This is truly a great day and I have to acknowledge the fantastic welcome. My thanks also to Brett and his team; not only for looking after the chicks for a year, but also for escorting these young kiwi back here to their home.

These experiences with our native wildlife are an absolute highlight of my job. I’ve had giant weta crawl up my arm, met with kakapo star – Sirocco - and now have the privilege of being introduced to the rarest species of our national icon.

I’ve got to admit that until recently I was not aware that we had a kiwi species named ‘rowi’ and that the species was on the brink of extinction. It is very rewarding to be part of an event like this – to celebrate the success of the project but also recognise that there are a number of ‘key ingredient’s’ that have got us to this point

Critical to the success of any conservation project is the passion, enthusiasm and commitment of the Department of Conservation staff. This project has been a demonstration of how forward-thinking and bold new approaches to conservation, can really pay off.

Just 2 years ago – the rowi team were able to return 10 young rowi back into the Ökärito forest. Thanks to advances in technology and management methods such as BNZ Operation Nest Egg, this year the DOC Franz Josef team will bring back 37 young rowi.

As part of this project, DOC and Wildtech NZ have pioneered the development of groundbreaking chick timer transmitters that can tell if an egg has been laid or has hatched and ‘sky ranger’ technology that allows data from these transmitters to be collected by air. Both of these advances have been fantastic investments in home-grown technology and critical to the success we are celebrating today. They will, no doubt, go on to bring success to wider conservation projects.

We are also grateful to the support of BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve for their immense contributions to the rowi project. Partnerships, especially in times like these where Government Departments have to make the best use possible of limited funds, are a very productive way in which we can join forces to benefit conservation.

The last ingredient for success and a most critical one is that you – New Zealanders’ – support the project and also believe that saving this species is important. Kiwi are a national treasure, a national icon and the importance of not letting our national icon become extinct must never be underestimated.

A robust kiwi population signals a robust ecosystem. The health of our natural heritage in this incredible area is key to the health of its economy – with tourism and increasingly eco-tourism forming the backbone of economic growth on the west coast.

I’m looking forward, like many of you – to meeting a rowi face to face very shortly and acquainting myself with New Zealand’s rarest kiwi.

Posted by staff in Speech at 10:17

Former State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham has been appointed as Chair of the Remuneration Authority, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson announced today.

The Remuneration Authority is the body that sets pay rates for Ministers of the Crown, MPs, Judges and Local Authority Members.

Mr Wintringham has been a member of the Authority since 2005. Prior to that he served as State Services Commissioner from 1997 to 2004.

Ms Wilkinson says Mr Wintringham’s extensive public sector experience makes him well qualified to lead the Authority. He takes over from David Oughton whose term expired this year.

Current authority member Angela Foulkes has been reappointed until 30 June 2011, while John Errington has been appointed as the third member with his term expiring on 30 June 2012.

Mr Errington was a partner and actuarial practice leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers until his retirement in June 2008. He now works as a self-employed acturarial consultant.

"Members of the Remuneration Authority have demanding responsibilities and I wish Mr Wintringham and his team all the best with their work," Ms Wilkinson says.

Media contact: Christian Bonnevie 021 243 8266 & 04 817 8266

Posted by staff in News at 13:53

It is an absolute pleasure to be here today to celebrate 75 years of St John service in Rangiora. It’s really quite remarkable when you stop and think that St John has been selflessly helping this community since 1934. I often think we take our paramedics for granted until someone we know needs a saviour. I struggle to imagine how St John operated when it first started out, but I expect the same level of professionalism was upheld.

To say that the work St John does is critical is somewhat of an understatement. When I look at the figures, I am absolutely stunned to see what St John achieves – it is truly astounding. Last year you travelled nearly 16 million kilometres across the country to treat 350,000 patients. You attended over 275,000 emergency incidents and also trained 55,000 students in first aid, with more than 50,000 youngsters also taking part in the Safe Kids programme. That is one heck of a workload. Unfortunately I don’t have access to any data that could come close to predicting the totals for those over 75 years.

A lot has changed over that time, most notably New Zealand’s population. But I can safely say that St John has come to the aid of millions of people from all walks of life - parliamentarians included. In fact one of my colleagues (Tim MacIndoe) very recently needed some medical attention. You may have heard of the Parliamentary Rugby Team before. They travel around the country against invitational sides and I’m sure you can imagine that when there are a few 40-plus year old fellas on a field the odd injury can occur. On this occasion they had travelled up to Auckland and my brave colleague fractured his collarbone in the opening minute – his first and last touch of the ball.

