News in Brief
No Biking Yet in Kahurangi National Park
The Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board has referred the partially reviewed Kahurangi National Park Management Plan to the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) for final decisions on draft new provisions, including proposed mountain-biking trials on the Heaphy and two other park tracks.
Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board member Dr Philip Simpson said final decisions lie with the NZCA in consultation with the Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson.
“The draft plan contains new provisions relating to the five matters considered in the partial review. These include draft provisions for a winter-season (1 May to 30 September) Heaphy Track mountain biking trial and year-round mountain biking trials on the Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and Kill Devil tracks.
“The NZCA will now consider the draft partially reviewed plan and it may decide to modify some provisions before approving it.”
In total, 645 public submissions were made on proposals in the partial review of the plan. Around 40 submitters chose to speak to their submissions at hearings in Takaka, Motueka, Nelson and Karamea.
“Some adjustments were made to the draft provisions in light of public submissions,” said Dr Simpson. “The mountain-biking provisions received the most comment with 494 submissions referring to it. Most supported the trial.”
Until the partially reviewed plan is approved, the current park management plan remains in effect, said Dr Simpson.
“Under the current park management plan and park by-laws no mountain-biking can take place in the national park. The conservation board and DOC urge people to comply. People who ride bikes in the park can be prosecuted.”
The NZCA is also considering draft partial review provisions relating to aircraft access, some increased hunting access, allowing guided horse-trekking access on a short route in the park, and not permitting private or commercial accommodation on the Heaphy Track.
Youth bands to play in Pohara
Some of Nelson-Tasman’s best high school bands will play three consecutive Saturday gigs when the Tasman Band Tour takes flight.
The Tasman Band Tour is a region-wide youth music series, providing up-and-coming high school bands with an opportunity to perform live, as a lead-in to the Rockquest competition. A youth-friendly gig is scheduled at Pohara Hall on 8 May from 8pm to 11pm.
The lineup of bands offers something for everyone - from acoustic folk duos to hardcore punk groups and good old “no-nonsense” rock bands.
The events are drug-free and alcohol-free and tickets are available on the door for just $5.
The Tasman Band Tour is sponsored by Tasman District Council as part of the council’s commitment to the provision of creative ways for young people to contribute to their local communities.
The tour will use youth-focused and youth-friendly community organisations HYPE-GS and the Whakatu Maori Wardens to provide support staff at each of the events.
TDC community recreation officer Paul McConachie says the Tasman Band Tour offers a great opportunity for bands to hone their skills in front of live audiences.
“There are a lot of talented young musicians out there who are restricted to strumming guitars and bashing drum kits in the confines of parents’ basements and other rehearsal spaces. These dedicated musicians deserve an opportunity to play in front of a screaming audience and learn professional skills associated with live gigging along the way, so we hope young people will come out in big numbers to support local live music.”
Golden Bay’s dairy industry hurt in story fallout
The Golden Bay Dairy industry has been used as a scapegoat in a recent TV news story, to the disappointment of the Tasman District Council.
The story regarding the closure of Tukurua Camp implied that the management of dairy farms in the area was the reason for the camp’s closure and a recent visit by council inspectors was cited as proof of this.
It was disappointing that the story did not mention any of the other events and visitor patterns experienced over the summer period, or the real the reason for the visit by inspectors to the area, said Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne.
“The visit by inspectors was part of the ongoing Dairy Effluent Monitoring Programme throughout the District of which the industry is a willing partner - it had absolutely nothing to do with the camp closure.
“I am disappointed because I know the good work farmers in the region are doing to ensure they manage their farms responsibly and reporting of this nature is sensationalist at best. While one may sympathise with the business situation that gave rise to the story it is very unfortunate that dairy farmers in the region were the collateral damage.
“The fact that the Tasman dairy industry was one of the top three in the recent report regarding environmental management only reinforces the good work the industry is doing in the region. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but it is no excuse to disregard the investment the industry is making and commitment to excellent outcomes as responsible members of the community they live in,” concluded Mayor Kempthorne.
Submitted by Tasman District Council
Grammar Virtuosi - string chamber orchestra
Grammar Virtuosi is the premiere string chamber orchestra at Auckland Grammar School and will give a free hour-long concert at The Playhouse tonight, Friday 30 April at 7.30pm.
Established in 2008 by the head of music, Dr Nelson Wu, it is now one of the top school ensembles in Auckland. Grammar Virtuosi provides a platform for students to learn and perform standard concert repertoire, including contemporary works by New Zealand composers. It also features outstanding student soloists, offering opportunities to work with an orchestra. It performs regularly in the wider communities in Auckland.
Grammar Virtuosi have had renowned musicians such as David Nalden, Coral Bognuda, Anne Draffin, Takako Nishizaki, Elisabeth Hollowell, and Michael McLellan as guest tutors and coaches. This is Grammar Virtuosi’s first music tour and they very much look forward to working with Professor John Thomson at the School of Music, Nelson.
Submitted
Golden Bay Community Board comment
Millions of dollars of government spending to encourage tourists to New Zealand is proving too successful. Successive governments didn’t have the foresight to put a small percentage of that money aside to provide the necessities for personal hygiene in touted beautiful but more remote places.
Each year increasing numbers of tourists arrive. This year appears to be the tipping point at which the lack of toilet facilities makes a degradation of our country obvious to all.
A basic human need has been overlooked and it’s no use blaming one group over another for a plight any of us can find ourselves in.
I don’t feel that freedom camping need be banned; rather it could be controlled. Gisborne has clear guidelines on what they will permit. We would do well to consider those. (View at http://www.gdc.govt.nz/freedom-camping) Also local enforcement officers need to be employed.
It’s time for the Government to accept their responsibility for this situation by providing financial assistance to local bodies to solve the problem during this coming quieter season and before New Zealand becomes known as a cesspit rather than a pleasure to visit.
Karen Brookes
Golden Bay Community Board member
