NEWS AND EVENTS
Download the latest newsletters below:
December 2009 SOSSI Newsletter
September 2009 SOSSI Newsletter
June 2009 SOSSI Newsletter
March 2009 SOSSI Newsletter
November 2008 SOSSI Newsletter
August 2008 SOSSI Newsletter
Matakana cinemas hosting research night
If you’re interested in the research being done in and around ARC’s parks, including Shakespear, keep March 24 free.
The ARC will be hosting an Open Sanctuaries Research Symposium, an evening of presentations at Matakana cinemas. Speaker will cover research that is being done in and around ARC open sanctuaries such as pest animal behaviour, native species ecology and recovery, and marine conservation.
Entry will be by donation and bookings will be advertised shortly. Contact matt.matiland@arc.govt.nz for more info
Members day coming to Whangaparaoa Library
SOSSI members, and anyone else interested in the Shakespear Sanctuary, are invited to attend a day of meeting, greeting and informing on March 28. SOSSI committee members will be there, as will one of our fabulous ARC rangers.
Held at Whangaparaoa Library, the day will kick off at 10.30am, running until 1pm. Presentations will be run half-hourly from 11am until 12.30pm.
The presentations will cover the park’s history, why we need a sanctuary, what the sanctuary will be like, and what it will mean for the park and the local community.
Tea and biscuits will be provided.
Share your passion with Whangaparaoa’s youth
SOSSI is ramping up its series of educational talks, and need your help to make them happen. One upcoming event will take a local school’s year 7 students on a guided walk through the park, as well as present information on the sanctuary, why its needed, what people can do to help. We will also involve the students in projects around the park, for example beach clean-ups. If anyone is interested in being involved with guiding walks or helping with presentations call Allan on (09) 424 5055.
Are you a photography whiz? SOSSI needs you!
Are you good with a camera and want to help document the imminent construction of the predator-proof fence? SOSSI wants to preserve for posterity the construction process, using photos and videos. If you’re keen to help out, or you know how to edit and put together a video, get in touch with Graeme by emailing info@sossi.org.nz or call Allan (09) 424 5055.
ANZ digs deep for Sanctuary
Support continues to flood in for the Sanctuary, with ANZ’s Staff Foundation Fund granting $5000 to the project. Thanks to all at ANZ who have helped make this happen – it is hugely appreciated!
Construction ground-breaking coming
A symbolic end to of years of work for dozens of volunteers will be celebrated with the start of the predator-proof fence’s construction.
A groundbreaking ceremony is not far away, with a specific date to be confirmed soon. We’ll post the date here, but expect sometime late January or early February.
If you care about this project, have been involved, or are keen to be present when the beginning of a new era at Shakespear officially begins, come along!
And for anyone worried that the hard work is over – no way! Get in touch with Allan on 09 424 5055 or info@sossi.org.nz if you can help with the hundreds of volunteer hours still needed.
Have you given your time to SOSSI?
If you have, let us know. We’re in the process of collating all the volunteer time given to this project. This information is needed for some of our grant applications to progress.
If you’ve worked behind the scenes for this project, get in touch with Allan on 09 424 5055 or info@sossi.org.nz and let us know.
Big drop needs big help
We are currently planning a major letterbox drop, initially targeting suburbs at the tip of the peninsular such as Army Bay, Gulf Harbour, Tindalls Beach, Matakatia Bay, Big, Little and normal Manly. The letters will let the public know how the Sanctuary is progressing.
We need all the help we can get dropping these letters in boxes – every two letters you pop in boxes for us saves us $1. We would also love someone to coordinate this project! If you can help in any way, please let Melanie (09 4285986 or info@sossi.co.nz) know.
Sanctuary fence to start this year.
The ARC announced its LTCCP on 29th June with a commitment to building the Predator Proof fence by 2011
The fence will be built over two years. Construction will start in October 2009 and most of it will be completed by February 2010.
The gates and special fence endings will be constructed in the period 2010 to 2011.
When completed the fence will stop pests entering the sanctuary.
The final stage of the construction project will be to remove pests inside the fence.
The fence construction is being funded by
- $45,000 contributed by the community to our Fence Post Appeal
- A grant of $200,000 from the Min of Environment Sustainable Mgt Fund
- A contribution of $143,000 from the Auckland Regional Council towards construction in 2009/10.
The Auckland Regional Council is also committing $213,000 in 2010/11 for completion of the gateways and fence ends as well as a buffer and surveillance grid.
We now have the funds to construct the fence.
However we (SOSSI) are still $150,000 short of our share of the total project cost of $600,000 for the fence construction and subsequent pest eradication and we continue with our fund raising.
We therefore need your ongoing support in the form of donations to and membership of the Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society.
For more information on the ARC announcement see:
http://www.arc.govt.nz/council/news-and-events/regionwide-news/regionwide-news_home.cfm?news_uuid=2A6AFA93-14C2-3D2D-B935-038D05969D6E
NZ HERALD: Park aims to attract native birds to city life
12/01/2009
Melodic bellbirds, bright green kakariki and cheeky kaka could be popping into city slickers' backyards if a mainland bird sanctuary succeeds north of Auckland.
The native birds are expected to thrive after the Auckland Regional Council fences a 555ha wildlife sanctuary on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula at the end of this year.
Although there are other "mainland island" sanctuaries for wildlife, this will be the closest to Auckland - 40 minutes by car or a bus trip from the central city.
Rare Moko Skinks
Rare moko skinks, which have been wiped out on mainland NZ have discovered at Shakespear Regional Park. We’re talking about something that is nearly as rare on the Auckland mainland as the kokako,
it was completely unexpected.
The ARC has established two lizard sanctuaries in the larger future sanctuary to protect skinks from predators. The sanctuaries have measures in place to control rodents.
It is hoped that these small areas will eventually have moko skink populations of at least 15,000. Moko skinks used to be found throughout the upper North Island, in scrubland and grassland areas, before people and their companion pests arrived. Now they are only found on offshore islands and Shakespear Regional Park.
