Sunday Walk 23 Nov 08 3.30pm
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This Sunday’s walk is a relatively gentle one. We are starting from the end of Donald Bruce Rd nearest the roundabout (beside the kindergarten: parking beside the high school playing fields), going down the bridle path and taking a look around the high school wetland. There has been substantial weed-removal and replanting there, with more to come. Tony King-Turner hopes to be with us and will tell us about what has been happening.
Thence to Hooks Lane and down to the beach for an amble and then back up to the high school fields and a walk along the cliff-tops through the primary school and back across to Donald Bruce Rd. We are then fortunate to be having a look around the Lush property, opposite the school, with a nice wee hill for looking out from, a small wetland and a beach down the bottom. The tide will be near full or we’d then walk to Shelley Beach but will have to return to our starting point along the road.
See you then.
3.30 start. Meet beside the kindergarten, Donald Bruce Rd. All welcome and not much in the way of hills.
Sunday Walk, 16 Nov 2008, 3.30pm
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The walk this week is a loop around the Matiatia–Owhanake area.
This is a similar walk to that which Gary Wilton organised for Labour weekend but if you missed that you might like to join us. We will pass through a variety of landscapes including regenerating coastal bush, northern bays and Matiatia wetland. The walk will take up to two hours and will include climbs from Oceanview Rd to Delamore, down the other side and back up again.
Meet at the Owhanake carpark (the unsealed one midway between Matiatia and Oneroa) at 3.30pm.
For more detail check out http://waihekegreenmap.blogspot.com or contact me on 372 2450.
Note that while every care is taken, these walks are at your own risk. All welcome.
Onetangi Walk, Sunday 2 Nov 2008
Meet at Onetangi Hall at 3.30pm (note slightly later time). We will take a leisurely climb up the valley through the mature bush of the Forest and Bird Reserve to Pohutukawa Ridge. Then it’s all downhill as we return via Bella Terrace with its magnificent gulf views and descend to the beach from Garrett Road. Finally, just to get the heart-rate up again, we will climb the steps to Waiheke Reserve and then return to the hall.
Meet at the Onetangi Hall at 3.30pm. Note that while every care is taken, these walks are at your own risk. All welcome.
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Meet and park at the hall, walk up the road to the Roy Nelson gate, go along formed track to Pohutukawa Ridge, out at La Franchie gate, back to Belle Terrace and loop down, then along Waiheke Rd to Garrett, along Garrett and down the track to the beach, up First Ave, climb the stairs to the reserve above the hall and back across the reserve to the cars. Bit of a workout with all that climbing and no particular message but a variety of landscapes and terrain.
Meet at the Onetangi Hall at 3.30pm. Note that while every care is taken, these walks are at your own risk. All welcome.
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Meet and park at the hall, walk up the road to the Roy Nelson gate, go along formed track to Pohutukawa Ridge, out at La Franchie gate, back to Belle Terrace and loop down, then along Waiheke Rd to Garrett, along Garrett and down the track to the beach, up First Ave, climb the stairs to the reserve above the hall and back across the reserve to the cars. Bit of a workout with all that climbing and no particular message but a variety of landscapes and terrain.
Whakanewha walk, Sunday 12 Oct 08
Sunday walks are on again
Now that daylight saving is here and the weather is picking up, the informal Sunday walks are beginning again. This week we are planning a loop trip at Whakanewha that will take in the Cascades, a walk along the beach and a return via Cathedral track. It’s a relatively easy walk but will take an hour and a half to two hours.
Meet at the entry to Whakanewha (park along Gordon’s Road before the park gates) at 3pm.
Note that while every care is taken, these walks are at your own risk. All welcome.
Contact: Jan Ramp 372 8992 or Janet Hunt 372 2450.
Reel Earth Film Festival Waiheke
To celebrate Conservation Week 2008 the Hauraki branch of the Forest & Bird Protection Society present a selection from the Reel Earth Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival. This successful festival has been running in Palmerston North for the last 4 years, bringing together recent movies and documentaries from all over the world.
These movies are very topical, highly professional productions, that will not appear on public TV, as they tend to delve a bit deeper and don’t shy away from controversy. A great opportunity to gain some new insights in environmental issues here in New Zealand and around the globe. And its not all doom and gloom; some of these films are simply hilarious, others are full of hope for the future.For more information, see the local papers for session times, call Waiheke Cinema (372 4240 or Jan Ramp (3728992). Fliers are available at the cinema, the library and several shops around Waiheke.
