Restoring and protecting the iconic scenic tussock grassland, alpine and coastal landscapes of South Marlborough

APRIL 2025

OPERATIONS UPDATE

The Ned: $20k of ground and aerial work was recently completed on Tempello and Rossmore due to MDC SNA Agreements with these landowners. Work was strategic to provide best results from limited funds and carried on from previous control. Anecdotal evidence suggests the unknown pine in the Ned is Scotch Pine, a species similar to Contorta.

Awatere Valley: SMRLT needs to continue to manage wilding pine control in the Awatere. This is critical as the Trust holds the extensive ground knowledge and experience. Ket had a meeting with John Walsh in Wellington early April. The Trust is very appreciative of the recent grant to the Trust from DOC, $75,000 (+GST) for control work in the Tone catchment and nearby catchments. The contract is signed and work will commence in April.

Molesworth: Steve likened the situation as a band-aid on a cancer. Just not enough funds to make an impact on the prolific spread. Seed rain from the head of Waihopai is as devastating as that coming from Branch Leatham with spread of pines exponentially growing and visually obvious within months. Funding of more than $12m of control work to date will be wasted if B/L Ten Year Plan is not initiated. Ministers due to view the scale of the governments mistake on heli-field trip 23th April.

Nationally crown funding has been drastically reduced, but the Trust thru its initiatives  and collaboration with landowners, Marlborough District Council, DOC, and MPI has been able to continue control work in maintaining previously cleared areas,  and some new infestation control work in South Marlborough Management units.

We have now created a NEWS page on our website - where you can watch, listen and read all things wilding pines and the work we have been doing.

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Check out our YouTube channel @southmarlboroughrestoration to access where we will be uploading videos as they come through Click here

ADVOCACY

Johnny and Ket met officials in Wellington 3rd April. MPI funds currently dependent on SiteWise qualification. A challenge for SMRLT which was acknowledged as well as the strength of the Trust and the key role it plays. Good outcome and potential funding for the SiteWise operational plan required.

NEWS UPDATES

Funding: Application for funding underway for MDC Working with Nature/Mahi mø te Taiao.

We are currently looking to develop a future sustainable funding and sponsorship document to raise SMLRT’s profile and continued fight against wilding pine infestation. We will be working with The Funding Agency based down in Christchurch and are currently pulling together the funds to proceed with the workshops.

Communications: Rata video shot on Blowhard soon to be released. Ross and Paul were filmed on the day. One key quote from Ross was that “Wildings have no boundaries”.

SMLRT will be hosting Minister Hoggard, John Walsh and Martin Rodd to view the scale of the South Marlborough wilding pine problem on a heli -field trip 23th April. Will land at Molesworth, Johnny will swap out for Steve on the trip back to Blenheim and a wrap-up meeting is scheduled at the airport before Minister Hoggard, John Walsh and Martin Rodd depart.

OTHER REGIONS EFFORTS: Our friends at the Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group have been busy testing and doing some informative interviews - click here to check out their Facebook page.

To find out more about the problem, reports and all the other amazing resources on the Wilding Pine Network website - click here

Let’s us know what else you would like to hear or be updated about!

info@marlboroughrestoration.org.nz

www.marlboroughrestoration.org.nz