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A film by a renowned documentary maker and a new full colour book are being produced to celebrate TOSSI’s 20th anniversary and boost awareness of the group and its work.
Film maker Peter Young, who specialises in wildlife and conservation issues and who lives at Point Wells, has been commissioned to capture the history of TOSSI in a short film.
He says the process has been a labour of love, as he has learned more about what the group and volunteers have achieved.
“I filmed a planting day at Tāwharanui as part of Fight for the Wild (an award-winning video series for RNZ) and a big part of that series was exploring a predator-free New Zealand and community conservation, and TOSSI approached me after that to see if I would make them a film,” he says.
“I didn’t know a lot about them before, but I think it’s a really great organisation. This is a wonderful, heartwarming story about people creating this incredible legacy.
“Trying to capture a lot of those treasures away from the beach … it’s been fun to do. The story is about handing on the baton and getting people to volunteer, and if I can contribute in some way, that will be great.”
The film will be premiered at the Matakana Hall on Saturday, June 25, when Beyond the Beach, a book by TOSSI chairperson Alison Stanes will also be launched as part of the anniversary celebrations.
“The book is very much a documented history of the place, with little bits and pieces from my own diaries, plus lots of photographs – I’m more of a photographer than a writer,” she says.
The book’s title was chosen to emphasise that there is far more to Tāwharanui than sea and sand, and it contains hundreds of photographs of the park’s bird, animal and plant species, together with a raft of facts, figures and information on how it has evolved.
The film premiere and book launch evening will also feature a silent auction and light refreshments, with proceeds going towards a developing a new wetland at Tāwharanui.
Tickets cost $25 from www.eventfinda.co.nz/2022/tossi-20th-anniversary-event/auckland/matakana
There will also be a free community open day at Tāwharanui the next day, Sunday, June 26, from 9.30am, with guided walks and activities, nursery tours, a special tree planting and a free celebration lunch provided by Auckland Council. Visitors will also be able to view Peter Young’s film and buy copies of Beyond the Beach.
Info: https://www.tossi.org.nz/ or TOSSI on Facebook
