping the toheroa to thrive.”
someone authorised to issue Customary
climate,” says Michael.
Authority for the collection of toheroa.
“Basically the authorisations are for us
[Ngāi Tahu], but it’s better to manage it
like this, to give authorisations to the local
community because they are going to have
a special occasion.”
“We think it is better to do this than have
pressure for an open day like in 1993,”
Michael says. That was the last time
there was an open day. It was attended
by 20,000 people who were allowed to
harvest five toheroa each. “It is said some
people went out twice, which meant over
100,000 toheroa were harvested that
day, the majority ending up in the dump
because people didn’t know what to do
with them.”
Michael says they’re a national treasure.
“There are only about four places in the
Environment Southland scientist Sorrel O’Connell-Milne returns an adult toheroa to the sand at Oreti
country where they grow. They require a Beach after digging it up to show fellow coastal scientists during a conference in 2019.
17Pest advice in your pocket
Students at Otatara
School are using the Can I do my
How do I own rook What’s the
new Southland Pest get rid of a control? best bait
Hub website to answer wasp nest? for stoats?
their questions as they
work to control weeds
in the bush behind their
school.
W
hile out in the bush, year six
teacher Tracey Maclennan’s
students recently discovered a
large amount of Chilean flamer creeper,
an exotic vine that’s strangling our native
shrubs and trees. The children made short
work of the weed, pulling out over 16
kilograms in 40 minutes in one spot. www.pesthub.es.govt.nz
“We were a bit shocked about how many
pest plants there are in just a small section Environment Southland launched the The Pest Hub is an important link between
of the reserve. Students were able to use Southland Pest Hub as a tool to provide Southlanders and the council’s biosecurity
the Southland Pest Hub to learn more online advice on around 140 species that team, says biosecurity and biodiversity
about weeds, and have also discovered are, or have the potential to become a manager Ali Meade.
blackberry and sycamore, which are on problem for Southland.
“Environment Southland oversees pest
our radar for the future,” said Tracey.
management in Southland. And while we
can’t do all the work ourselves, we can help
people with the right tools and knowledge.
This is what the Pest Hub is all about.”
The award-winning system was adapted
from Northland Regional Council, and
allows you to learn about pests, why they’re
causing a problem, and how to deal with
them according to the local council rules.
You can report locations of pests by
dropping a pin on a map, and request
more information. Enquiries made through
the Pest Hub will go directly to one of the
council’s biosecurity team to follow up.
Another benefit of the Pest Hub is that
information is accessible on all devices,
and it’s regularly updated. People can
quickly filter through different types of
pests either by where they’re found, or
what type they are.
Otatara School students Emma Rudel (left)
and Ocean Healey, both aged 10, investigate
pests out in the bush using the Pest Hub.
18 Envirosouth May 2020 Northern Southland farmer, John Douglas
Proud to be Ag Proud
John Douglas is a man who wears many hats. He’s a fifth term Southland
district councillor, a dairy farmer and one of the founding members of the
movement Ag Proud.
L
ast winter, a spotlight was shone promote the divide, and that’s where it water quality and they have confidence
on the environmental and animal mostly exists.” I’ve done everything right.”
welfare concerns of feeding stock
The Ag Proud team has been lucky The Northern Community Board recently
during winter in Southland. It was a
to secure some funding for this year’s visited the pumping station and heard
stressful time for many, with photos and
work through Ravensdown and will be from Southland District Council staff on
video of some poor practices gaining
continuing to support farmers to carry out the water quality testing that occurs at the
international attention.
best practice. site, and were told that the town supply
As a result, John, his sharemilker Jason continues to be of good quality.
On his own farm, John has scrutinised
Checketts and two other dairy farming
his wintering practices and has also To be certain this continues, John’s taking
friends saw a need for Ag Proud – which
recognised areas where he can make additional precautions with fencing.
launched in August 2019. “Ag Proud has
improvements. John, partner June and
three core values - promoting positive “There’s a much greater awareness of all
their sharemilker Jason run a 1000-cow,
farming practices, strengthening the the issues and the need for farmers to get
505-hectare farm in northern Southland,
relationships between town and country, up to date with following best practice,”
where the majority of his stock are
and supporting farmers with their mental John says.
wintered on-farm.
wellness,” John says.
“Some may have previously just done
This year, based on the good management
In less than a year since its launch, the what was easiest, but that’s not good
practices for strategic winter grazing and
self-funded group has travelled the length enough anymore. We’re looking at
improving animal welfare, John will be
and breadth of the country to share their the environmental, animal welfare
changing the way he fences during winter
messages and support farmers. “We’ve held and economic impacts of our farming
grazing on his kale crop, as well as the
BBQs, run seminars with speakers like Lance operations. We have to look at our
direction he feeds the animals. He’ll also
Burdett, and offered advice on everything practices through all those lenses now.”
be fencing off his critical source areas
from wellness to winter grazing strategies.”