- Artworks, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
- All sessions start at 5pm sharp and have a 5 minute intermission.
- Admission by koha ($10 pp would be great thanks) Proceeds will go to the Hauraki Branch of Forest & Bird.
- Sun 7 Sep 5pm Why birds sing - United Kingdom (2006) 80 minutes Cheat neutral -New Zealand (2008) 5 minutes Common scents - Canada (2007) 3 minutes
- Mon 8 Sep 5pmThe Greening of Southie - United States Of America (2007) 85 minutes Xtreme Waste - New Zealand (2007) 8 minutes Mohikinui - New Zealand (2008) 5 minutes
- Tue 9 Sep 5pmSounds of the seas - Germany (2008) 94 minutes Fish for the future- New Zealand (2008) 24 minutes
- Wed 10 Sept 5pm Energy crossroads - United States Of America (2006) 67 minutesCountdown on the Yangtze - Germany (2008) 52 minutes Bright ideas - New Zealand (2007) 4 minutes
- Thur 11 Sep 5pm The nuclear comeback - New Zealand (2007) 75 minutes No nukes is good nukes - New Zealand (2007) 50 minutes
- Fri 12 Sep 5pm An alchemy in green - New Zealand (2005) 50 minutes Taking root: the vision of Wangari Maathai - United States Of America (2007) 81 minutesShort description of the movies ( there are 5 themes in the festival)
- Sun 7 Sep 5pm Why birds sing - United Kingdom (2006) 80 minutes Cheat neutral -New Zealand (2008) 5 minutes Common scents - Canada (2007) 3 minutes
New Zealand (2005) 50 minutes Director: Dave Dawson
Can the creativity and energy of one man restore a landscape? Sometimes yes. An Alchemy in Green is a compelling story of an individual’s determination to restore life to a ravaged land. Following the story of Barry Brickell – artist, railway builder and nature conservationist - this film is a relevant and interesting exploration of the loss and restoration of New Zealand’s impressive forests, shot on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Bright Ideas
New Zealand (2007) 4 minutes Directors: Ross Inness-McLeish, Jack Tippler, Ollie Neas , Nelson Boys College
Can Nelson Boys College be brighter about its energy bill? You bet! The cast and crew take up the challenge with enthusiasm and creativity, reclaiming kilowatts left right and centre with there school wide campaign to educate and motivate change.
Cheat Neutral
United Kingdom (2007) 13 minutes Director: Beth Stratford
Two young men launch a cunning corporate parody of the notion that carbon trading is of itself a solution to global climate change. Simply put, when you cheat on your partner you add to the heartbreak, pain and jealousy in the atmosphere. So what if there was an easy solution to counteract all that pain? Welcome to cheatneutral.com This ingenious duo’s website will, for a small fee, offset your cheating by funding someone else to be increasingly faithful, or even celibate. This brilliant offset neutralises the pain and unhappy emotion your infidelity may have caused, ensuring that there is no net increase in emotional pain in the world. This service has the added appeal of leaving the cheater with a clear conscience. It is on this notion that this clever and satirical short film builds to proposition that carbon offsetting, based on a similar philosophy to cheatneutral, is also a joke.
Common Scents
Canada (2007) 3 minutes Director: Steve Whitehouse
A whimsically animated tale of lust, greed and the overwhelming desire to smell good. Common Scents is a brilliantly crafted allegory warning of the dangers of mindless and unsustainable resource use.
Countdown on the Yangtze
Germany (2008) 52 minutes Director: Thomas Weidenbach
Shot with an eye for detail, Weidenbach’s newest film traverses one of the greatest environmental revolutions China has ever known. Over the last decade, construction has been underway on a single structure of unimaginable size - the world’s largest dam. But at what cost is this economic miracle to the Yangtze River and the two million people forced to relocate? An impressive, professional, and well-narrated journey into a very old world, and another that is just coming into form.
Energy Crossroads: the burning need to change course
United States Of America (2006) 67 minutes Director: Christophe Fauchere
If you’re headed in the wrong direction, does it help to drive faster? Most experts agree that global peak production of fossil fuel will soon occur, drastically changing the very fabric carrying our industrialised world. Energy Crossroads takes the high road to happiness, spotlighting the opportunities for renewable energy, coupled with higher efficiency and conservation, as sensible solutions for sustaining our quality of life.
