Dave Cade (Didymo Dave)

The Didymo threat has passed from front page news to infrequent small reports about the advance of [...]]]> At our annual Meeting Dave Cade (Didymo Dave) of DoC spoke passionately to us about the need to protect the Taupo waters from Didymo and the need to CHECK< CLEAN. DRY.

Dave Cade (Didymo Dave)

The Didymo threat has passed from front page news to infrequent small reports about the advance of Didymo.

Dave’s message is that a waterway is declared Didymo free at the time of the last test. That could have been two, three or six months between tests. The only choice for us in moving from one waterway to another is to CHECK CLEAN DRY. In that way we do not contaminate another waterway.

In Lake Taupo HORNWORT has become a major pest weed in Waihi Bay since its arrival 7 years ago.

Environment Waikato have identified ALLIGATOR WEED as a pest plant. It is found in the Waikato river around Hamilton.  The description is:

BOB APPLETON

At the Annual Meeting Bob Appleton stood down from the committee. Bob was a foundation member of the Advocates. He was our representative on the Fishing Advisory Committee. He had many decades of experience of the Tongariro river and of the Taupo fishery. He with his wife Shirley gave Their time as volunteers at the National Trout Centre.

Bob has a gentle manner with people.

On behalf of all members of the Advocates I thank Bob.

Eric Wilson

Secretary

8.5.10

Thanks Richard (Richard Kemp was Chairperson for the Annual Meeting)  for your words of encouragement and for continuing in your long-serving role as Vice-President in [...]]]> At the eight annual meeting held on Easter Sunday 4th April Dr Stuart Crosbie was confirmed as the new President. I copy Stuart’s acceptance speech directly into this editorial.

Thanks Richard (Richard Kemp was Chairperson for the Annual Meeting)  for your words of encouragement and for continuing in your long-serving role as Vice-President in which you graciously keep the Society on an ‘even keel’ when the going gets tough and point out when we stray from our mandate.

It’s great to have Mark & Heather with us today even although they are challenged by health issues.

Between them they have led the Society since its inception

This has taken outstanding levels of commitment in terms of time, effort, and tenacity and the Society simply would not be in existence today without their dedication and wise stewardship …… so can you please join me in applauding them

I am delighted to report that they have both agreed to remain involved going forward:-

• Heather in providing support on media matters, and
• Mark as an expert adviser to the Committee – bringing his scientific expertise and extensive historical knowledge of the Society’s affairs

As your incoming President, I’m both humbled and a little in awe as I step into their shoes. Unlike Mark and Heather, I don’t live locally and I’m not retired.

So it means I will have to operate somewhat differently.

The way forward – balancing purpose, people and process

In thinking through how we might improve the way we operate, I recalled a world famous author and speaker on teamwork and group dynamics by the name of Peter Scholtes. I remember him giving the key-note address at an Australian Business Excellence conference and beginning by saying that he got very easily confused ….. and he considers it one of his strengths! He went on to say that leaders of successful organizations basically have a three pronged focus – Purpose, People and Processes. And they all have to be in synchronization.

So what does that mean for the Advocates?

Well I’ve already talked about our Purpose earlier and I believe we are well advanced in being focused on the right things

Let me move on to the People side of things, and for us, that basically means our Committee

I’m very grateful for the calibre of the incoming Committee

I’ve already acknowledged Richard’s contribution as Vice-President and the other office bearer is, of course, our Secretary & Treasurer (and website administrator) Eric Wilson. Eric’s conscientiousness and thoroughness are

impeccable qualities which make him a delight to work with (not to mention his smile!)

Several of the Committee Members have well established leadership roles in progressing our strategic priorities as covered earlier with support from the other members …. The key here is to tap into each other’s strengths

So thanks to all Committee Members who agreed to be re-elected and a special welcome back to John Wheeler after a period of ill-health.

Collectively, our Committee brings a real depth of expertise from widely diverse backgrounds – but what we have in common is a real passion for the Tongariro

Before leaving the people side of things, there is also the imperative of building good relationships with our key stakeholders ….. and our Committee has a good balance of local and national networks to be able to do this well.

The other P is process.

We have been the recent recipients of a Huckleberry’s grant that has enabled us to purchase the electronic equipment you see here today.

I believe it can be used in all sorts of ways, including transforming how we run our Committee Meetings (which we will be experimenting with when we next meet).

But there are other ways we can work smarter also, particularly by making better use of the internet and our web-site for both communicating with members, and having Committee Members utilizing working documents through secure access to restricted parts of our site.

So in conclusion, I see my role as president as one of balancing the 3 Ps; namely:-

• harnessing our shared passion and collective skill set within the Committee (the people factor) through
• having good systems (the process factor) to
• implement our strategy (purpose)

and thereby be effective Advocates for the Tongariro River.

I look forward to your ongoing support. Thank you.

Stuart Crosbie

4^th April 2010

The Photos section of the site has been restructured and it will take some time to update all of the collections. We are always [...]]]> We thank Mike Forret of iConcept for the energy and time he has put into revitalising our website. The whole site have been updated and some sections have been reorganised.

The Photos section of the site has been restructured and it will take some time to update all of the collections. We are always interested in adding to our collection of photos and other resources, so if you have any historic, interesting, informative, etc. photos or other material relating to the Tongariro River and its catchment that you would be prepared to share with us then we would be happy to hear from you. Contact us at advocates@tongariroriver.org.nz or here.

We maintain a website to:

1. keep our members updated on the activity of the society;
2. inform others with an interest in this river and encourage them to join us;
3. act as an electronic repository of resource materials on the Tongariro River Catchment.

The Tongariro Integrated Catchment Management Plan remains our priority and it is pleasing to report that members of the Tongariro River Forum have met with the Turangitikua Environment Committee.

The issues that we have identified are

• Access
• Didymo prevention
• Environment Wilding Pines
• Environment restoration of native vegetation
• Lake level
• Mangamawhitwhiti

while the second photo shows the unsightly dying trees.

This third photo shows the margin without pines. There is a lot of work still to do to ensure that the seedlings along the river margin are controlled and not allowed in the future to again dominate the flora.

The issue of wilding pines is a national issue. One of the unforseen consequences of planting green gold is that the pine has spread outside the area of planting. In the last twelve months we have seen TV items on the problem in the Marlborough Sounds, the McKenzie Basin and within the last week efforts being put into the issue on the mountains surrounding Queenstown.

In the last editorial we farewelled John Gibbs as fishery Manager. We wish to welcome Dave Lumley as Fishery Manager. Dave is well known to us as he was the manager of Turangi Taupo Department of Conservation interests. We understand that Dave’s appointment is a temporary position but he has our best wishes.

Reports from the lake are of fish in good condition and better size than the last few  years. Hopefully river fishing will be much improved as well.

Easter is early April this year, our Annual meeting will be Sunday 4th April. We will advise more when plans are finalised but early notification gives plenty of time toensure that you can be here.

Eric Wilson

Secretary/Treasurer