Following our successful application to the Otago Catchment Community fund in December last, year, FOBC was busy submitting & finalising funding applications to Central Lakes Trust and Patagonia during January. We were excited to receive notification in February and early March that both these applications had been successful.

We have been so fortunate to receive funding from both these applications. Under the new charitable trust structure FOBC will no longer be requiring subscriptions from members and going forward we will need to rely on funding from supporters through private donations and funding from external organisations.

Funding from these external organisations is used to support the following activities:

• Supervising Community Service Workers in partnership with the Department of Corrections

• Overseeing the restoration plan for Bullock Creek, including clearance, weed & pest management, native planting and maintenance.

• Managing volunteers and visitors to the Wetlands

• Engaging with the local community and providing educational opportunities for local schools and conservation groups.

• Communicating to supporters

• Liaising with other Wanaka environmental group

• Preparing and submitting ongoing funding applications

“But the key to FOBC continuing is the strength of our volunteer commitment. The people who donate their time, money and skills remain the backbone of our charitable organisation.”

— Ben Irving, FOBC President & Trustee

more about patagonia funding

This funding is a new source, not only for FOBC, but other environmental groups in Wanaka, NZ and around the globe. Patagonia as you maybe aware is an internationally recognised brand of clothing started in by Yvon Chouinard in 1973. Patagonia has been restructured in 2022, to be a not for profit organisation using a very different business model. To read more about Patagonia’s unique mission: “the earth is our only shareholder” - go to https://www.patagonia.co.nz/pages/ownership.

Our Bullock Creek Wetlands continue to see a diverse range of visitors who come to enjoy the benefits of the FOBC restoration programme.

In 2023, our unique urban wetland at the headwaters of Bullock Creek was an outdoor classroom for many of Wanaka pre-schools to introduce our youngest community members to nature.

With the Wetlands located right in town and within easy walking distance for many of the local pre-schools, Bullock Creek has proven to be an ideal venue for conducting education programmes like Educate for Nature (Te Kakano), Enviroschools (National Programme), and Wai Wanaka Education programmes.

Clemmie & Anna from Aspiring Beginnings ELC in Wanaka recently had their article about AB’s visits to Bullock Creek published in “The Space” magazine - [A Early Childhood Education publication]. Their article is very well written and worth a read. Their reflections about our Bullock Creek classroom and the interaction of AB tamariki with nature is delightful. Definitely worth a read!

NOTE: This article was first published in The Space Magazine issue 75. Reprinted with permission.

There are so many ways that you can help us look after Bullock Creek and the Wetlands on Stone Street. Helping us keep the Wetlands free of litter and dog droppings is something we can all do any time we visit.

At the end of last year you may have noticed that the QLDC installed a dog waste box and free dog poo bags outside the Stone St entrance. Unfortunately, the wastebox filled very quickly and began to overflow by the end of January. If you see this happening while you stroll by, just snap a photo of the box and go to https://www.qldc.govt.nz/do-it-online/contact-us-fix-it/ on the QLDC website and submit a request for the box to be emptied. Alternatively, just contact Andy 0211075520 or Paul 0210569146 and we’ll get it sorted.

And lastly….if you are walking your dog through the Wetlands, don't forget that they need to be on a leash so you know if they’ve done some business behind a bush! It’s no fun finding doggie “bombs” stuck to your shoes when you’re weeding and planting off the pathways.

Joy Blair (right) and Carla and son Rider Rankin harvesting flax from BC hatchery springs for cultural use

In February, FOBC was approached by a Wanaka weaving group to harvest some Harakeke (Flax). Apparently, we have some excellent specimens growing in the Wetlands. Maori tradition requires that Flax is harvested sustainably to ensure that the resource is not exhausted. Strict protocols are observed:

• Weavers say a karakia (prayer) before cutting the first blade of harakeke

• They always cut on the diagonal, away from the plant’s heart and from top to bottom. This helps rainwater drain away and prevents the heart from being flooded and dying.

• Harvesting is not permitted at night or in rain.

• No food can be taken into the pā harakeke.

• Customarily, pregnant or menstruating women do not harvest or weave, as they are in a tapu (sacred) state.

There is also a whakataukī (māori proverb) says, "Aitia te wahine o te pā harakeke", which means "Marry the woman who is always at the flax bush", for she is an expert flax worker and a diligent person.”

It’s great to see the Wetlands being used by a diverse range of people from the Wanaka community. If anyone is interested in flax weaving they can contact Joy Blair on 027 726 7708 or get in touch with Creative Fibre NZ.

Happy New Year!

We hope that you’ve enjoyed the Festive Season with friends and family and you’re looking forward to 2024.

FOBC is also looking forward to 2024 and the list of “things to do” never seems to get any shorter! We rely heavily on our supporters to contribute their time, skills, energy and funds to keep FOBC moving along.

How can you support FOBC in 2024?

There are so many ways that you can support the work of FOBC:

• Join us for planting days and working bees at the Bullock Creek Wetlands. Sign Up here.

• Donate your time and skills for specific FOBC projects. If getting on the end of a shovel is not your thing, do you have other skills you could offer to FOBC? If so, please get in touch.

