Monthly Archives: March 2020

USA Bird Decline – a Mirror for NZ?

by Tony Orman A major new study on North American bird populations appeared in the journal Science late last year. It included detail on research, led by Ken Rosenberg, a conservation scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, that warned of alarming declines … Continue reading

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Important “Pest” survey to do

The University of Auckland is conducting a survey on people’s attitudes to “pests”. They have created an online survey based on new research to test how New Zealanders feel about pest management and want as many people as possible to take … Continue reading

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Fish Farming No Saviour for Ailing Sea Fishery

Reports from Scotland of massive problems with salmon farming have prompted a former commercial fisherman to speak out against government plans to encourage fish farming. Pete Watson president of the Marlborough Recreational Fishers Association said according to reliable reports the Scottish … Continue reading

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1080 Not Lead Nails, Blamed for Kea Deaths – Conservationists

Some conservationists have slammed a Fairfax article aimed at children that claimed kea were  being poisoned through eating lead head nails. Kea are poisoning themselves by eating lead head nails on mountain hut roofs said the on-line article. The article … Continue reading

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The World’s/NZ’s Problem – Too Many People.

An Opinion by Ben Hope   The common denominator in mostly all human problems is the size of the world’s population. The coronavirus type of plague was arguably inevitable. Whenever any species lives in crowded conditions, disease outbreak and transmission … Continue reading

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Get Off the Grass!

Opinion:- We take it for granted, for it is all around us. Whether it be parkland, football field, reserve or more likely pasture, grass is simply everywhere in our urban or in proximity to town landscapes. Yet other than a … Continue reading

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Too Busy to Go Fishing

An Opinion piece by Tony Orman Each October New Zealand celebrates Labour Day with a public holiday. The country rejoices in the 40 hour working week. But really politicians have both an audacity and arrogance plus a good dollop of hypocrisy to … Continue reading

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Possum – Pest or Resource?

   by Tony Orman A query about the Possum – has its danger been exaggerated? That was the title of an article I wrote for the “NZ Weekly News” back in 1961.  Strangely the article drew no comment and I have … Continue reading

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Book Review;-“Unrestrained Slaughter”

 Dr John Robinson author of newly published book “Unrestrained Slaughter – The Maori Musket Wars 1800-1840” dares to enter the fray of the Treaty of Waitangi issue for it is a subject that provokes too easily accusations of “racist” rather … Continue reading

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Police Weak Over Wairarapa Deer Poaching

The police are failing to uphold the integrity of firearm laws by letting poachers “off the hook” says a Wairarapa landowner Bud Jones . In January last year, four shooters armed with rifles entered his property which was surrounded by a … Continue reading

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Insecticides – like 1080 – Bad News for Bats

Most bats eat insects and are called insectivores. Bats like to eat beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and more. And they eat a lot of insects. One little brown bat can eat up to 500 mosquito-sized insects in an hour!  But New Zealand’s bats are in serious … Continue reading

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Salmon Farms Cannot Use Word “Sustainable”

by Ben Hope In Scotland salmon farms have been banned from describing themselves as “sustainable” because of the environmental problems created by their industry. The Scottish Advertising Standards Agency, according to a UK magazine – British Edition of “Country Living” magazine … Continue reading

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TV 3’s Garner and Richardson Get Slammed for 1080 “Hate Speech”

On 9 March, TV 3’s ‘AM Show’, host Duncan Garner and sports presenter Mark Richardson went viral against the anti-1080 public. According to the duo, anti-1080 people are a ‘loud, ignorant, uneducated group” of “extremists”.  The ranting rhetoric by the … Continue reading

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The canaries in the mine – a Canterbury water study

by Rex Gibson – ecologist and scientist The Federation of Freshwater Anglers Inc. (NZFFA) has long believed that one of the major factors in the dramatic demise of the trout populations across the Canterbury Plains has been increasing nitrate levels … Continue reading

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Habitat Deterioration and Greed Problems for Whitebait Fishery

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Assns of NZ (CORANZ) in submissions on the Department of Conservation’s whitebait management proposals, has called on the department to be a strong advocate for habitat for the migratory fish. “CORANZ is perplexed by the complete failure … Continue reading

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Teaching Kids to Delight in Killing Animals is Wrong

An American university professor has warned New Zealand to wake up to the dangers of primary schools holding pest killing events that glorify killing animals.  Dr Marc Bekoff professor of ecology and biology at the University of Colorado said there … Continue reading

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Hauraki Gulf on Verge of Collapse?

The Hauraki Gulf is on the verge of collapse according to a new report “State of the Gulf 2020.” The report warns little progress has been made since the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park was established 20 years ago. Destructive commercial … Continue reading

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Better Realistic Whitebait Management Needed – CORANZ

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ (CORANZ) has responded to a call for opinion on whitebait management with a strong message to look after habitat and control black market sales. Any ideas of a  recreational whitebait licence were … Continue reading

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