We are in Hokitika for the NEXT Foundation Environmental Project Forum from the 4th to the 6th of October.
The Forum is being held in Hokitika because Zero Invasive Predators have a project in the Perth River Valley close to Hokitika that we will go to see. Some of us are intending go into the valley if the weather is fine on Sunday. This forum was for hearing updates and meetings between Predator Free Wellington, Project Janzoon, Taranaki Mounga, Te Manahuna Aoraki, Cacophony and ZIP (Zero Invasive Predators) - all NEXT investments https://www.nextfoundation.org.nz/investments/environment/.
Everyone arrives about 5pm and it was a pre-dinner drink and then dinner. Just about everyone knows everyone, as Devon and his team have done a great job in getting everyone together at forums like this every year or so, and Bill also at breakfasts in Wellington and Auckland. (NEXT has been going for 5 years now.) I feel very privileged going to a lot of everything as Bill’s partner. I am in total awe of what NEXT do. I especially love this group because they are all focussed, smart, adaptable, friendly and catalysts with DOC (Department of Conservation) and other organisations to have New Zealand predator-free by 2050, to save our endemic species. I like particularly how there are no egos, and everyone sees and feels they are part of a team. I feel part of the team even though I don't have a role. To me this team feels like whanau (family), and whanau that do not argue. My role is to enable Bill to do what he loves to do. He loves to work, be focused, and be part of this team.
I feel incredibly privileged to see projects which are cutting edge, up to the minute, so inspiring and will make a difference to Aotearoa.
All NEXT's environmental initiatives - Te Manahuna Aoraki, Taranaki Mounga, ZIP, Project Janszoon, Predator Free Wellington, Cacophony, and Rotoroa Island - fit within the predator-free focus area. Here are people from the different projects at dinner at the Beachfront Hotel in Hokitika where we all stayed.. You will find out about their projects in more detail on day 2 and day 3. From left around the table - Devon, Jan, Bruce, Glen and Bill.
And here, from left to right around the table - Fiona, Gill, Nigel, Robyn, Anne, Carol and Phil.
And Polly, Menno, Marika and Dave.
Scott, Peter, Nigel (he must have moved tables) and Ewen.
I sat next to Courtney.
Bill talking to Al - most probably about the elusive stoat.