• Simply be a fan of what we do. Tell your friends and visitors to Wanaka about FOBC and get connected with us on Facebook and/or Instagram.

• Become a Trustee - we will be looking for new people to join the FOBC Trust in 2024. If you have time and skills to offer - send us an email.

• Make a Donation - it's tax deductible! With the move to a new Charitable Trust structure in 2024, we will no longer be requiring membership subscriptions ( individual & family). However, FOBC still needs financial help from supporters to continue its work. Please consider giving Bullock Creek a Christmas present this year with a donation.

To all FOBC Supporters,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A big thanks to those of you that have helped in any way during the last 12 months. It is very much appreciated.

As we wind down from another busy year, it is timely to reflect on the significant achievements our small grassroots group has achieved over the last 12 months. All this has been achieved through the dedication and hard work of our volunteers and committee members, who give their time, energy and skills to support the Friends of Bullock Creek objectives:- "to protect, restore and enhance the public amenity and the environment of Bullock Creek from head waters to its entry point into Lake Wanaka, New Zealand."

What we achieved:

• A QEII Covenant registered over the Fish & Game 2.7ha wetland site

• 2313 native plants in the ground

• 765 wetland volunteer hours in 2023 - with over 6700 volunteer hours logged since the restoration project began in 2016

• All Douglas Fir trees removed

• 2 Bee Hives installed

• Major rabbit control measuresA new noticeboard at Stone St entrance.

• Hand watering station

• 100's of committee member hours reviewing, liaising with other community groups, writing & making verbal submissions to local and regional authorities about actions or plans that affect the Bullock Creek environment.

• More committee hours seeking funding from various organisations to continue the work of FOBC into the future.

The recent QEII Celebrations has been a great opportunity to remind ourselves how far we’ve come. Registration of a QEII Covenant over the 2.7ha Bullock Creek Wetland required us to establish some photo points from which to measure the changes to the land through the coming years.

Over 6700 hard working volunteer hours (2016 - 2023) have created a unique urban landscape. A place of peace and tranquility right in the heart of the Wanaka township. Now protected in perpetuity.

Blessed with a magnificent Spring Day, over 70 people joined Fish & Game and FoBC to celebrate the protection of the 2.7ha Bullock Creek wetland site under a QEII Covenant.

Speakers on the day were : Ian Hadland Fish & Game, Rob Wardle QEII, Dave Madden Dept.of Corrections and Ben Irving, FoBC President. Rob Wardle’s speech highlighted the significance of achieving a QEII covenant over land in an urban area. Bullock Creek is unique in this regard.

Some interesting statistics about The QEII Trust and QEII Covenants:-

• The QEII Trust was established in 1977 at instigation of some farmers wising to protect mostly forest remnants.  It is an independent charitable trust that partners with private landowners to protect sites on their land with covenants registered in perpetuity on land titles. 

• A QEII Covenant is an agreement between The QEII Trust and a landowner to protect land forever. The landowner continues to own and manage the protected land and the covenant and protection stays on the land, even when the property is sold to a new owner.

• As at· 2023, almost 70% of NZ is in private ownership. Protecting biodiversity and heritage on private land is critical to reversing the decline of indigenous biodiversity and preserving our history.

• Currently, there are 5117 registered Covenants, protecting more than 177,000 ha of private land. Added together would rank QEII Covenants fourth in size with our national parks behind Fiordland, Kahurangi and Mt Aspiring.

Following the speeches, the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing under the shade trees to enjoy a drink, some delicious nibbles organised by FoBC and good conversation.

EXCITING NEWS!

A QE2 Covenant over the Otago Fish & Game Council owned wetlands of Bullock Creek has been registered on the land title. Look out for the QE2 signs at both ends of the boardwalk. The spring fed wetlands of Bullock Creek are now protected from development in perpetuity.

Thanks to the Otago Fish & Game Council and Paul van Klink wearing his F&G hat, for making this happen.

Essentially the purpose of the QE2 covenant are:

• protect and enhance the Wetlands with native flora and fauna,

• protect indigenous biodiversity,

• restore indigenous vegetation,

• protect the source of Bullock Creek for freshwater fish spawning and rearing,

• maintain & enhance landscape value and

• maintain & enhance the use of the area for public recreation

For those of you who would like to see the full details of the covenant - click here

SAVE THE DATE! - 11 November, 2023- 4:30PM

FOBC, together with the Otago Fish & Game Council and National Trust we will be hosting a celebration of the QE2 Covenant grant with our catchment stakeholders, BC Neighbours and the wider Wanaka Community. The celebration will be held at the Hayshed adjacent the Wetlands commencing at 4:30PM on Saturday 11 November and will be followed by a casual BBQ gathering. Put the date in your diaries NOW!!

TOURISTS GIVING BACK

FOBC is now part of the Love Wanaka initiative from Lake Wanaka Tourism. Love Wānaka was established so that visitors to our region, and the businesses connecting them, can play an active role in the protection and regeneration of this place.

We have invited Wanaka visitors to join us a for a planting day at the Wetlands. If you meet a new face on a Thursday pass on our passion for the Creek!