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Trust Tourism Business Hunting Information AGM Trip to Rakiura
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Recent Rakiura Maori Land Trust News & InformationGeneral News Items on Rakiura (Stewart Island) Link to "Stewart Island News" for a local perspective.
General News Items on Stewart Island (Rakiura) This area provides a listing of general news items from a variety of sources that we hope you will find interesting and will keep you up to date with some of the major news on Stewart Island. Stewart Island Levy Backed (17 June 2010) A proposal to charge people a fee to visit Stewart Island has gained initial support in Parliament. However, some politicians fear a Stewart Island visitor levy could set a precedent for other tourist spots to follow suit, resulting in tourists opting out of coming to New Zealand. Click Here for full story Stark Dive Tourism off Stewart Island (9 June 2010)
Shark Dive New Zealand owner Peter Scott said companies
worldwide were looking at starting shark dive businesses
off Stewart Island.
Click Here for full story
Nursing pair praise community support for Queens Birthday Honours (7 June 2010)
Two rural nurses said they could not be as effective in
their jobs without the amazing support they received
from the Stewart Island community. Nurses Martinius
Pepers and Deborah Dillon have been colleagues on
Stewart Island for 11 years. The pair both received
Queen's Service Medals for services to nursing and the
community.
Click Here for full story
Stewart Island mean rescued in Foveaux Strait (15 May 2010)
Two Stewart Island men had to be rescued from a dinghy in Foveaux
Strait after their boat struck a
rock and began to take on water on Saturday night. The men were taking the boat from Fiordland to Stewart Island for its owners when the 12m wooden cruiser Jessica struck Gull Rock about 800m northeast of Stewart Island. Click Here for full story Whales die after stranding on Stewart Island beach
Twenty-eight pilot whales are dead after a stranding at a remote
Stewart Island beach yesterday. Department of Conservation acting
southern islands area manager Mark Townsend said the whales were
discovered by a passing tramper about 9am.
Click Here for full story
Mining On Stewart Island proposed by Government (24 March 2010)
Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno is standing alongside Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt in opposition to the potential mining of Rakiura – Stewart Island. She said yesterday she was horrified at the suggestion Stewart Island could be mined. "I believe we should leave our national parks alone. Stewart Island is absolutely unique," she said. "I'm with Tim on this." Click Here for full story Government keen to mine $7 Billion of minerals on Island (23 march 2010)
Prime Minister John Key's Government has indicated its desire to look at mining on Stewart Island to recover some of its estimated $7 Billion in minerals. The island once hosted New Zealand's one and only Tin Mine in the early 1900's but the elements and location got the better of it. Click Here for full story
The Annual Maori v Pakeha Rugby League Game. (8 Feb 2010)
The politically incorrect Maori v Pakeha Rugby league game that
has been around for years goes ahead again this year with added spot light from
the rest of the country.
Click Here for full story Trust Starts Tourism business on Stewart Island (Oct 2009)
The Rakiura Maori Land Trust has started the development of its tourism business on Stewart Island (Rakiura). See www.seethebirds.co.nz for the website associated with this activity. The main purpose is to eventually produce an alternative revenue stream for the running of the Trust but in the first instance the business will provide funding for The Neck restoration plans, which started nearly 3 years ago. Restoring and enhancing the forest to support the bird life is a critical part of this project. The business is named Te Manu Adventures and is currently offering a daily Ferry service to Ulva Island along with some charter boat work during the summer season. In 2010 it will add a heritage tour at The Neck that will focus on the history of the area along with the opportunity to see a lot of the resident wildlife especially birds. In addition to this we will also commence Kiwi viewing tours providing an opportunity to see kiwi on Stewart island in the 2010 / 2011 summer season that will eventually become our flag ship product. The ability to allow visitors to see the birds of Stewart island is one of the key driving forces of the business. It will take us approximately 3 years to get the business to a fully productive and profitable position but once established it will become one of the key tourism business on Stewart Island that will provide a direct benefit to the Trust and its beneficial owners. Click here to check out more. Titi Return Home (2 Sep 09)
This is an excellent article of the in the local newspaper on the return of the Titi to their southern home for the coming breeding season. Click here for full story Salmon Farm in Big Glory Bay Expands (10 Aug 09) The refurbished and expanded salmon farm at Big Glory Bay on Stewart Island, opened by Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley on Friday, is a real good-news story in itself for Southland's economy and employment opportunities, but even better is that it may be just the beginning of a significant growth in sustainable fish farming. Click Here for full story
SILNA Land Issues (Aug 09)
Issues surrounding SILNA Land are back on the Agenda for the The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry who are reviewing its policies about land covered by the South Island Landless Natives Act (SILNA) of 1906. The Rakiura Maori Land Trust currently looks after 3 SILNA Land blocks Lords River, Port Adventure, and Toi Toi.
