DoC Northland director Sue Reed Thomas planting a tree in Kerikeri in pouring rain to mark the department's 30th anniversary.
DoC Northland director Sue Reed Thomas planting a tree in Kerikeri in pouring rain to mark the department's 30th anniversary.
Staff from all over Northland headed for Kerikeri recently to celebrate the Department of Conservation's 30th birthday.
The festivities were originally scheduled for the DoC reserve opposite the Stone Store, but inclement weather forced a move to the nearby Bay of Islands office instead, although staff and guests were givena choice of activities, including a walk to Rainbow Falls, a guided tour of the recently upgraded Kororipo pa and a look around Rewa's Village.
Those taking part included past and present DoC staff, iwi, community conservation groups and deputy mayor Tania McInnes.
Two former Northland conservators, Gerry Rowan and Chris Jenkins, were among the speakers.
Mr Rowan reminded his audience that the creation of a single government department for conservation, out of parts of the Forest Service, the Department of Lands and Survey and the Wildlife Service, 30 years earlier had been a world first, displaying the importance New Zealanders placed on their natural environment.
He also recalled the fledgling organisation's battles with other departments as government land and assets were divvied up, and lamented the major budget cuts DoC had faced in more recent years.
Guests were given a kowhai seedling to plant at home.
