CEO Ross MacLeod (2nd from left), and Community Board Chair Peter Kay (2nd from right) with from left Crs Heaps, Dixon, Lyons, Kerr, Nixon, Watkins, Lester, Hazlehurst, and Deputy Mayor Bowers.

Over the years, the Trust has developed a working relationship with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council around pest and land management, as well as environmental education, but has never actively worked with the Hastings District Council. It was with this in mind that on 18 November 2015, the Trust hosted several councillors, senior management, and community board chairman Peter Kay, for a tour of the Education Centre and Arboretum. Although the weather wasn’t the best they were able to get an insight into what we are achieving at Tutira. This visit was followed by a brief presentation by Trust chair David Allan and Trustee Terry Taaffe to a full Council Meeting on 28 January 2016.

Tutira lies within the Mohaka ward of the Hastings District – ward Councillor Tania Kerr continues………

In November 2015, councillors and senior management from Hastings District Council toured the northern area of the district. Sites visited included Whirinaki, Tutira including the Recycling Centre, various rural roads, Lake Opouahi kiwi crèche and Waipatiki Beach, but the highlight was the visit to Guthrie-Smith Arboretum and Outdoor Education Centre.

For those that had visited prior, the expansion and growth of plantings was impressive. Others were left with a sense of needing to return to explore some more.

We thoroughly enjoyed having a guided tour with the trustees who willingly shared their knowledge of the history of the land, the current planning and plantings, and the future plans for development and enhancing the numbers of visitors.

Comments surrounding the day were ‘jewel in the crown’, ‘sense of peace’, ‘highlight of my day’, ‘a desire to explore more’, ‘want to come back with family and friends…’

For me personally, the man, Guthrie-Smith, and his vision of ‘farming in balance with the environment’ intrigued me.

We as a community are slowly catching up to his vision!

A recent presentation from the Trust to the full council last week highlighted the work the trustees have done and what is still to do.

Together we all need to promote this amazing asset and encourage our family and friends to attend their open days, (every Sunday, October to May).

See you there!

Thanks to both Kirsty for her enthusiasm in driving this, and to David Belcher in keeping building maintenance at the forefront of the Trust’s attention.

This cottage is now tenanted again.

The other cottage, known as the “Cowman’s Cottage” is currently vacant while the trustees get quotes for minor alterations. The current thinking for this cottage that is more private and has views of Lake Tutira and the arboretum is to look at a “Book a Bach” type scenario for people wishing to spend time exploring the Tutira area. It could also be used for accommodation for volunteers.

“Cowman’s Cottage” prior to renovations. (Belcher)

Kitchen area with new blinds and paint. (Christison)

The annual conservation week was successfully held, this year taking in the Guthrie Smith Environmental programme with a walk through the Arboretum down to Lake Tutira. Conservation week has been a fixture for the last 23 years involving a partnership between the HBRC, Panpac and the Department of Conservation.

For 2015 Guthrie Smith were contracted to run the first part of the day followed by a guided walk by Conservation staff through White Pine bush. Around 200 primary students were involved from Greenmeadows, Frimley, Bledisloe, Twyford and Mayfair schools.

The walk through the Arboretum was led by Lynne Arnold culminating in the planting of over 100 native trees in our NZ geographical section. Topics discussed in the walk included conservation, regeneration, identification of native plants, erosion, formation of the Tutira lakes, local Maori history, HBRC country park, birds and insects, water quality and identification and eradication of pests.

The days appeared to be hugely successful and something that we wish to build upon in the future.

By George Christison

George discussing Tutira history with children from Frimley School. (Photo Stephen Cave)

Conservation week tree plantings in a cleared area overlooking Lake Orakei.

Over the last five years or so, not only has the understory, mainly Mahoe, flourished, but also many of the plantings, especially the Southern Beeches, Nothofagus spp. Such was the rate of growth of the Nothofagus it had got to the stage where the growth and form of some trees was being seriously affected by the existing cover; with “butt sweep” caused by the plant searching for light the most prominent.

It would be fair to say that although we had some idea that in the right conditions the Beeches can grow quite quickly, the speed of the growth took us somewhat by surprise. Growth of these trees is being monitored, with some reaching in excess of three metres in their fifth year.

George has spent a good few months (and a new chainsaw) thinning out the Kanuka and clearing the understory to rectify things. This has also made some room for new plantings such as those by the schools who visited in conservation week.

Hard Beech (Nothfagus Truncate) enjoying some new found space and sunlight.

Mountain beech (Nothofagus Solandri var.Cliffortioides) showing “butt sweep”, caused by the competition of the Kanuka canopy.

Trustees acknowledge the following grants and donations:

• The Lotteries Commission – who provided a grant which substantially funded the conservation plan
• Gwen Malden Charitable Trust – for the purchase of Malibu Kayaks
• Whitehead Family – for the purchase of Kayak paddles
• Bernard Chambers Trust – Fire Doors and exterior doors
• Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for a grant towards the establishment of the wetland area in France Flat.
• Orion Agriscience – for their sponsorship of weed control chemicals.

Homestead

The homestead at Tutira Station was the home of Herbert Guthrie-Smith, and is a significant part of the history of the Tutira area. It is currently occupied by the curator George Christison and his family.  To maintain and preserve the building, trustees commissioned a conservation report that was completed by architect Graham Linwood and provides an excellent guide to future works.

Can you help?

The trustees are currently setting up a number of interest groups around education, accommodation and maintenance. If you have experience in these areas, and can afford the time to provide some input we would love to hear from you. Contact George by email or phone 06 839 7758.

Come and visit and see the results of 2014’s hard work!

The arboretum will be open Sundays from October to May. Bring family and friends, and see what there is to offer. Visit www.guthriesmith.org.nz and see what has been happening. Talk to George about the availability of the Education Centre for staff team building, family get togethers, and other possible activities.

Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd is again sponsoring this event which is in its twenty-third year and is run in conjunction with Department of Conservation and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Each year, five schools take part and this year Greenmeadows, Frimley, Bledisloe, Twyford and Mayfair school students will be bused to Tūtira to experience conservation work first hand.

This year there is a new arrangement with the Guthrie Smith Trust who will take each school group for a walk and talk around their Arboretum at Tūtira and introduce students to the wide range of trees from around the world that are growing there.

Read more on the Guthrie-Smith contribution here

But don’t discount the Tutira-based former Hawke’s Bay multisport king’s chances of tackling another Coast to Coast in the not so distant future. The 2004 Hawke’s Bay Sportsperson of the Year, who won the South Island event that year, would still be capable of a top three finish in his age group.

Read more here.

This is the outcome of six months’ hard work by Education Centre staff directed at formalising and documenting the processes and procedures involved in operating the High Ropes and Water-based activities at the Education Centre. These systems and procedures were then audited by SkillsActive, a certified safety audit provider, with the result that GSTL has met the standards required to qualify for the OutdoorsMark.

The certification process is in response to the tough new standards set in place by Worksafe to make adventure tourism and adventure programmes safer by introducing good practices and professionalism to the industry. The standards arise from the Health and Safety in Employment Act (Adventure Activities) 2011.