Charity auction for conservation

A blue duck at home in the Retaruke River.

The Friends of the Whanganui River will be hosting a charity auction to be held jointly with the Blue Duck Station of Whakahoro to raise funds to assist in conservation efforts to help the blue duck and kiwi populations around Whakahoro to regenerate.

"This will be in addition to funds our society requires to fulfil some of the projects we have planned," says society president Alan Donald.

The auctioneer will be Dan Steele of Blue Duck Station of Whakahoro, who is well known for his conservation work in protecting endangered native species from introduced predators.

The Blue Duck Station has one of the highest concentrations of blue duck (whio) and kiwi in New Zealand as well as wetas, native bats and fish.

To help increase numbers of these and other native species the station's management is working to improve their habitat by encouraging bush regeneration, enhancing water quality and trapping rats, stoats, feral cats and other predators.

"The Friends of the Whanganui River strongly support these ecological efforts and have a number of other projects in the wind to assist in the revitalisation of the Whanganui River Road.

One of our key projects at the moment is the erection of a picnic table at the Gentle Annie lookout on the summit of the River Road where it overlooks the river towards Parakino.

"Every year since 1989, the Friends has published an Annual showcasing stories and news about aspects of the river.

As costs have risen and membership has fallen, the ability to publish this annual is at risk. We are now arranging bi-monthly seminars, film screenings and other activities.

These are becoming increasingly popular and we have seen an increase in our membership numbers as a result."

The auction will be held at the Wanganui RSA on Saturday, November 19, starting at 2pm, with a wide range of items including two return tickets to Vietnam.

- Donations of items are welcome. Phone Alan 345 0895, or Jim 345 1642 with details.