Click Here for full story 1 and
Click Here for Full Story 2 and
Click Here for Story 3 DoC to get $500,000 Ferry (18 Jun 09)
Conservation Department staff on Stewart Island will soon be ferried
around in style with the imminent arrival of a new $500,000 boat.
The 13.5m boat is undergoing final work in Palmerston North, where
it is being built by engineering company ProFab.
Click Here for full story
Rower Drifts off Stewart Island (28 Apr 09)
Dogged solo rower Oliver Hicks chose to spend last night
drifting near the bottom of Stewart Island rather than
be towed ashore yesterday, after his support boat
ventured out to meet him.
Click here for full story
Kakapo Population now over 100 (11 Mar 09)
A long-running campaign to save the kakapo has hit a milestone with the population now confirmed at over 100, Conservation Minister Tim Groser said today. Click here for full story Possum Eradication a Great Success (28th February 2009)
The Trust has recently researched the success of its first pest eradication programme, which has come back as extremely successful. The Trust in conjunction with DoC recently completed RTC (Residual Trap Catch) monitoring on The Neck following our first eradication program. RTC monitoring on the Neck was carried out by DOC staff, the possum contractor and a RMLT trustee over the week of the 26 – 29 January, 2009. The operation was conducted according to the Protocol for Possum Monitoring using the Trap-Catch Method (April 2008). Some amendments to the methodology were made due to the small size of the block. The protocol states that for an area of 500ha or less 10 lines should be used, but this was impractical due to the small area and number of monitors available. Seven lines were run. While the area was not stratified according to vegetation type, six of the lines were in the forest and one line (Number 3) was in grassland. The results of the monitoring uncovered zero Possum catches meaning we have a near total eradication. This will give The Neck some chance to start recovery while we determine the best way to maintain a long term programme to maintain this situation. This is an extremely pleasing result for the Trust and its beneficial owners. Dispute brews over visitor levy to Stewart Island (21 Jan 09)
Just who controls a proposed $5 visitor levy to Stewart Island is being disputed after the idea moved to public consultation this month. Click here for full Story Island oyster secret now out (15 Jan 09)
A Stewart Island company plans to sell farmed Bluff oysters throughout New Zealand and possibly overseas this year. The Trustees long time consumers of the Bluff oyster recently tried the Island oysters and gave it the big thumbs up. You should read the full article on the following link. Click here for full story Yellow Eyed Penguins Fight to Survive (01 Jan 09)  Just six of 25 yellow-eyed penguin chicks hatched in monitored areas of Stewart Island had survived so far this summer, the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust said.
YHA planning hostel on Stewart Island (20 Nov 08)
The YHA are planning to build a new hostel on Stewart Island with
construction due to start in 2009. Proposed by the Youth Hostels
Association of New Zealand in celebration of its 75th anniversary,
the project is expected to be approved early next year. If resource
consent is granted, construction on the 52-56 bunk hostel will begin
immediately, with a tentative completion date of early 2010.