Fish for the Future (was not part of the Reel Earth Festival)
New Zealand (2008) 24 minutes Director: David Elisco
A playfully presented film about the need for Marine Reserves in New Zealand. Featuring footage from the popular Goat Island and Poor Knights areas, but also from remote areas such as the sub-antartctic islands, Kermadec Island and the brand new Marine Reserves around the bottom of the South Island. Beautiful underwater footage, and a highly original cast of presenters make this film great viewing.
Mohikinui
New Zealand (2008) 5 minutes Director: Ben Jackson
Nestled in a cleft of the South Island's West Coast, a wild river runs free through a Gorge of magnificent proportion. So magnificent that it attracts the government's eye, with a view to drop an 85 metre concrete face into the Gorge terminus. The clever mix of river run footage, sharp interview, and crack helicopter shots; Ben Jackson's film debut clearly puts the question: Are dams in wild rivers the way forward?
No Nukes is Good Nukes!
New Zealand (2007) 50 minutes Director: Claudia Pond Eyley
A lively historical documentary about the colourful, but deadly serious New Zealand grassroots nuclear free movement. No Nukes is Good Nukes! is vividly told through interviewees recalling their experiences protesting the entry of nuclear ships into our harbours, and participating in marches nationwide for a nuclear free nation. For some a trip down memory lane, for others a must-see visit into a page of New Zealand’s social and environmental history.
Sounds of the Seas
Germany (2008) 94 minutes Director: Volker Barth
What may cause the death on a beach? Sounds of the Seas is an investigative science detective story attempting to untangle the mystery behind the causes of the stranding of deep diving whales. An emotive and political documentary powerfully filmed using the latest high tech equipment, Sounds follows the journey of a young biologist to Europe and the US.
Taking Root: the vision of Wangari Maathai
United States Of America (2007) 81 minutes Directors: Alan Dater & Lisa Merton
Fancy a Nobel Peace Prize in tree planting? Taking Root tells the inspiring story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. At times brutal, always powerful, there is something about this film that is deeply inspiring and moving. Overseas audiences cried, laughed and were moved to action.
The Nuclear Comeback
New Zealand (2007) 75 minutes Director: Justin Pemberton
In a world living in fear of climate change, the nuclear industry has put its hand up as a solution. It claims that nuclear power generation produces zero carbon emissions and people are listening. There are currently 27 nuclear power stations under construction, and projections for another 136 to be commenced within the next decade. But is there a risk that we might be jumping out of the carbon frying pan and into the plutonium fire? Pemberton takes his viewers on a worldwide tour of the nuclear industry in search of answers, including some of the most famous nuclear facilities (the Chernobyl control room, the UK’s Calder Hall, and a nuclear waste repository under the Baltic Sea). Nuclear power is scary, its expensive, but could it save the earth? The Nuclear Comeback is a well-balanced film in which New Zealand features heavily.
The Greening of Southie
United States Of America (2007) 85 minutes Director: Ian Cheney
On the storied streets of South Boston, Massachusetts Boston’s first residential green building is under construction. A $75 million luxury apartment tower, made from recycled steel, sustainable hardwoods, and wheatboard cabinetry, the building is a model of energy efficiency and sustainability. Is this the key to solving the global climate crisis? The Greening of Southie centers around the experience of a handful of characters - a skeptical construction worker, a nervous foreman, the young developer, and an eager tenant. The film takes you from the streets of Southie, to the places of origin of the green materials - selectivelyharvested rainforests in the heart of Bolivia and wheatboard farms in Minnesota. But just how green is the building, and will the construction team overcome the deepening ecological cost? A highly entertaining, down-to-earth, funny and optimistic film.
Why Birds Sing
United Kingdom (2006) 80 minutes Director: Archie Powell
Taken from the book of the same title, Why Birds Sing contains a rich mix of science, philosophy, ornithology, music and performance. The documentary explores the mysterious and often conflicting theories on why birds sing, and why humans are so attracted to the music of nature. An entertaining movie sure to stimulate discussion among bird lovers and musicians alike.
Xtreme Waste
New Zealand (2007) 8 minutes Directors: Talbott Walker and Lula Chapman
The story of a proactive community on the West Coast of New Zealand who has taken control of their waste issues, Xtreme Waste is a delightful, upbeat and inspirational film. Faced with the closure of the local outdated landfill and a polluted waterway, the community of Raglan took it upon themselves to address their waste issues head on. The result is a locally run, highly successful transfer station which has reduced content to landfill, created jobs, and instilled an ethos of reuse and recycling. Humorously told by the enthusiastic staff, and set to a local soundtrack, this is a highly enjoyable eight minutes.
winter break
The weather is very wet at the moment and the tracks are muddy, so we have decided to hold off on the weekly walk for a few weeks. Look out for our announcements here or in the local Waiheke papers. We are planning to get back into it sometime in August.
