The announcement of four major founding partners for Project Taranaki Mounga is a significant step on the road towards a Predator Free New Zealand, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.
The Ministers announced the new support for the $24 million project, which will have substantial conservation and economic benefits for Taranaki, at a ceremony in New Plymouth today.
Wellington’s ambitious plan to become the first predator-free city in the country has been welcomed by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.
With support from the NEXT Foundation, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council have committed to eradicating rats, stoats and possums from the city, tying in with the Government’s Predator Free 2050 goal announced earlier this year.
Auckland’s thriving arts scene will be well served by the state-of-the-art new ASB Waterfront Theatre opened today, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.
“The ASB Waterfront Theatre is an exciting new home for the Auckland Theatre Company, and a superb example of what can be achieved when arts organisations and funders work together,” Ms Barry says.
“It is an outstanding facility where we will celebrate, promote and nurture the arts, and provide a platform for Auckland’s voices to be heard.
A new book capturing the experiences of New Zealand soldiers on the Western Front during the First World War is a vivid and detailed account of a pivotal event in our nation’s history, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.
“New Zealand’s Western Front Campaign by Dr Ian McGibbon is the first major account of New Zealand’s contribution since the official history was published in 1921,
A new film co-production agreement signed between New Zealand and Canada will build on the strong screen sector relationships linking both countries, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.
“This new co-production agreement with Canada replaces an earlier 1987 agreement, which has been one of New Zealand’s most successful, with more than 25 different productions,” Ms Barry says.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry is travelling to the United States to lead New Zealand’s delegation to the 2016 Our Ocean conference in Washington DC.
A global summit hosted by United States Secretary of State John Kerry from 14-16 September, Our Ocean addresses major issues in marine protection such as climate change, ocean acidification and sustainable fishing.
New Zealand’s commitment to be predator free by 2050 has received global acclaim at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s World Congress in Hawaii, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.
As part of the Congress, the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission launched the Honolulu Challenge, urging nations to do more to combat the threat of invasive species to protect biodiversity and enhance human wellbeing.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed a new partnership between DOC and Kiwibank which will contribute towards New Zealand’s goal of becoming predator free by 2050.
The partnership announced today focuses on DOC’s conservation dog programme and the remarkable canines using their unique noses to tackle predators and help our native species.
“Specially-trained dogs are truly one of conservation’s best friends, and they will play a crucial role in our plans to make New Zealand predator free by 2050,” Ms Barry says.
Conservation Week 2016 begins on Saturday and is an opportunity for New Zealanders to enjoy the outdoors and discover our natural heritage, Conservation Ministers Maggie Barry and Nicky Wagner say.
“This year’s theme is again focused on Healthy Nature, Healthy People, and it’s all about the health and wellbeing benefits we get from the natural world,” Ms Barry says.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry leaves for the United Kingdom tonight to attend and speak at the Edinburgh International Cultural Summit, a major gathering of arts sector leaders from around the world.
“This is a valuable opportunity to gather new perspectives and ideas about the place of culture in society, the sustainability of the arts and the benefits of increasing participation in cultural activity,” Ms Barry says.
Held from 24-26 August, summit attendees come from more than 30 countries, including China, Canada and Australia.
New Zealander’s experiences in France during the First World War will be remembered in a special national commemoration on Sunday 18 September, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry says.
“Since the beginning of the First World War centenary in 2014, New Zealanders have shown we retain a deep and abiding connection to those who endured that terrible conflict,” Ms Barry says.
The historic site of one of the largest battles of the New Zealand Wars has been returned to iwi ownership as part of the 10th anniversary Koroneihana celebrations for Kiingi Tuheitia.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry formally presented Kiingi Tuheitia with the deed of vesting for Rangiriri Pa and the adjacent Te Wheoro Redoubt historic reserves at a ceremony in Ngaruawahia today.
“Both the pa and redoubt are sites of immense significance for Waikato-Tainui and our shared history as New Zealanders,” Ms Barry says.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has welcomed the official opening of the new education centre at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington today.
Named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II as a 90th birthday gift from New Zealand, the education centre will play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of Pukeahu as a place of national remembrance and reflection.
The historic, restored building will now provide an indoor teaching space for Pukeahu’s successful education programme, which has hosted more than 12,000 students.
A new fund to help support the retention of New Zealand’s built heritage has been announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.
At an event in the historic Manawatu town of Feilding today Ms Barry launched the Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme fund (Heritage EQUIP), which will put $12 million over the next four years towards the cost of strengthening privately-owned heritage buildings.
Three well-known older New Zealanders are the latest to join the SuperSeniors Champions as advocates and role models, Seniors Minister Maggie Barry says.
Renowned ballet dancer Sir Jon Trimmer, former Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin and Senior New Zealander of the Year 2015 Donald Sew Hoy have all accepted the invitation to become Champions as part of the programme launched earlier this year.
Tonight’s Arts Access Awards are a celebration of the power of art to change lives and bring joy and fulfilment to all New Zealanders, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner say.
“These awards are all about recognising the many different people who work tirelessly to open up the experience of creativity to New Zealanders with disabilities, and are a true celebration of the transformative power of the arts,” Ms Barry says.
The young orca which became separated from its pod in Tauranga Harbour has died, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has confirmed.
“Sadly the calf lost its battle overnight despite the best efforts of a team of rescuers,” Ms Barry says.
“I send my sympathies and commiserations to the many people who have worked exhaustively over the last week to try to save the young whale. It was an effort made in the best spirit of cooperation and conservation of the natural world.”
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry have welcomed a new survey showing the number of Hector’s dolphin is higher than previously estimated.
“A three year survey commissioned by the Minister for Primary Industries indicates the population of Hector’s dolphin is about 15,000 – this is up from previous estimates of around 7,000,” says Mr Guy.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry has today welcomed the efforts of a young Taranaki conservationist which will contribute to making New Zealand predator free by 2050.
Ms Barry met with 8 year-old Monte Woodward while visiting New Plymouth on Saturday.
“Monte is to be congratulated. He has worked hard to raise money by running sausage sizzles and washing cars to purchase two traps which will help protect some of our most vulnerable native wildlife from rats, stoats and possums.” Ms Barry says.
Corporate lawyer Daniel Wong has been appointed to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Board, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has announced.
“Mr Wong has an extensive background in the corporate legal sector in New Zealand and the UK, and is the director and co-founder of the Auckland based specialist corporate law firm, Flacks and Wong Limited,” Ms Barry says.
Achieving the goal of a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050 will require a massive team effort across the public, private, iwi and community sectors, Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says.
The Government today announced the adoption of the Predator Free New Zealand 2050 target and plans to set up a new public-private partnership company by the beginning of 2017 to help fund regional large-scale predator eradication programmes.
A major new addition to the Kahurangi National Park in Nelson has been announced today by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.
Five parcels of high value land totalling more than 890 hectares have been formally gazetted as part of the National Park.
“Kahurangi is one of New Zealand’s special places – a wild and rugged land of mountains and forests, pristine lakes and spectacular coastline,” Ms Barry says.
The largest pest control operation in New Zealand’s history has been launched today by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.
Battle for our Birds 2016 will protect our nation’s most vulnerable native species from the potentially catastrophic explosion of rats and stoats in New Zealand forests as a result of a beech mast event.
At an event at Bob’s Cove near Queenstown today Ms Barry announced aerial 1080 drops have been confirmed for 19 sites covering more than 720,000 hectares of high value land.
New Zealanders are being asked to have their say on the environmental science priorities facing the nation, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry say.
A discussion paper released today will lead to a conservation and environment science “roadmap” identifying priority areas for scientific research during the next 20 years.
