Waters and local government. Areas of the Council impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic have continued to recover with a 40% rise in passengers using the South Taranaki to New Plymouth Connector bus service while visits to Pukeiti, Tūpare and Hollard Gardens hit 110,000. Figures show efforts to safeguard the environment by working together with the community continued with the addition of 30 new comprehensive farm plans and 24 biodiversity plans prepared for Key Native Ecosystems. The Taranaki Taku
Protecting her roses from possums sparked Nancy Gordon’s passion for backyard trapping at her New Plymouth home over forty years ago. Many rats and more than 80 possums later, ‘Trapper Nancy’, as she is affectionately known by her neighbours, is noticing the benefits for her garden – thriving avocados, fruit trees and abundant birdlife. "We’ve planted lots of trees to attract birds, so we have Kērerū, Tūi, and fantail that follow us around the garden," she says of her property, in Merrilands, where she lives with her husband Bob. Nancy and many New Plymouth urban residents are jumping on board the Towards Predator-Free Taranaki team, which is supporting Taranaki’s wildlife, native plants and healthy ecosystems. There are more than 1000 traps out in back yards around the region, with residents lining up to get involved. Green-coloured ‘Towards Predator-Free Taranaki’ fence badges and stickers are popping up on letter boxes and fences along the streets in Nancys' community, following a recent Restore Merrilands urban trappers workshop. Taranaki Regional Council staff met with Merrilands residents to support them with the tools and knowledge to trap in their backyards. Trap.NZ, the national database recording trapping data around the region, shows there are 23 traps and 53 predators that have been caught since June in the Merrilands area. Project participants are encouraged to record their trap and what they catch on Trap.NZ to show predator control progress and identify gaps in the trapping network. The Gordons are the winners of Taranaki’s Trap NZ competition, winning a $100 Arborio meal voucher for having registered with Trap NZ and displaying their Towards Predator-Free Taranaki badge on their letterbox. These spot prize draws will be a regular occurrence, so make sure you get your badge or sticker on your fence/mailbox and traps registered on Trap.NZ. Nancy encourages other residents thinking of trapping in their backyard to take the leap ‘Absolutely, especially if you notice your fruit or plants getting eaten!’ Want to get involved? Find out where to get your $10 trap and box on our website:https://www.trc.govt.nz/environment/working-together/pf-taranaki2050/
with significant economic and social costs of communities and regions. It says the Government should hold off setting a target until more work is done, and it should also look at a recent report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on agricultural emissions and the use of forests as compensatory carbon sinks. Given the need for New Zealand to also adapt to the effects of climate change, the Council also urges serious consideration of a recent Local Government NZ report calling for
until 31 August, with winners announced at a special local event in November. The 2021 awards recognised those who were ground-breaking in their efforts to build sustainable communities, reduce carbon emissions, improve native biodiversity and protect wetlands and other native habitat – among others. Council chairman David MacLeod says year-on-year there is a high calibre of entries from a diverse range of entrants. "We are pleased to be able to have a platform where initiatives from school students
residents have pro-actively started backyard trapping before the project has officially rolled out in their towns. Towards Predator-Free Taranaki has been delighted to support these community-led initiatives. Schools, community champions and volunteers are taking a lead role in their area’s trapping, helping co-ordinate efforts, or volunteering to monitor traps in nearby public parks and reserves. The trapping network is ever-expanding, with more than 12,000 traps in backyards and public parks and
Kaupokonui Bush, Brookwood; and
b) notes that the aforementioned sites have indigenous biodiversity values of
regional significance and should be identified as Key Native Ecosystems.
Joyce/Hooker
Closing Karakia Mr J Hooker (Iwi Representative) gave the closing Karakia to the
Policy and Planning Committee and Karakia for kai (lunch).
There being no further business, the Committee Chairperson Councillor C Williamson,
declared the meeting of the Policy and Planning
Coordination role is supported by facilitators who are funded by Stratford District Council, New Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Taranaki Regional Council, TSB Community Trust and Kindergarten Taranaki. Find out more on the Taranaki region’s Enviroschools page. See the latest Enviroschools Taranaki newsletters. Zero Waste initiatives in TaranakiOne of the five Enviroschools theme areas is Zero Waste, under which Enviroschools Taranaki runs Boomerang Bag and Plastic Free July
c) notes that these findings will inform the provisions of the next Regional Land and
Water Plan for Taranaki.
McIntyre/Joyce
4. Summary of Freshwater Improvement Fund (FIF) project ‘Transforming Taranaki’ for
Year 1 (2018-19)
4.1 Mr S Hall, Director Operations, introduced Mr M Simpson, Land Management Acting
Team Leader – Riparian, who spoke to the report to update Members on the progress of
the freshwater improvement fund project ‘transforming Taranaki’, following …
Our vision: The best regional stadium in New Zealand that regularly hosts local, regional, national, and international sports and entertainment events. Yarrow Stadium is being redeveloped to ensure its stands meet earthquake standards and the venue remains fit for purpose in the post-Covid era and a valued community asset. The venue’s East and West grandstands were declared earthquake-prone and closed in 2017 and 2018. The repair and refurbishment project was approved in 2019 after we sought
Resource management direct charges revenue - $1,110,016 under budget mainly due to
Waitara Lands reserve distributions being less than expected.
Biosecurity/pest management - $278,970 under budget due to the timing of Towards
Predator Free Taranaki expenditure.
Biosecurity and biodiversity direct charges revenue - $955,452 under budget mainly due
to Predator Free 2050 funding being recognised on an accrual basis (as earned).
Passenger transport - $337,896 under budget due to bus