Okahuiti catchment, 22 June 2008 3pm
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This week, mid-winter, we will explore a catchment — the gathering of water that ultimately becomes a body such as a wetland or a stream. In particular, we will circumnavigate an upper arm of the Okahuiti catchment and later loop around the wetland itself. One highlight will be a visit to Ces Thomas’ wetland in Crescent Road where a weedy wilderness has been transformed by patience and with love into a place of beauty and inspiration. If you are lucky you will see kokopu, (native fish) or tuna, the small eel that resides in the stream, and be greeted in the bush below the house by a friendly fantail.
Meet at the bus-stop on the corner of Te Toki Road and Crescent Rd East at 3pm.
Note that while every care is taken, these walks are at your own risk. All welcome.
POSTSCRIPT
If you feel like flexing your muscles, there is going to be a working bee in the Te Toki field from 10 to 12 on the same day. Bring secateurs, loppers, spades etc. The plan is to give the weeds between the new path and Wilma Rd a bit of a fright.
Blackpool ramble, Sunday 15 June 3pm
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This is an exploration of Blackpool Beach and some of its possibly lesser known walkways and connections. We'll start at the end of Tui Street, cross the stream and head East along the beach. At the end of the esplanade we climb the new track up to Makora Avenue, walk all along its lovely bush clad contour, and take some shortcuts back to the Blackpool Flats. Then we will continue on to Te Huruhi reserve which has its own public loop track around the Pony club area. This walk should be quite easy, it will take about 1.5 hr.
Te Whau Coastal walk, Sunday 8 June, 3pm
This Sunday we are going to do a beautiful coastal walk to the tip of Te Whau peninsula. This walk will take a bit of time and there is quite a distance to cover, but it is arguably one of the best walks on the island.
We'll meet at the same place we gathered for our Rocky Bay walk: at the beginning of Te Whau Drive. See the map below. After descending down to the bay, we will head west to follow the coastline all the way to Te Whau Point. This walk meanders around headlands and empty bays, and joins the road via a steep track up the hill. Allow up to 3 hours for this walk.
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We'll meet at the same place we gathered for our Rocky Bay walk: at the beginning of Te Whau Drive. See the map below. After descending down to the bay, we will head west to follow the coastline all the way to Te Whau Point. This walk meanders around headlands and empty bays, and joins the road via a steep track up the hill. Allow up to 3 hours for this walk.
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Orapiu and Pearl Bay, Sunday 1 June 3.30pm
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We shall meet at the Orapiu Wharf carpark. Carpoolers please meet at the Ostend Carpool site at 3pm.
This walk will be hosted by Sharon Adrichem who has been involved with weed control in the area and who will also show us what is being planned for the Orapiu Lodge property. We will mostly follow a paper road, Hunterville Road and make our way to Pearl Bay. Then we will return to the main road, crossing a section of private land, and return to Orapiu. Please note that you can't complet this loop without prior permission from the landowner(s). We'll explore the beach at Orapiu Bay and have a look at the proposals for the Lodge property. Part of the reason for this walk is to draw attention to this development at the far end of the island. Submissions for or against the development are due on the 7th June.
Forest & Bird Sunday Walk 25-5-8
You are invited to join us for a walk on Sunday the 25th May. Meet at the Owhanake Bay carpark at the end of Korora Road for a wetland, coastal track and regenerating forest exploration. A bit of everything, with some interesting surprises along the way.
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The walk will take about 2 hours and is moderate / easy with a few steep climbs. All welcome, join us at your own risk.
More information: phone Janet Hunt 372 2450 or Jan Ramp 372 8992.
View Larger Map
The walk will take about 2 hours and is moderate / easy with a few steep climbs. All welcome, join us at your own risk.
More information: phone Janet Hunt 372 2450 or Jan Ramp 372 8992.
Waiheke Walkways
I'm testing Google Maps to see if we can put all the Waiheke Walkways on one map, so we get a handy tool for visitors to the island and people interesting in finding walkways on Waiheke. This is a work in progress.
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