Conservation Week chance to explore big back yard

A whitebait connection teacher with Toby, 5, a young conservationist and pupil at Glenbervie School.

People never have to look far to find a conservation project they can start up or take part in.

The main message behind this year's Conservation Week is for families, individuals and communities to look in their own backyards to see how they can help protect and nurture New Zealand's unique wildlife.

The idea of "backyard" naturally extends to parks, reserves, forests, coast, rivers and other open spaces near where people live.During this year's Conservation Week, from October 14-22, the Department of Conservation (DoC) is trying to get people to convert their love of nature into action.

Famous artists like Northland's Friedensreich Hundertwasser have contributed their art for Conservation Week campaigns

"We know that the vast majority of New Zealanders rate conservation as important to them personally, yet still only about one in 10 have actively helped on a conservation project," said Sue Reed Thomas, operations director for DoC's northern district.

"We want to show people that conservation can be done in your own back yard, gardens, parks and marine areas. Even small actions make a big difference.

"Our predator-free vision of ridding the country of rats, stoats and possums by 2050 starts in your own back yard.

It's great to see momentum gathering as more communities band together to make their own areas predator free."

In Northland there will be plenty of activities to show how easy it is to get involved; for example a free, fun, family day at Smugglers Cove to launch Toyota Kiwi Guardians on Saturday October (10am - 2pm).

"Getting out and taking care of our nature also has the added benefit of improving health and wellbeing, so it's win-win," Ms Reed Thomas said.

Other DoC partners getting involved in Conservation Week include Genesis, which is encouraging kids to take part in a national competition with its Whio Boot Camp online game.

The game teaches players how a whio, or blue duck, lives in the wild, eating, running rapids and hopefully avoiding predators.

Toyota New Zealand is involved, sponsoring Our Toyota Kiwi Guardians programme which rewards kids taking part with medals.

Conservation Week also marks the launch of our new waterways clean-up medal, Toa Tiaki Wai.

People can find out what is happening in their backyard, or how to join in the online fun and games on www.conservationweek.org.nz

The New Zealand Scout Association originally kicked off Conservation Week in 1969.

The Nature Conservation Council then had a turn at running the campaign with help from the Post Office Savings Bank, Caltex Oil NZ, and The Todd Foundation.

When the Department of Conservation was formed in 1987 it took over, working with other groups, businesses, councils and agencies.