SUN NEWS
thewanakasun.co.nz
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Pair research plastic D
PHOTO:NIKKI HEATH
Rock stacks considered unsafe D
DANIELLE BUTLER
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
As lake levels remain low, more rock stacks, a popular feature of scenic photo opportunities, are appearing on its shore and lake users have warned of potential dangers. The building of rock stacks has long been popular practice for picturesque photos by lakes, rivers, waterfalls and beaches. This week Eco Wanaka Adventures owner Chris
Riley pointed out the potential risks when lake levels rise again and put a plea out to the public not to build rock stacks. “Please don’t build rock stacks at low lake levels that boats, water skiers or kite surfers will hit at high lake levels. This is causing a dangerous precedent and is extremely dangerous,” Chris said. Queenstown Lakes District harbourmaster Marty Black said that people should be cautious of what they are building around the lake when it is at low level. Pictured: A rock stack at Bremner Bay.
Te Kakano on national stage S
STAFF REPORTER
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Wanaka’s Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust (Te Kakano) has been selected as a finalist in the community leadership category at this year’s Green Ribbon Awards. The awards recognise outstanding contributions by individuals, communities and organisations to protect and manage New Zealand’s environment. Over ten years Te Kakano has engaged with the local community to replant thousands of trees in the Upper Clutha area and has been applauded for raising awareness of how individuals, groups and organisations can get involved and make a difference to the environment.
As well as continuing to thrive in Wanaka with more projects than ever, it is now assisting other communities to replicate its success in their own towns. Representatives of the trust will attend the Green Ribbon Awards ceremony in Wellington early next month to hear the announcement of the winners in each category. Community liaison and development manager for Te Kakano, Megan Williams, said that being a finalist in the national awards was a fantastic tribute to more than 1000 volunteers. “(The volunteers) have contributed over 22,000 hours caring for and planting approximately 24,000 plants. It is fitting that in our tenth year with more projects than ever, we are recognised in this way,” Megan said.
LAST CHANCE
DANIELLE BUTLER
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
A Wanaka couple researching plastic pollution around the Pacific Ocean are almost six months into their three year expedition carrying out environmental, educational and conservation work. Management consultant Ross Greenwood and Cromwell College teacher Chris Greenwood set sail on their Joshua design sailboat Sula in December 2016 to carry out research and collect samples of plastic pollution for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) ocean modeller Dr Eric Behrens. After sailing around the south of New Zealand, trawling for plastic pollution in areas including Milford Sound, Fiordland and Stewart Island, the couple are now preparing for the next stage of their journey to Patagonia via the remote islands of southern French Polynesia. Speaking from Lyttleton earlier this week, Ross said the pair were waiting for a decent weather window and better winds before they could head off, with their departure expected for Tuesday May 23. “We’ve had to hide from a few gales
so far but have had very good sheltered anchorages and generally had quite decent weather, which is good as it’s not a difficult job if conditions are favourable, so we feel like we’re achieving something worthwhile,” Ross said. “It’s been fantastic and we’ve had an amazing time. We’ve done a lot of trawling for plastic in just about everywhere we went and have sent all our research off to NIWA.” Ross said that the pair suspected they had found evidence of microbeads, microplastics found in shower gels and many other household products, in their trawler but were hoping that they hadn’t. “These plastics have a lot to answer for. They’re designed specifically small enough so they get flushed easily through water processing treatment plants and they are creating oceans of plastic smog, in some places reducing visibility to metres,” Ross said. The couple are awaiting the results of their current samples and now have a 20 to 25 day journey ahead before they reach the islands of French Polynesia, where they will continue their research. Ross is pictured with the plastic trawler.
Golden Guitars finalist Wanaka’s country singer/songwriter Jody Direen, pictured, has made the finals of this year’s Golden Guitar Awards. Jody’s latest and third album Shake Up is a contender for best country music album alongside Hamilton County Bluegrass Band’s These Old Hands and Phil Doublet’s Endless Highway. The winners will be announced at the New Zealand Golden Guitar Awards ceremony in Gore on June 1.
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