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HEALTHY WETLANDS, HEALTHY PEOPLE
AUCKLAND/WAIKATO – SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY

This is a full day’s free field trip organised by Fish & Game NZ, DoC and the National Wetland Trust, which takes participants around a range of wetlands in the vicinity of Hamilton.

It begins with buses leaving from the NIWA car park, Gate 10 Silverdale Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton at 9.15am.  The first stop is a visit to Dexcel’s constructed wetland used to reduce effluent and nutrient loading on dairy farms, followed by a stop at Lake Te Ko Utu in Cambridge to discuss how the impact of stormwater runoff, sediment loading and emergent species on the lake’s water quality can be decreased.

A lunch stop is planned for Lake Serpentine East to view the riparian restoration of this lovely Waipa peat lake, followed by a brief visit to Lake Cameron to discuss the role of the local Fish & Game club and Lake Cameron Care Group in the lake’s riparian planting and restoration.

The field trip ends at Te Kowhai, north-west of Hamilton, where we visit the Otamanui Lagoon, which has been impacted by a range of issues: the town’s expansion, rubbish dump leachate, catchment management and flooding from the Waipa River.

Participants will be returned by bus to the NIWA car park at around 4.30pm.
 
To register for the event please email or phone Shonagh Lindsay, Public Awareness Advisor, Fish & Game NZ by 28 January.
slindsay@fishandgame.org.nz
PH 09 849 3994 or 027 273 0939

HEALTHY WETLANDS, HEALTHY PEOPLE
NORTH CANTERBURY – FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY

This year North Canterbury Fish & Game staff are again teaming up with the Department of Conservation, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Environment Canterbury, and the Ornithological Society. On Friday 1 February we are taking a busload of young children and their parents out to Lake Ellesmere.

Experts will be on hand to show children the unique wetland plants around the lake margin. Scopes and binoculars will then be focused to see the huge range of birds that inhabit the lake. We will then travel to the Selwyn River, where the kids can have lunch and have a paddle while hearing about some of the threats to the lake environment.

HEALTHY WETLANDS, HEALTHY PEOPLE
EASTERN /HAWKES BAY – FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY

The Eastern region is holding a World Wetlands Day event at the Hannahs Bay Wetland in Rotorua on Friday 1st February 2007 from 9.30am until 12.00 midday.  It focuses on children 6-12 years old with guided walks and hands on pond activities such as planting plants; there will also be story reading. Children can expect spot prizes of "bug catchers, magnifying glasses etc. The event is organized by EBOP, DoC, Fish & Game, Rotorua District Council and the Hannahs Bay Wetland Group.

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