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Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson says she is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Department of Conservation ranger William MacRae in a helicopter crash overnight.

“My thoughts and condolences are with his partner, family and colleagues in the Kaitaia office and Northland conservancy.

“William died trying to help others. He was an experienced, well-known and well-liked DOC staffer and he will be greatly missed in the community.

“I also wish to offer my deepest condolences to the family of the pilot who died in the crash.”

The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited’s (NZKS) proposal to establish eight new salmon faming sites in the Marlborough Sounds has been sent directly to an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s nationally significant proposal process with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

The achievements of world-renowned conservation innovator Dr Don Merton have been immortalised in an award that will see the continuation of his pioneering spirit in the management of endangered species, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced today.

Announcing the award at a special ceremony hosted by Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua, Ms Wilkinson praised the work of the former Department of Conservation scientist who died in April this year.

Phase II of the Department of Conservation’s trials of self-resetting possum traps has been launched in Northland’s Trounson Kauri Park, and in the northern Te Urewera National Park, following positive results from tests in Waikato, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Green MP Kevin Hague announced today.

“The early indications from small trial sites have been positive,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“The traps are working as intended, and most importantly, killing possums.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today welcomed the extension of the long-running Kakapo Recovery partnership between the Department of Conservation, Rio Tinto Alcan New Zealand and Forest & Bird – signed during Sirocco the kakapo’s debut at Zealandia in Wellington tonight.

“Established in 1990, this is one of DOC’s longest-running conservation partnerships. This extension will see DOC and Rio Tinto continue to work together for the next four years,” Ms Wilkinson says.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today announced 48 new appointments to the country’s 13 regional Conservation Boards – the independent bodies that provide for interaction between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and local communities throughout New Zealand. 

New Zealand’s Native Trees, the most comprehensive book on the topic to be produced in 30 years, has been officially launched in Wellington tonight with copies to be donated to intermediate and high schools around the country for Conservation Week, says Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson.

“Authors John Dawson and Rob Lucas are to be congratulated for their work.

The Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve in Horowhenua will be enhanced through the purchase of Preston’s wetland by the Department of Conservation, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced today during a visit to the site with Otaki MP Nathan Guy.

Preston’s wetland, totalling 17ha, was once part of a natural water regime. The bulk of the western catchment flowed through the wetland into Lake Papaitonga - a dune lake that was purchased by the Crown more than a century ago.

Tauranga horticulturalist Mark Dean has been awarded one of the country’s highest conservation honours, the prestigious Loder Cup for 2011, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced today.

“Mark has made an outstanding contribution throughout his lifetime working in the horticulture industry specialising in native flora.

“He has spent much of the past 30 years inspiring others as an advisor, teacher and role model both within the horticulture industry and in community conservation projects.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today welcomed the opening of the new $16 million Te Wao Nui native species enclosure at Auckland Zoo, in time for Conservation Week.

“Te Wao Nui is the largest project undertaken in Auckland Zoo’s 88-year history and is a huge asset for New Zealand," Ms Wilkinson says.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson will join local rugby legend Tane Norton to plant the first of 5000 native trees at a huge public planting event marking the reopening of Ötukaikino wetland reserve on Saturday 3 September.

The tree-planting is the first of 17 Living Legends conservation project events being held around the country during Rugby World Cup 2011.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has welcomed the signing today of a $2.5 million business partnership between the Department of Conservation and Genesis Energy that will help save the endangered whio (blue duck).

“Whio are unique to New Zealand and with only 3000 birds left they are rarer than kiwi.

“Genesis Energy’s decision to get involved in working to save this beautiful bird is to be applauded.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has today officially opened the country’s newest marine reserve near Warkworth, north of Auckland.

The Tāwharanui Marine Reserve covers approximately 400 hectares of the northern coast of the Tāwharanui Peninsula near Kawau Island.

It will replace the Tāwharanui Marine Park. The marine reserve has a straighter, clearer boundary than the marine park and will be around 16 hectares larger. 

