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When it comes to helping people in our community, Coasties are some of the best. However, when it comes to helping the natural world, far too many of us leave it to someone else. Seen a rat? “It’s council’s problem.” Injured bird? “DOC can come and get it”. You pay your rates so it’s not your problem, right?
Unfortunately, conservation budgets for government agencies have never been enough to cover everything that needs to be done for a healthy natural environment. No matter who the leader is, or the how the budget is spent, looking after nature requires everyone to do their part.
It’s important if you want to see better support for conservation, that you have your say whenever you can. If thousands of people leave it to someone else, change will never happen, and our environment will suffer – affecting us all. Recently nearly 14,000 people submitted against the proposed Fast Track legislation via Forest & Bird, which believes this is an undemocratic, dangerous proposal putting the fate of special natural places into the hands of just three ministers. It took five minutes to create a submission – I wonder how many thousands more people oppose this but didn’t do anything, because they thought someone else would? Is it too late this time?
At a local level, there are concerns about the future of the abandoned Gulf Harbour Country Club and soon the public will be able to post submissions about the proposed subdivision and development that could affect the whole peninsula. Right now the weeds are going crazy, and the landowner is doing nothing. So what to do? Complain to Auckland Council? They can’t do any more there than they can at your place, as it’s private land. The Natural Environment Targeted Rate does not cover pest plant control on public land, let alone private property. Suggestions of a community weeding bee fell on deaf ears, as they do at our parks, where just a keen few turn up. Someone else’s problem?
Maybe it’s because we feel we can’t do anything, we’re too busy, or we don’t have the skills, but the key to taking care of our world is, if everyone does just a little bit, it can make a huge difference.
When it comes to New Zealand working towards becoming Predator Free by 2050, it really will take all of us because the problem belongs to our community. Locally, that includes our Pest Free Hibiscus Coast Project. Can you service a trap line, set a rat trap in your backyard or deliver one nearby, help enter data, plant a native tree, take a poster to the supermarket or deliver fliers, sign a petition or write to local politicians? There are so many things you can do to help and every action makes a big difference. Raise your hand and give us a call.
Our last call for volunteers resulted in some incredible individuals joining our team. A big thank you to all those who are doing something to help nature, big or small, it really helps.
Hibiscus Coast Forest & Bird
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