National centre will focus attention on wetlands

By ELIZABETH BINNING

A multi-million dollar national wetlands centre, complete with gardens, heritage trails, research and educational facilities, will be built in the Waikato.

The centre will have four pavilions, each with a different focus and linked by a covered walkway leading out to natural wetlands.

Land has already been bought, thanks to a $95,000 grant from the WEL Energy Trust. The next step is to find the $3 million to build the centre in Rangiriri, half-way between Auckland and Hamilton.

One of the men responsible for raising that money is Pukekohe surveyor David Lawrie, who created the National Wetlands Trust and has just won an award from the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society for his services to conservation.

Mr Lawrie said the aim of the centre was to generate more interest in wetlands, a natural resource that had been dwindled dramatically.

"The public don't know and don't understand wetlands.You can send the public out into the forest to see the trees. With the wetlands you send them out there and they get muddy, dirty and smelly.

"The theory is if people start to understand wetlands (through an educational centre) then they can put pressure on the Government to preserve them."

Only 10 per cent of New Zealand's wetlands remain in their natural state and of those 30 per cent are in the Waikato.

"A lot of those wetlands we can't return but we can look after the 10 per cent we have got."

Mr Lawrie said it was hoped the National Wetlands Centre, which would be close to three of the country's five internationally recognised wetlands, would attract both school groups and tourists.

There are also plans for smaller centres in other cities.

Mr Lawrie said the centre would not compete with organisations such as the Department of Conservation, Miranda Shorebirds Centre or regional councils.

It's function would be to complement each service and provide people with a central reference point for information.

David Lawrie has loved nature since he was a boy.

"I was brought up on the shores of the Manukau Harbour. In those days I had to find my own entertainment and nature was it."

Today the Pukekohe-based surveyor spends every spare minute, and some of his work time, developing that love of nature and trying to draw attention to the plight of wildlife, habitat and conservation.

In recognition of his efforts, Forest and Bird has just presented Mr Lawrie with the Old Blue award.

"David is a strong supporter of the society and a great advocate of wetland environments and bird life," the society's award citation said.

"David's wide knowledge of bird life and general conservation matters is of value to us all."

Mr Lawrie's contributions to nature and conservation include founding the Miranda Naturalist's Trust (he is now chairman), being actively involved with and a regional representative of the South Auckland branch of the Ornithological Society, and a time as chairman of the Waikato Conservation Board.

He was also chairman of the Fish and Game Council for 10 years.