Rain brings little relief to Waikato drought zone
Despite recent rain, the Waikato officially remains a drought zone and there is ongoing concern for cash-strapped farming families, says the Waikato Regional Drought Committee
Despite recent rain, the Waikato officially remains a drought zone and there is ongoing concern for cash-strapped farming families, says the Waikato Regional Drought Committee
Less than two weeks after the release of 50 bellbirds into Hamilton Gardens, the sightings of unbanded bellbirds and behaviour of their released banded counterparts has been a welcome surprise for trackers.
A long-tailed breed of little Hamilton natives, who navigate by sonar, is threatened with extinction by hungry rats and loss of suitable trees.
The discovery of the kauri-killing fungus PTA just 500 metres from Tane Mahuta in Northland has prompted a renewed warning for Coromandel and Thames residents to be particularly vigilant about stopping the spread of the kauri dieback disease.
A number of reports in the past few days of trucks spilling stock effluent on to or beside roads are a worrying sign and just the tip of the iceberg, says the chair of the multi-agency Regional Transport Committee.
Recent rain in the Waikato, with a forecast of more to come over the next fortnight, is welcome news but the region’s farmers are still under significant pressure because of the drought, says the Waikato Regional Drought Committee.
The Hamilton bellbird release is back on.
Environment Waikato hearings commissioner have granted 17 resource consents to a joint venture looking to build the proposed Ngatamariki Geothermal Development at Tahorakuri, near Taupo.
Environment Waikato has decided that public notification is not necessary for two short-term consents for the aerial application of 1080 to kill possums in the Waikato.
The chance finding of a single Amazonian snail in the Waikato River has prompted a warning for aquarium owners to be careful about where they put the contents of fish tanks.
New Zealand’s largest ever bird translocation project has been delayed because of a disease identified in some of the bellbirds caught on Tiritiri Matangi.
Radio stations are being asked to broadcast the fact that the scheduled release of bellbirds in the Hamilton Gardens has been postponed till a later date.
Environment Waikato’s council has endorsed a new mix of investments for its $66 million investment fund.
Environment Waikato is supporting government moves to develop marine farming while still protecting the environment and interests of other users of coastal areas.
Waikato farmers affected by the drought are being urged not to hold off calling the Rural Support Trust or rural professionals if they need help, despite some recent rain and positive news on Fonterra’s dairy payout.
The "right plant in the right place" to help protect the environment is the theme of a farmer information day at the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park in Hamilton on Wednesday 23 June.
Bringing bellbirds back to Hamilton is the aim of an ambitious new reintroduction programme being led by Landcare Research and the University of Waikato.