Click here for full story
Phillip Smith appointed Upoko (28th September 2008)
The Trustees of the Rakiura Maori Land Trust have appointed Phillip Smith as Upoko of the Trust following the endorsement, by the beneficial owners of the Trust, of rules changes that provided the Trust with the ability to have such a position. The Trustees put forward the rule change proposal at their 2008 AGM on Rakiura to the beneficial owners who promptly supported its adoption. Phillip smith is one of the longest serving Trustees currently still on the Trust and has lived on the island all of his 60 plus years. Phillip has great respect within the Trust, the wider Rakiura community and is a Justice of the Peace as well. Phillip was presented with a beautiful Korowai following his appointment at the AGM , which was part of a Rakiura Maori Land Trust hui held on the island with over 200 participants from 26th to the 28th September 2008. Trust Reviewing Hunting Operations (19th September 08) The Trust is undertaking a review of Hunting operations on its land on the island. Click here for full story Kakapo chicks returned to island (07 July 08)
Six endangered kakapo chicks have returned to Codfish Island
following a food shortage that saw them removed from the pest-free sanctuary to
ensure their survival.
Click here for
full story Ballet in the Bay (14 April 08) Stewart Islanders witnessed a historic event yesterday. Residents and visitors had their first taste of the Royal New Zealand Ballet performing on the island Click here for full story
Petrol Hits $2.20 per liter on the Island(13 April 08)
f you thought petrol prices were getting out of hand spare a thought for our friends and family on the Island where petrol has reached over $2.20 per liter. Get the full story on the following link. Click here for full story
Stewart Island Considers eradication (5 Apr 08) Stewart Islanders are having their say on plans to rid New Zealand's biggest island of predators. The controversial proposal is aimed at preventing further environmental damage, which includes aerial poisoning and a predator-proof fence. Click here for full story Click here for TVNZ News Video
Five an 'awesome' boost to kakapo pop (31 Mar 08)
New Zealand's endangered green parrot, the kakapo, has received a much needed population boost following the birth of five chicks at Whenua Hou/Codfish Island. Click here for full story.
Tourism in main earner on Stewart Island (12 Dec 07) This is an article on the current position of the economic development on Stewart Island and provides an insight into what has been happening on the island in regard to tourism development. Click here for full story
Kiwi may give Polly run for its cracker (11 Dec 07)
Although they only have small heads kiwis are no bird brains, researchers have found. A study at the University of Auckland has found the kiwi rules the roost in terms of brain size, having a relatively larger and more developed brain than its peers. Click here for full story
Yellow-eyed penguins are dying in droves on Stewart Island (25 Nov 07) This is an article on Yellow-eyed penguins which are dying in droves on Stewart Island and scientists are at a loss to explain why. The Rakiura Maori Land Trust has Yellow-eyed penguins on some of their lands so this article is of great interest to owners within the Trust. Click here for full story.
Stewart Island one step closer to cheaper power (23 Nov 07) Stewart Island looks set to turn to renewable energy sources under a multi million-dollar deal that could slash power prices and reduce carbon emissions for island residents. . . Click here for full story
Stewart Island hopes to dump diesel (22 Nov 07) Stewart Island looks set to go greener with a project that will replace the current diesel electricity system with renewable energy from wind, sun and biofuels. Click here for full story
Police waiting to interview 'Stewart Island hermit' (14 Nov 07) Police hope to speak to a man they believe is the so-called Stewart Island hermit in the next few days after an unkempt man was flown to Southland Hospital in a serious condition at the weekend. Click here for full story
