Introducing our AMI Community Grant Finalists
This is our second to last daily showcase of two of our AMI Community Grant finalists, sharing a bit more about the great work that they're doing in Kiwi communities. You can help support these organisations by voting for them to win their share of $20,000.
Volunteering Canterbury
Volunteering Canterbury has been supporting volunteering for over 25 years in Canterbury. Increasingly we find ourselves going to the community to talk about volunteering; encouraging people to volunteer within their neighbourhoods. With people moving as a result of the quakes in 2010/2011, and the newcomers to the city for the rebuild, volunteering is providing excellent opportunities to make connections. We are seeking assistance for two tablets and a marquee so that we more readily attend community events and show people, on the spot, how to get involved with volunteering. VOTE NOW!
The House of Grace
The House of Grace is a home for pregnant teens and young mothers. Young mums are built up to be confident mothers, capable of raising children within healthy family environments. We help young women continue their education, overcome personal challenges and break free from issues that may be holding them back. As a non-profit and non-government funded organisation, we rely on donations. Funds will go towards furnishings for the home, new couches and updated bedding. We desire to make the home a beautiful, safe and peaceful environment for young mums who may not have experienced this before. VOTE NOW!
Neighbourly challenge: Who can solve the daily riddle?
I have a crown but am not a king.
I'm prickly on the outside but sweet within.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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43% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
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56.3% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Successful pest control effort to seek charity status
By local democracy reporting:
West Coast Regional councillors have agreed in principle to hand over the management of its successful Predator Free Te Kinga project to a charitable trust.
Over the past four years the council has led the pest control mission over 17,000 hectares of public and private land around the mountain, funded by a $4.4m Provincial Growth Fund grant in 2020.
The project has had strong buy-in from local farmers.
And the council’s Resource Management committee heard on Tuesday that the project involving Lake Brunner landowners, DOC and local schools is nearing its goal of eliminating possums from Mount Te Kinga.
The last one should be gone by early next year, the council’s environmental science manager Shanti Morgan told the meeting.
The network of self-setting traps, bait stations and cameras managed by the council company Vector Control Services had proved highly effective and native species were returning including kaka, fernbirds, New Zealand falcon.
A bittern and a lone female great spotted kiwi had also been sighted, Morgan said.
But plenty of other pests remained in the area including rats, stoats, feral cats and deer.
A 1080 aerial drop planned for the mountain soon should bring a high rate of kill, she said.
But Predator Free 2050 had confirmed it had no funding for the future maintenance of the Te Kinga project, and the remaining $1.6 million PGF money had to be spent by July next year.
“We need to expand the funding options, and be part of a charitable entity,” Morgan said.
As a non-council enterprise, the Te Kinga project would be eligible for funding from charities and philanthropic sources, and could still contract the council’s business arm, Vector Control Servies to manage the pest control.
Councillor Peter Ewen said he was sceptical that the Predator Free 2050 goal could be achieved and asked if the lone kiwi on Te Kinga should be moved before the 1080 drop.
Morgan referred the councillor to the 1080 investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright in 2011 which had found the biodiversity benefits of 1080 far outweighed any risks.
“I am confident we can make Te Kinga predator free by 2050,” Ms Morgan said.
The two iwi reps on the committee weighed in with differing perspectives.
Makaawhio representative Jackie Douglas said the iwi was not keen on 1080 but cooperated reluctantly with its use.
Te Waewae chairperson Francois Tumahai said his iwi fully supported the use of 1080 and the setting up of a trust to continue the Te Kinga project after 2025.
The committee voted to approve in principle the setting up of the charitable entity.
*LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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