references
LET TER FROM THE CHAIR
Our latest financial year has been characterised by growth and change; in our partnerships, funding and outputs. Although growth is not always a good thing (consider sustainability), in this case it has allowed us to achieve very positive outcomes particularly during a time of major change. The Department of Conservation (DOC) restructure was a time of uncertainty for us, in a relationship which had been built on a basis of mutual trust and common conservation objectives over many years. However, out of the uncertainty has come an innovative partnerships system which has enabled us to develop new funding collaborations within the community, providing vital support to help us action our new strategic plan for kea conservation. In addition to developing this new working relationship, we have also seen a steady increase in community support (national and international) with regular individual donations and longer term funding providing us with certainty across years. This has not only enabled us to plan ahead for multi-year research projects, but has also allowed us to contract field and operational personnel across the year for the very first time. During this period we also confirmed our first bequest (the Donald George Burns Trust), in memory of a wild kea, Rocky, who lived with Donald for 8 years. Rocky made such an impression, that Donald has now committed to supporting Rocky’s wild cousins in the years to come – a huge boon for kea conservation and the KCT. Certainly this support for kea is coming not a moment too late. Kea injuries and deaths continued to be reported during the year; causes ranging from poisoning (lead and 1080) to physical injury (motor vehicles and traps), the last as an indirect result of conflict. Unfortunately conflict situations now appear to be on the rise, with kea making their presence felt in the Motueka area after a notable absence. Human/wildlife conflict is a global issue which historically almost annihilated kea. This is certainly a situation where communities need to be tolerant and work together to ensure persecution of kea remains in the dark recesses of our history books. So where to now? What are our drivers for 2014? We hope this year will be a time for consolidation and focus rather than ongoing growth. We aim to finalise and action our new strategic plan to achieve conservation goals, formalise partnerships and increase opportunities for communities and individuals to take action for kea conservation. So finally, as Chair, and on behalf of our tireless Board of Trustees and advisors, I thank everyone who supported kea during 2013, whether as volunteers, community supporters, donors or in their role as our conservation partners. Let’s continue working together to make 2014 a year of collaboration, tolerance and positive action for kea!
Photo: Corey Mosen
Photo: Helen Schofield
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
Charles Darwin
2014 Nest monitoring programme takes off for a second year
Last year Dulux New Zealand provided the Kea Conservation Trust with a nest egg of their very own – a $50,000 annual grant to monitor the at-risk kea population. Now the funds have paid off for the keas and their nests, which can rest easier thanks to advances in monitoring and pest control programmes. With the help of Dulux, the Kea Conservation Trust was able to expand its monitoring activities in 2013 to the heights of Arthur’s Pass, Kahurangi National Park, and Nelson Lakes. 4 4 Importantly, the programme has also seen efforts to help the public engage with the work to conserve the kea’s habitat. The Kea Conservation Trust’s website has been redeveloped to be the first port of call for people to access information and resources