Stewart Island a must see for handy travelers (22 Oct 07) This is an excellent article published recently of one persons view of their trip and impression of their visit to Rakiura. They see the island as a harsh place that has not changed in 50 years. I hope you enjoy the article it is always good to see interest in this great part of New Zealand. Click here for full story Rakiura Maori Land Trust Website Competition (09 Oct 07) The winner of the Rakiura Maori Land Trust Website competition was drawn in Bluff by the local Police Constable D. O. Maginn at the Bluff police station. The winner of the competition was Grace Hurst of Bluff. Grace has won a return trip for 2 to Rakiura from Invercargill along with 2 nights accommodation a bottle of wine a meal voucher and a chance to experience Phillip Smiths Kiwi Spotting experience. The Trust is pleased with the support of the competition and we look forward to another opportunity in the future to run a similar event. Thank you to all who entered. In search of elusive kiwi at Stewart Island (06 Sep 07) This is an excellent article worth a read from earlier this year about the writers trip to look for kiwis in the wild at Masons Bay. This read is especially interesting when you compare the ease of seeing kiwis with Phillip Smiths Kiwi spotting adventure. This is an article on Phillip along with a Kiwi video further down this page. Click here for full story Government Proposing Changes to Maori Trustee Act (02 Sep 07) The Government is consulting about proposals to make changes that will affect the Mäori Trustee. These proposals have come out of a review of the Mäori Trustee. They are intended to help the Mäori Trustee be well placed to meet future challenges in its delivery of services to Mäori. Click here for full story
Many Southlands have never been to Stewart Island (28 Aug 07) A writer for the Southland Times shares a story of Stewart Island. Click here for full story
Stewart Island Represented at British Bird Fair (21 Aug 07) Stewart Island tourism operator was among ornithologists worldwide who flocked to England to take part in the world's largest bird fair at the weekend. the following link will give you full details of this article. Click here for full bird fair story
Sand gone from Ocean Beach after recent easterly storms (12 Aug 07) From sandy beach to boulder bay in a few hours through the force of an easterly storm on Rakiura.
Ocean beach with its beautiful sand has seen its sand eroded away with the recent storms that battered the island from the East. The beach has been reduced to boulder covered beach with sand several feet thick washed out into the bay. Its more than 10 years since it last happened and its not a regular occurrence on the island with some locals saying it continues to highlight the changing weather patterns the island is facing. Locals say it should slowly return over the next 12 months. Ocean beach is not the only beach on the east coast of Rakiura to experience this problem there were several others beaches exposed to the fury of the open sea of the east that experienced this issue to varying degrees.
Kiwis on Rakiura Maori Land (06 Aug 07) Rakiura (Stewart Island) has long been known for its Brown Kiwi, also known as southern tokoeka, and the island provides a rare opportunity to see New Zealand's national icon in the wild. Phillip Smith, a Trustee of the Rakiura Maori land Trust, has been running Kiwi spotting tours for a number of years giving many people the opportunity to see the Kiwi going about its uninterrupted business on the island. I would encourage everyone to take a tour with Phillip whenever you get the opportunity to see this iconic bird in its own environment. The thrill of seeing a Kiwi simply walking around feeding without a care in the world is simply brilliant and something that will stay with you forever. I have had the opportunity to witness this on a number of occasions with Phillip and can say that it is simply magic every time I get to see it. One of the great experiences that I remember was actually seeing a kiwi drink, which is an amazing site and something that very few people have seen obviously much less than those who have actually seen a kiwi. While I have seen kiwi in enclosures such as Willowbank in Christchurch, which is the closest most will ever get to a Kiwi, this experience is nothing in comparison to seeing them in the wild at home on Rakiura. The Trust is lucky to have Kiwi on its land at Rakiura and we are hopeful in the future of being able to let you see the kiwi on these lands. I hope you enjoy the small video of kiwi on Stewart island (Rakiura) taken earlier this year on a visit to the island. The other extra ordinary thing on Rakiura is the opportunity to see them during the day when you can get a excellent view. It was this opportunity that allowed me to get a video worth sharing with you. (Stephen Harteveld) Check out www.seethebirds.co.nz to go on a kiwi viewing tour on Stewart Island. Heavy Rain Causing Damage on Rakiura (31 Jul 07) The island has received nearly a months worth of rain in the last 5 days, which is causing many residents problems. The following links will take you to full stories on this event , which is causing the island and it's residents a lot of concern. Click here for Story 1 Rain Deluge (03 Aug 07) Click here for Story 2 Heavy Bill for Damage (01 Aug 07) Click here for Story 3 Experts Assess Damage (02 Aug 07) Click here for Story 4 Temporary Repairs Start (03 Aug 07)
Funding for Research Project on "The Neck" (20 December 2008) The Rakiura Maori Land Trust has been successful in obtaining funding to assist in the completion of “The Neck” project. The funding will primarily be used to complete a comprehensive research programme involving a number of different areas that will ultimately be combined to complete a feasibility study on the Trusts ability to develop some eco friendly tourism activities at The Neck to help fund the restoration ambitions of the Trust and its beneficial owners. The Trust will complete this research programme in conjunction with the Poutama Trust and Te Puni Kokiri over this year with a finish date targeted at the 31st December 2009. The Trust is now working with a number of contractors and individuals whom will undertake the various aspects of the research programme to get this project up and running. This is an exciting opportunity for the Trust and we look forward to getting the results from our research work. Equally we look forward to working with both the Poutama Trust and Te Puni Kokiri over the coming months. You should keep looking at this website under The Neck project area for updates and progress reports on what is happening to the research work and The Neck project overall. Trusts Completes 5 Year Review (11 Dec 07) The Maori Land completed a review of the Rakiura Maori Land Trust in Christchurch on Tuesday 11th December 2007. Under the RMLT Trust Deed the Trustees are required to request a review by the Land Court at least every 5 years and the last review was in 2002. The Trust presented a substantial written report to the Court that received high praise from Judge Wainwright for its content and comprehensive nature. The Judge commended the Trust for the progress that had been made in recent years and hopped that the Trustees would keep up the good work. The Trusts were asked a number of questions relating to the progress of the Trust and the activities it was currently progressing on behalf of owners. All questions were answered without issue from the Judge and the Trustees were pleased with the very positive response and feedback they had received. The Trust is now due for its next review in 2012. Positive Feedback for Trust Survey on The Neck (06 Aug 07) The Trustees are very pleased with the very positive response that has been received from the Survey on The Neck. For more information on this and The Neck Project following the link below. Click here for The Neck Project Trust sets up Discussion Board on website (20 July 07) As part of the ongoing development of the Trusts Website the Trustees have introduced a Discussion Board on the Website to let owners, friends and family have their say for others to see, read and add to if they would like to do so. It will also provide a means for owners and friends to find each other if used correctly. By leaving a message for people or families you are looking to make contact with on the message board, there is a strong chance they will be associated with the Trust through a common interest in the Rakiura Land or its history. hopefully they read your message then leave a reply to start establishing contact with you. For instance if you looking for information on your whakapapa you could leave a message asking for help in locating Fife family members from Rakiura for instance. While the discussion will take a while to get going you can help by passing the website address to all your family members and friends. The more people visiting and using the site the better it will become and the more useful it will be.. So try to take a look once a week you will regularly find changes and new information. Check the discussion board out now click here New Website Proving a Hit (16 July 07) The Trusts new website is proving a great hit with many thousands of hits over the first couple of weeks since its launch. This is very encouraging for the Trust who is putting a lot of effort into making it easier for owners to gain information about the Trust, its activities, and general information on Rakiura. The photos are proving to be very popular so we will continue to look for opportunities to provide you with new and updated ones as they come to hand. We will also be trying to provide you with regular news updates on the many things that are happening that affect the island and the Trust. On behalf of the Trustees thank you for your great support to the new site.
