Event

Join us for our November all-groups meeting.

Meet Shannon

We’d like to introduce you to our new Community Engagement Facilitator, Shannon Ritter who will be talking about her studies for her Masters in Wildlife Management, her work with Predator Free Wellington and Te Korowai o Waiheke and her volunteer work for F&B’s Places for Penguins project in Wellington. Many of you will be seeing lots more of Shannon over the coming months.

Heart of Ngahere Sanctuary Proposal

We’d also like to discuss the Heart of Ngahere Sanctuary Proposal. This is the work of Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance and Te Kawerau ā Maki. The closing date for their feedback survey is 17 November 2024. Of course you can make an individual submission or one for your group, but Urban Ark would like to make one on behalf of all central isthmus groups. Is this something you’d like to support?

Let’s protect our environment

We’d also like to spend a bit of time discussing what feedback we might give Auckland Council on their Have Your Say consultation on how we, altogether as a region, protect our natural environment and primary industries in the future from introduced plants, animals and diseases that can cause harm. Submissions are open from 25 October to 8 December 2025. We can probably skip quite quickly through points 3 and 4 below, but 1, 2 and 5 should give us plenty to get out teeth into. This is what Auckland Council has to say:

We have a current plan that guides how we protect our environment, which runs from 2020 – 2030. Since this was created though, new threats to our natural environment have emerged. Creating our new plan is going to take several years, so we need to start now to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and ready for Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland by 2030.

We’re seeking to understand your, your communities’, and more broadly, Aucklanders’ views on five key topics before we begin drafting the new plan. The topics we’re seeking feedback on at this stage are:

1. Cat management for threatened indigenous wildlife protection
2. Pest free islands and peninsulas and the regional journey towards Predator Free 2050
3. Managing exotic caulerpa seaweed and other harmful marine species
4. Reducing the spread and impact of freshwater species that cause harm including freshwater gold clam
5. Addressing the impacts of climate change on our natural environment

Aucklanders will also be welcome to let us know of anything else they think we should consider.

We will use your feedback, as well as feedback from mana whenua, stakeholders, and technical experts, to draft a proposed plan for how we protect our environment and primary industries from 2030 - 2040. When this draft plan is ready, you’ll be asked for your feedback on this too.

When Tuesday 12 November 2024 6.30–8.30pm

Where Upstairs at Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre - 990 Great North Road.

Who Group leadership and close affiliates. Please let us know if more than 3 are coming from your group.

Getting there and parking: Cycle path and bus lanes go past the door. Park beside the Western Springs Community Garden Hall, 956 Great North Road. Or if you have mobility issues you’re welcome to park in the recycling centre car park (one of the posts will be removed).

Refreshments: We’ll be providing some food, so please make sure you rsvp [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] so we can plan catering.

Requesting supplies like traps, boxes, bait, tools etc: Please ensure you let us know what you need in advance of the meeting so we can have it prepped and ready for you.

Group: Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao