A newsletter from the
M A R C H 2 0 1 5
The Muir family has received funding
from the Waikato River Authority in
each funding round since 2011. In that
time the Muir family have worked with
others in the local community to clear
stream and river banks to establish
better whitebait spawning conditions,
planted trees and undertaken mustelid
and possum pest eradication. The
ongoing whitebait habitat project has
been worked on while the Muirs have
continued to run their dairy farm along
side the Waikato River.
The film shoot in February was
Country Calendar’s second visit for the
programme, with another shoot planned
at calving time later in the year.
Country Calendar director Howard
Taylor says the story was chosen as a
great example of how dairy farming
and conservation work could happen
side-by-side. “It is a positive story
for dairying which counters some of
the bad environmental publicity the
industry has had,” he says.
The half hour programme is likely
to screen on TVNZ later in the year,
probably around October. Country
Calendar has been on New Zealand
television for more than 50 years and
has always enjoyed a large audience.
MESSAGE FROM
THE CE
The recent launch by Environment
Minister, the Hon Dr Nick Smith,
of the new project to prepare a
5-15 year Waikato and Waipa
Rivers Restoration Strategy
was a significant milestone
for the Authority. We are now
approaching our 5
th
year since
establishment in late 2010.
The task set of restoring the
11,000km
2
Waikato and Waipa
river catchment remains sizeable,
but the Minister’s attendance
at the launch and the number
of community, industry, and
local government groups in
attendance signalled a seachange
in the support and awareness of
the Authority’s efforts. We are
already finding the restoration
strategy project is acting as a
catalyst for groups wishing to
play a greater part in restoring
the Waikato and Waipa rivers
and catchments. Only by
working together, pooling
resources, and sharing
knowledge will we
be successful.
Authority funded
project gets date with
Country Calendar
THE MULTI-YEAR WHITEBAIT HABITAT REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECT CARRIED OUT BY STUART MUIR AND HIS FAMILY
NEAR WAIUKU IS TO FEATURE ON NEW ZEALAND TELEVISION’S
LONGEST RUNNING LIFESTYLE DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMME
LATER IN THE YEAR.
A Country Calendar crew spent the day filming clearing and planting on the
Mangatikitiki Stream (which flows into the lower Waikato River) last month
with Stu Muir. The film crew includes (left to right) director Howard Taylor,
camera operator Steve Fisher and sound recorder Don Anderson.