Conservation Week begins in Tauranga

Mia Lunson, 10, volunteer Angel Storey, Nataalia Lunson of Department of Conservation, Claire Edmonds of Bayswim. Photo/George Novak

Mount Maunganui's Carole Long will be honoured for her services to conservation as part Conservation Week 2018.

A Queen's Service Medal recipient, Long's dedication to conservation will be celebrated as part of the week-long calendar of events that started on Saturday and ends on September
23.

Long's career in conservation includes 15 years of working with the Tauranga Department of Conservation and helping to establish, and become the longest-serving volunteer for, Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust. She is also the chair of the Forest and Bird Te Puke.

"I grew up with that attitude of conservation," Long said. "It has been part of our lives for the whole family."

Long said conservation weeks were important to raise awareness.

"It is about getting people interested in visiting the amazing places we have got, like the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust," she said.

"We have also got some amazing forests that are not too far away."

Long was also a big advocate for protecting the dunes on local beaches.

The Conservation Week calendar is full of different events for families to get involved in, including planting days, a sustainability market and presentations from guest speakers.

Conservation Week district team leader for Tauranga Nataalia Lunson said the week launched with events including a planting day and Marine Watch introduction programme.

The planting day on Saturday was at Otawa Sanctuary at the top of No 3 Road which was hosted by the Te Whakakaha Conservation Trust.

The Tauranga Department of Conservation ran a Marine Watch introduction programme at Baywave on Sunday for children aged 8 to 14 to learn the basics of snorkelling, as well as a fun fish identification course.

Lunson, who was working alongside Rotorua team leader Catherine Noble, said there were many events in Tauranga and Rotorua set up during the week to educate people and raise awareness of conservation.

"It is about getting involved in an educated way," she said.

"Conservation Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of conservation in our area and profile some of the awesome conservation groups and the work they are doing," Bay Conservation Alliance chief executive Michelle Elborn said.

Bay Conservation Alliance has been in operation for 12 months and was set up to support community led conservation groups in the Western Bay of Plenty.

WHAT'S ON:

What: Water, water everywhere!
When: Monday, 7.30pm.
Where: Masonic Lodge, Oxford St, Te Puke.

What: Celebrating Carole Long for services to conservation
When: Wednesday, 11.30am–1.15pm
Where: Trinity Wharf Tauranga, 51 Dive Crescent
Cost: Lunch $34, plus beverages

What: The Need to Act: Cam Speedy, biodiversity
When: Thursday, 7pm-9pm
Where: A Block, Room A3, Windermere Campus, Tauranga
Cost: Free

What: Sustainability Market
When: Thursday, 11am-1pm
Where: A zone, Windermere Campus, Tauranga

What: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Rotorua Night Market
When: Thursday, 5pm–9pm
Where: Tutanekai St, Rotorua
Cost: Free

What: Whanau Day - Kiwi Guardians
When: Sunday, 10am–2pm
Where: Okere Falls Park, 9 Trout Pool Rd, Rotorua
Cost: Free