Ta Matou Poroporoake ki a Harold Ashwell (Our farewell to Harold Ashwell 9th May 07) He mihi tenei na matou ki ta matou koroua a Harold
It was with great sadness that we learned that our Kaumatua Harold Ashwell passed away on the 9th May at the age of 90. Harold was one of the principal individuals behind the formation of the Trust back in the early 1980s. He was an avid researcher of Rakiura Maori history and a strong lobbyist to government for the retention of Trust lands in beneficial ownership. He lived and breathed Rakiura and his beloved Titi Island (Big Island). Harold's legacy will live on through the Trust as it works tirelessly in pursuit of implementing a vision that all current and future beneficial owners will be proud of. July 2007 Newsletter (11 July 2007)The Rakiura Maori Land Trust Newsletter to beneficial owners for July 2007 has been released and mailed to those owners with whom we have current addresses. However the newsletter can also be downloaded by clicking the following link Newsletter July 2007 Incorporated Society Deregistered (11 July 2007)The Rakiura Maori Lands Trust was originally started and registered as an Incorporated Society around 1982 and operated under this structure until 1993 when it was re-registered as Ahu Whenua Trust under the TE TURE WHENUA MAORI ACT 1993. When the Trust was registered as an Ahu whenua trust all assets liabilities and responsibilities from the old Rakiura Maori Lands Trust Incorporated Society were transferred to the Ahu whenua trust under the same name but now under a different legal entity. The Trustees maintained the old Incorporated Society as a shell organisation for a number of years thinking it maybe of use for development purposes in future years. However in May 2006 the Incorporated Society was finally deregistered, removed from the register of Incorporated Societies and now no longer exists. The Trustees felt it was necessary to provide you with an update on this matter to avoid an confusion over the deregistration of the old "Rakiura Maori Land Trust Incorporated Society". All of the Trust Assets are safe within the Rakiura Maori Land Trust registered as an Ahu Whenua Trust and have been this way since 1993.
Pre-AGM material released (6 July 2007) The pre-AGM documentation has been approved and prepared for mailing to the owners. The AGM will be held in Bluff on Sunday 30th September 2007. The formal notice of meeting will be sent out towards the end of August with all documentation for the meeting. Important dates are as follows, Return of forms for Agenda Items @ AGM Wednesday 8th August 2007. Return of nominations for Trustees Wednesday 8th August 2007. Return of registration of Interest in Focus groups Wednesday 8th August 2007.
Trustees to Develop Management Strategy for "The Neck" (10 Feb 2007) The Trustees have decided to develop a management Strategy for Oneki ("The Neck"). This is a significant site for all Rakiura Maori as this was one of the Maori settlement sites on Rakiura and has a history dating back over 700 year's. The Trustees have engaged Roger Lough, a land management consultant who completed the Lords River Management Plan for the Trust. Roger will complete an initial site assessment to identify some of the Key issues before the Trust calls for input from owners to develop a strategy for this area. It is hoped to be able to bring a Management Strategy to owners at this years AGM for endorsement. A project has been site up on this site to provide updated information and access to the various material as it becomes available.
Rakiura Experience Very Successful (18 October 2006) The Trusts Rakiura Experience 2006 trip to Rakiura was very successful and we have had nothing but positive feedback from those who attended the weekend. The Trust was host to nearly 140 people during the weekend and we provided them with a very entertaining and informative weekend. The weekend started with a Powhiri along with an opportunity for all participants to introduce themselves and indicate their connection to the island. This ensured everyone came together quickly as a group to share a common interest in Rakiura their opportunity to share the experience of Rakiura in 2006. The Friday night progressed with an excellent meal to showcased the kai of Rakiura, Fish, Crayfish, Paua, Mussels, Salmon, Titi, and much more. The food was gratefully received and enjoyed by all with nobody left looking for more. With everyone well feed and ready for a full night of entertainment, which started with and excellent opening address from Tane Norton, former All Black and All Black Captain. Tane's address was entertaining and provided an insight into joys and experiences of the All Blacks, his rugby mates and the inspirations that have guided him on life's wonderful journey His words I am sure provided inspiration to the next item on the Agenda a cultural performance by the Bluff Primary School to all The following documents with recent information from the Trust are available for you to view or download on to your computer. Over time we will expand this listing to provide access to a wealth of information relevant to the Trust and its stakeholders. Please feel free to view and download these documents.
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Send mail to sjh@visitrakiura.co.nz
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Rakiura Maori Land Trust, Rakiura (Stewart Island) New Zealand.