But who was on hand to help him? None other than St John of course. I understand he thoroughly enjoyed his time with the paramedics, particularly when the gas kicked in. So rest assured, your hard work can’t possibly go unnoticed when you’re taking care of the people who roam the corridors of power.

What is truly remarkable about all of you in St John, is that you can carry this load on the shoulders of less than 10,000 people – and three-quarters of you are volunteers. It is a testament to the organisation that so many people continue to step forward to volunteer, whatever their motivation. Without these volunteers St John simply could not function as it does and regions like North Canterbury would be at a huge loss as a result.

So today I simply want to encourage and thank you for the job that you do and have done for 75 years. I won’t be around for all of the next 75, but I know St John will be and that is always reassuring.

Thank you.

Posted by staff in Speech at 10:58

I am delighted to be here tonight to meet a very special visitor, Sirocco the kakapo, and to celebrate the start of Conservation Week 2009. I would like to thank the Zoo for its on-going conservation work and especially for hosting this event. And thank you all for being here and ‘getting involved’ in conservation week.

Firstly, Jonathan, I would like to pass on my condolences to the Auckland Zoo community regarding the passing of Kashin the elephant. I’m sure many New Zealanders have been enriched by meeting her over the 37 years she was here. She was a great engaging advocate for large mammals. It is with the same engaging intent that the Department of Conservation has supported Sirocco’s visit during Conservation Week.

I am lucky enough to have interacted with kakapo before, on a fantastic visit to Codfish Island earlier this year where I got to meet them on their own turf. The way they interact with people is quite astonishing. My favourite kakapo was Hoki (known to be rather bad tempered with humans at times), she was on her best behaviour for us, posing for photographs and then following us along the track for some distance joining the single file.

Hoki is actually a sibling to Sirocco – they share the same mother – and was hand-raised at Auckland Zoo. I hear Sirocco has his own quirky personality and has been known in the past to chase people into the DOC toilets. I don’t doubt that he will draw a crowd over the next week.

The theme of Conservation Week this year is ‘Get Involved – and who knows?’ Well, the Kakapo Recovery Team certainly know the value of involvement against all odds. This unique parrot once common throughout both the North and South Islands had its population decimated by the arrival of humans and the many accompanying mammals they brought with them. Habitat destruction and hunting by cats, rats, stoats and humans, resulted in the kakapo population being reduced to only 51 in 1995.

Charlie Douglas, a Westland explorer over a hundred years ago, once described how kakapo could be caught in the moonlight by shaking the tree or bush they were feeding on until they tumbled to the ground. Clearly they were easy prey.

The first Government intervention was in 1894 led by pioneer conservationist Richard Henry. Several hundred kakapo were shifted to predator-free Resolution Island. Unfortunately, within six years, stoats arrived on the island and destroyed the population.

In 1990 the Threatened Species Recovery Programme was developed as a partnership between the Department of Conservation, the Forest and Bird Protection Society, New Zealand Conservation Authority and corporate sponsors.

The K

This support has resulted in the sensational year we have had in 2009 taking kakapo numbers from 92 to 124.

The kakapo recovery story highlights the importance of islands as a conservation tool, here in Auckland pests have been, or are being, removed from many of our treasure islands in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

This winter Rangitoto and Motutapu islands have undergone the largest island rodent eradication project ever implemented in New Zealand. In time these two huge islands will be a major attraction for people to see NZ animal and plant species thriving and all less than a 30 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.

The success of restoration and species recovery programmes on these islands and many others in the marine park relies heavily on the support of community trusts and I would like to acknowledge this fantastic effort.

So, I ask you all to enjoy the evening and our unique visitor Sirocco – but while doing so, I would like you to remember the thousands of volunteers throughout New Zealand who dedicate their free time to supporting these recovery programmes. Here’s to the trusts and community groups who ‘got involved’ – and know they are making a difference.

Posted by staff in Speech at 10:51

The Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park’s newly refurbished and extended visitor centre is officially open, Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson announced today.

"Mt Cook is a huge tourist destination and the establishment of this world class visitor centre only enhances its appeal.

"Over 230,000 people visited the old centre each year and I have no doubt that we will see greater numbers turning up now.

"The redevelopment has included a complete refit of the displays and archive area, and the construction of a new 24-hour information kiosk and memorial room.

"There is a real sense of history and pride in this place and the centrepiece view of the mountain says it all really – it’s just inspiring."

The $6m upgrade began in February 2008, with construction on the new centre, roading, car park and walkway completed in October.

The interior was finished in December with all additions to the displays now made.

Media contact: Christian Bonnevie 021 243 8266 & 04 817 8266

Posted by staff in News at 14:04