(swales) and allowing for an alleyway for John believes the biggest challenge for
John admits he thought there was a strong loafing areas at night for his cows. the sector now is positioning farming so
urban-rural divide, but on his travels to a few it’s seen as an industry that follows best
John has also recognised that the
different cities he believes that most urban practice.
community need more reassurance that
people do understand and appreciate the
on-farm practices are being done in the “Most of us are not in it for the short term.
role of farmers in the economy.
best way possible. “My local community We’re here for the long term and we have
“I found that most urban people I spoke to gets their drinking water from groundwater sustainability at the front of our minds. That
thought that farmers were actually doing around my farm, so I’m very aware that I means that our farming practice leaves a
a good job, but the media continues to need to make sure I’m not impacting their positive legacy for future generations.”
19New to the team
Four new councillors joined Environment Southland in 2019. Find out
a little bit more about them.
Allan Baird Fiordland Constituency
Serving the community runs in Allan’s Before Allan took over the family farm,
family. His grandfather, who was awarded he spent 15 years away, getting a degree
a CBE for services to the community, was at Lincoln University and then working in
chairman of the Southland County Council the finance industry in New Zealand and
for 12 years and provincial president of Australia.
Federated Farmers.
During his time on council he would like
Allan himself was president of Federated to encourage consistency of community
Farmers for three years. When the vacancy expectations for rural and urban water
on council came up in the Fiordland quality. He would also like to improve
constituency, he saw it as an opportunity the tone of engagement. “I feel we could
to apply his mix of skills. “It’s our region, do more to lift our image with the farmer
our problems.” base.”
Allan is the fourth Baird to farm their Allan has tremendous pride for Southland.
property near Winton, which he converted “As a region we have a lot to celebrate.”
from deer and sheep to dairy. He lives with
his wife Helen, both of whom are keen
golfers. They have two grown sons.
Bonnie Mager Invercargill–Rakiura Constituency
Bonnie sees her role on the council as an “When you are young you think ‘this is
opportunity to put her degrees in geology happening to me’. You don’t realise you
and biology to good use. “Biodiversity is could have more control with what’s
my passion.” happening around you.”
She has found that there is lots of reading Bonnie is proud of the work she does in
to do on the council. “There’s a lot her day job as digital and communications
Environment Southland does that I didn’t manager at the Invercargill Public Library,
know about going into it. where she has worked for seven years.
A Southlander, Bonnie lives in Invercargill She’s also doing her best to stick to her
with her partner Chris and two dogs, Argos New Year’s resolution to not drive her
a black Labrador-cross and Ferguson a car. She’s been taking the bus and riding
Shepsky. her bike or scooter and has only twice
driven her car when she’s needed to get to
She is a PlayStation gamer who is keen
meetings quickly.
to motivate young people to engage with
councillors and council business.
20 Envirosouth May 2020 Environment Southland councillors
Peter McDonald Hokonui Constituency
Peter has been involved in local terms. He says central government is likely
environmental issues since 2002, including to set direction, “but I’m keen to retain
catchment groups and the Dipton timeframes and implementation locally”.
Landcare Group.
Peter describes the work of council as
He grew up on Gavenwood Farm, a hill fast paced. “It’s not all about rural water
country sheep farm in Dipton. He and quality. There are a lot of different things
his wife Kim took it over from his parents happening all the time.”
20 years ago. The couple has two grown
In his own time, Peter is a regular
children.
columnist for farming pages and hunts
The farm is 669 hectares, 130ha is thick wild pests on his farm, everything from
scrub and native bush and it includes 29ha goats to hares to deer.
of QEII covenant.
He also likes talking to people. “You can
On council, Peter is keen to see progress on get stuck in your own thoughts as a farmer.
water quality issues, while being mindful There’s a whole world out there and it’s
of urban and rural communities and their good to find out what others think.”
ability to cope in the short and medium
Lloyd Esler Invercargill–Rakiura Constituency
Lloyd came to Environment Southland He has many hats – teacher, writer, tour
after three terms on the Invercargill City guide, and he’s worked in museums. He
Council because his interests are more also takes tour groups to the Auckland
Southland-wide and in freshwater and salt Islands and other sub Antarctic islands.
water.
His first novel, Jack the Whale Boy, is about
“There’s a lot more passion. I’m still getting to be published. It’s a children’s book and
used to the friendliness.” will be part of a trilogy. He’s also planning
to publish a natural history of Foveaux
He wants to do his bit with the difficult
Strait this year.
issues – freshwater, climate change,
the impact of cruise ships in Fiordland, Lloyd lives in Otatara in Invercargill and
toheroa. He’s also interested in developing during the weekend often spends time
the relationship with iwi. with his 10-year-old buddy who he was
paired up with through Presbyterian
Lloyd has been in Southland for 32 years.
Support’s buddy programme.
He was born in Takaka and grew up in
the North Island, returning south to study “I’m quite happy here. There’s always some
botany at Otago University. project or another and a book to be done.”
21Updates
Climate change Environment German ivy
action Court update Environment Southland is carrying
out weed control along the Bluff
In December 2019, councillors The proposed Southland Water
foreshore over the next two
discussed the first draft of the and Land Plan is currently in a
to three years, with the aim of
council’s Climate Change Action formal Environment Court process,
eradicating German ivy.
