Chairperson's Report July 2024

Kia ora everyone, 

Look at where we are! It's amazing to see how far Aroha Kaikorai Valley (AKV) has come. What was the kernel of an idea has grown wings and taken off.  

What I have come to realise is that we are weaving social fabric. We are joining people together with a common cause, and that is the thing that makes the most difference. It is the people that enact our objective of improving plants, predators and water.  

It’s the community who create the difference, and AKV is here for the next 500 years, caring for the valley. Even when we’re long gone, that social fabric will become a protective blanket for our land. 

Major Achievements 

Job creation

We secured funding for an administrator to work 6 hours a week and hired Beth Wishart to keep things on track. 

We got resourced to create the role of field worker, a paid 30 hours per week for 6 months in the field. This role has allowed us to get things humming and jump way ahead on our trapping project. Martin Knox has taken up the challenge of this role. 

Trapping

Stats: 

185 Traps on the ground 

45 Monitoring stations 

The team have caught 100 possums, 95 Rats, 46 Hedgehogs, 1 Weasel and 184 Mice.  

FYI 100 Possums eat 30kg of foliage per night which equates to 10,950 kg or 10.95 Tonnes per year, the equivalent of a tipper truck load! 

Our mission from here with predator control, is to build trapping density in our current area and to grow our project area further to the northeast up the valley to Lynne Street and Otago Golf Club.  

Water Quality

Dr Simon McMillan, one of our trustees has a background in science and education with a passion for water quality. Simon and some of the team will be delivering a water quality education day in November with Balmacewen Intermediate and the Araiteuru Marae. In addition, other water quality education events, supported by AKV, occur with primary schools at Kaikorai Valley College. 

AKV Business Plus

Another water quality initiative, this time for businesses in the local area. The concept is that businesses nominate a person to attend two 2 hr education mornings and learn how to test water quality, waterway health and take that information back to their team.  Next, the business engages with AKV to make one change at their work site to improve water quality.  Within this initiative, is the chance for businesses to engage with our media pack.  

Movie Nights

The team have organised 4 movie nights to show the ‘Fight for the Wild’ series produced for RNZ. It has turned into a great little winter gathering and very inspirational.  There is opportunity to chat and compare notes to see how other trappers are going and the science in the documentary is impressive.

Supporter Shoutout

We’re grateful to the following individuals and organizations: 

• Volunteers who host traps, check trap lines, and assist with admin. 

• Our Lead Trappers – Lily & Renee who have installed heaps of traps in residential sections.

• Our trustees who have done a lot of work in the background. 

• Donators - anyone who has contributed to the financial well being of AKV.

• Dynes Group, Turboweb, Kaikorai Valley College, Embark Accounting, Placemakers Dunedin, Media Melt, Race Douglas Burke, ProSigns, City Walks, Artisan Cafe, The Print Room, City Sanctuary, DCC, ORC, OCC, DOC, Volunteer South, and Araiteuru Marae—all contributing to our success providing funding, materials, advice and support. 

Thank you to each and every one of you.

How you can help 

Volunteers: We’re advertising roles for a treasurer, experienced trustees, lead trappers (for trap installations), and trap checkers. Visit the Volunteer South website for more information or drop the team a line.  

Donations: Every dollar counts—your contribution matters!  

Peanut Butter & T Shirt sales: Our T-shirt and Peanut Butter sales last year contributed about $1500 to our mission. 

Host a Trap: We are always looking to get another trap on the ground in the Kaikorai Valley area. 

Spread the word: Tell your Neighbour, tell your friends, the more people who know about us the better.  

Summary

It has been a wild ride! But look at how much has been done. Things are really coming together, and the growth is exponential. Let’s make sure that we take the time to reflect on what has become and how much has been achieved and keep in mind it has only just started. There is another 500+ years to go.

I am very proud, and you should be too.

Kind regards and thanks humans!

Paul Southworth
Chairperson
Aroha Kaikorai Valley Trust