Motutapu and Rangitoto islands have been officially declared pest-free wildlife sanctuaries following a successful eradication programme that first started 20 years ago, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The occasion has been marked with the first release of threatened native wildlife on Motutapu Island, including two breeding pairs of takahë – one of New Zealand’s rarest native birds.

Up to 20 tïeke, or saddleback, another native bird brought back from the brink of extinction, were also released.  

Five new marine reserves, including the two largest in mainland New Zealand, are to be established on the South Island’s West Coast, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

The new reserves are Kahurangi (8466ha), Punakaiki (3558ha), Okarito (4641ha), Gorge (847ha) and a small educational site at Ship Creek near Haast (16ha), totalling 17,528ha combined.

Kahurangi and Okarito will become the two largest marine reserves on New Zealand’s mainland coast.

The Government has purchased Ngunguru Spit in Northland following years of hard work to secure the iconic coastal habitat so it can be preserved for the benefit of all New Zealanders, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The Department of Conservation has acquired Ngunguru Spit from Todd Property Group. In a related transaction, Todd Property Group has purchased the defunct Napier Hospital site. The details of the agreements are subject to confidentiality clauses.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today announced eight new appointments to the New Zealand Conservation Authority, the body which oversees the policies that govern how public conservation land is managed.

The Authority will also have a new chairperson, with Dr Kay Booth taking over the role from Don Ross.

Ms Wilkinson says Dr Booth brought a wealth of experience to the role.

“Kay has been a member of the Conservation Authority for six years and I am delighted that she has agreed to take on this important leadership role.”

New laws to better manage freedom camping will take affect in time for the Rugby World Cup with the passing of the Freedom Camping Bill tonight, say Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Minister for the Environment Nick Smith.

“Freedom camping is an important part of our tourism industry and is a great Kiwi tradition and we want to see that continue,” Ms Wilkinson says.

“The presumption is that freedom camping is allowed except where councils and the Department of Conservation have specifically prohibited it.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has condemned the brutal assault endured by Waikato Conservation Board Chairman Arthur Hinds at the Tairua Community Hall on the weekend.

Mr Hinds is currently leading a private landowner 1080 operation at Whenuakite, which includes his own property, another private property and some conservation land.

He was arriving at a community-led meeting about marine protection on the Coromandel when he was allegedly attacked by anti-1080 activists outside the hall.

The assault has been reported to police.

The cap intended to be placed on aircraft landings at Milford Aerodrome will be removed and concession applications reactivated for affected operators, Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The concept of a cap was introduced under the Fiordland National Park Management Plan in 2007 as a means of managing the accumulative adverse effects of aircraft activity.

Using the limit established in the Park Plan, DOC ran a competitively contested allocation process for those wishing to land at Milford.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today announced the appointment of James Guild as the new chairperson of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Board following the retirement of Sir Brian Lochore.

The QEII Trust works to blend farming and conservation to protect rare, threatened, and significant indigenous biodiversity, special landscapes and other open spaces through the use of covenants.

“I am delighted that James Guild has agreed to take on this important role,” Ms Wilkinson says.

The Green Party’s opposition to the Freedom Camping Bill shows it puts people camping where they like ahead of responsibility to our environment, Environment Minister Nick Smith and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson say.

The Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament yesterday with only the Green Party and former Conservation Minister Chris Carter opposing it.

The Government has welcomed the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on the use of 1080 as the most effective tool available for pest management in New Zealand.

“Our most challenging environmental problem is introduced pests such as possums, stoats and rats threatening the survival of our native species,” says Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson.

“We’ve now had two comprehensive and independent reports into the use of 1080 at considerable public expense.

The Department of Conservation will receive $1.5 million in Budget 2011 to help the Te Araroa Trust substantially complete the Te Araroa Trail Long Pathway from Cape Reinga to Bluff, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

The funding has been reprioritised from Vote Tourism and will enable the Trust to substantially complete a number of  sections of the trail totaling 244km.