Plan, which is being developed in and is being heard by the court in
two parts. The first part is focused two parts – Topic A (the objectives German ivy grows rapidly and can
on what Environment Southland and physiographic zone policies) smother other plants and prevent
can do, particularly in its day to and Topic B (policies and rules). seedlings from establishing. It
day business. The second part often opens up areas to more
The court heard from all parties in
takes a regional approach, which aggressive weed species.
relation to Topic A in September
the council is working on with the
and October last year. This project involves herbicide
other councils.
spraying in stages, followed by the
The court released an interim
The Climate Change Action Plan will planting of native shrubs. The dead
decision on Topic A in late
continue to evolve, but there are vegetation will look unattractive for
December 2019. There were no
already some actions underway in a while, but the longer-term plan is
appeals to this interim decision.
part one of the plan. These include to beautify the area.
initiating a full engineering review The next steps and the timing
The Invercargill City Council is
of the Waihopai flood management will be determined by the court.
supplying eco-sourced, low-
scheme (including a drone survey), Outstanding matters raised by the
growing native plants to plant
upgrading the Stead Street pump interim decision on Topic A will
along the foreshore area after the
station, developing a stocktake of need to be resolved before Topic B
control work is done. We look
actions that can be undertaken can progress.
forward to working together with
within existing budgets, plus the
The plan will be final once the the Bluff community to organise
design and implementation of an
court issues its final decision and planting days in 2020/21 and
emission reduction programme
any appeals to the High Court are 2021/22.
across all of the council’s
considered.
operations.
We cannot say with certainty when
this will be but it is unlikely to
occur before the end of 2020. To
stay up-to-date on this process, go
to www.es.govt.nz/waterandland.
22 Envirosouth May 2020Time to think On the farm
about...
OUTDOOR BURNING – Outdoor burning
MAY/JUNE is prohibited in the Invercargill and Gore
MUSTELIDS/RATS – When carrying airsheds from 1 May until 31 August.
out maintenance on your duck pond, Leisure activities like barbecues, braziers,
remember to set and check traps for hangi and fireworks are exempt from this
mustelids and rats. rule. By KARL ERIKSON
Principal land sustainability officer
RABBITS – Winter is the most effective
time for rabbit control before they start As the saying goes – “if you fail to plan,
breeding again in spring. you plan to fail”.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT FUND This is particularly true for preparing
Get your application in now. This fund can for winter grazing. By now winter crops
assist with projects to protect and enhance will be ready to feed out to animals and
indigenous biodiversity on private and preparations for this important activity
community-owned land in Southland. Visit will be nearly complete
www.es.govt.nz for more information on
how to apply. If you have waterways or critical source
Stoat areas in your chosen wintering paddocks
then now is the time to think about how
VELVETLEAF – Although velvetleaf hasn’t your animals will graze the crop, keeping
been identified in Southland for some JULY in mind it’s imperative to protect the
waterways and manage the critical
time, the seeds can remain dormant
for many years, so it’s important that all WALLABIES – The animals, not the rugby source areas.
farmers continue checking their crops for type, are capable of causing huge issues
for Southland’s biodiversity and economy The main goal is to keep as much
any signs of it. If you find it, contact MPI on
if they get established here. This includes vegetation in between the stock and
0800 80 99 66.
preventing regeneration of native bush, waterways for the entire winter grazing
depletion of forest understorey and season.
damage to tall tussock grasslands. They Perhaps the best way to help your
also compete heavily with livestock for planning for winter grazing is to draw
pasture and crop. Wallabies are spreading the paddock on a piece of paper (or
out from South Canterbury and moving use an aerial photo from Google maps).
through Otago. If you happen to see or Draw in your critical source areas,
suspect a wallaby in Southland please waterways, buffer zones, back-fences,
report this immediately to the biosecurity grazing directions, bale placement and
pest animal team at Environment troughs. Once you have done this you
Southland. have essentially created a winter grazing
GORSE AND BROOM – Good neighbour management plan.
rules are now in effect for gorse and You can find more detailed information
broom. If your neighbour has gorse and/or about winter grazing plans on our
broom within 10 metres of your property website or give one of our land
boundary, and you’re actively controlling sustainability officers a call.
plants on your property, then get in touch
Velvetleaf
with our biosecurity team for advice. For more information
contact our land
For detailed information on any of these topics visit our website sustainability team on
0800 76 88 45.
www.es.govt.nz
23Out in the field
Our staff and councillors were kept busy chatting with visitors to our site at this
year’s Southern Field Days at Waimumu in February.
Senior policy planner Nicky Carter and consents officers Jackie Nelson and Citizen science coordinator Sam McLachlan and Councillor Peter
Rachel Beaton talk with a member of the public. McDonald.
Councillor David Stevens (left) in conversation with another visitor to the Biosecurity officer, pest plants Rachel Batley checks out the new Southland
site. Pest Hub website that was launched at field days. Find out more about the
website on page 18.
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