An Overdue Update

Apologies for the long gap between posts - it's not because nothing has been happening, but because we've been a too busy!

What has been happening?

We now have charitable status.

We have the very talented Elise Lepple working on marketing material.

We nearly have a full complement of world-leading experts in our Advisory Group. We are hugely thankful to:

• David Mules (WWF-Tindall Foundation Connecting Northland Project).
• Assoc. Professor Philip Seddon (Department of Zoology, University of Otago).
• John Barkla (Ranger Partnerships, Department of Conservation).
• Rebecca Stanley (Partnership and Education, Auckland Botanic Gardens).
• Dr Colin O'Donnell (scientist, Department of Conservation).
• Dr John Innes (scientist, Landcare Research).
• Dr James Russell (Senior Lecturer, Auckland University).
• Clayson Howell (Technical Officer, Department of Conservation).
• Dr Marieke Lettink (FaunaFinders).
• Dr Warren Chinn (Technical Officer, Department of Conservation).
• Dr Robin Mitchell (Golder Associates)

We're still on the lookout for good marine, freshwater and community/Iwi liaison people (if anyone knows any body particularly talented in either of these fields then please let me know).

We've met the Minister of Conservation and will soon meet the new Director General of the Department of Conservation.

We're in discussion with various groups to gain their support in conservation initiatives.

We've got various funding bids in to help get us started.

Early indications are that we may have raised over a million dollars already (more on that in a later post).

Flock of endangered brown teal (Anas chlorotis) that have been released into a new site on the Coromandel Peninsula. Brown teal were common throughout NZ but the South Island subspecies was declared extinct last month. The North Island subspecies was struggling with potentially viable populations only occurring at two or three sites in the last decade. A concerted effort by several organisations has improved the situation, but there is still a long way to go. These birds are at a flock site where they choose their mate for the coming breeding season.