Wild-River Party
Horowhenua Branch has decided to have a
“wild river” event on Saturday 28 November,
at Otaki Gorge.
“Celebrating the Wild Otaki River” — Meet
at 10-30am, at Boille Flat, on the left of Otaki
Gorge Road about 1km after the Roaring Meg
Bridge, approx 30 minutes drive from Otaki
Bridge on SH1.
Horowhenua and Kapiti branches and KCC are
combining for the "Wild River" event, which is
being celebrated nationally by F&B on rivers
around New Zealand.
We’re planning an enjoyable family day, with
walks in the bush, a picnic lunch, identifying in-
vertebrates in the river and a search for native or-
chids. — Belinda McLean, 06-364-5573,
belindamc@clear.net.nz
Volunteers Required
One or two more volunteers are required for the
delivery of newsletters and programmes twice a
year, particularly in Paekakariki and Waikanae.
Every newsletter hand-delivered saves us 50
cents. With more than 400 members, this adds up. 
We also need volunteers for sales of Forest &
Bird calendars and diaries to members each year.  tag-line ‘Giving Nature a Voice’ expresses a Forest
Most members have been customers for the last
ten years and expect to be contacted.
We try to match delivery areas with the loca-
tions of volunteers.
Tony Ward
04-293-7203
John McLachlan
04-904-0027
If you are willing to assist with either or both of
Maurice Andrews
04-904-2961
these activities, please contact Maurice Andrews,
04-904-2961.
Editor: David Gregorie, 04-904-2183
— contributions for the next issue by
March 31, please. dgrie@paradise.net.nz
New Equipment
The Branch now has a digital projector, a laptop
computer and a sound system which should
banish the problem that many of us have with
hearing some speakers to our monthly public
meetings.
This critically endangered firecrown is found only on the
Juan Fernandez Islands, 700km off the coast of Chile.
Alexander Selkirk’s rescue from an island in this group
inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.— BBC
Officers of the Branch:
Chairman:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Committee: Bunty Cameron, Ian Corder, Judy
Driscoll, David Gregorie, Lore Leseberg, Alison
Pearce, Graham Petterson.
Kapiti Mana Branch Newsletter Nov. ’09
Spring is here at last. The tuis are doing
their thing, fighting over food supplies and
displaying their amazing flying skills.
The new Government’s proposed changes to the
Resource Management Act and the Mining Act are
of considerable concern to Forest & Bird support-
ers. Their effect on conservation land could be dev-
astating.
The big issue on the Kapiti Coast is the proposed
expressway through the district.
Members attending a recent Kapiti Mana Branch
meeting discussed the eastern option that follows the
railway line and its effect on the Greendale Reserve.
We could lose up to 50 metres from the reserve,
including century-old kahikatea and large areas
planted by children from Kena Kena School.
Your Branch Committee urges you to consider
this matter seriously before making a submission.
Over the coming months you will see a lot more
of Forest & Bird’s new logo — see top of the page.
The new logo has a more modern feel and the
& Bird objective. — Tony Ward, Branch Chairman
Generous Donation
Member Sylvia Coombs has made a most
generous donation of $1000 to the Branch.
We plan to use the money to provide
plants for the planting project at Raumati
South School.
 Linking Conservation Areas
Forest & Bird Branches in the Hutt Valley have
come up with a novel idea for local forest conserva-
tion and restoration.
One of the problems facing conservation groups is
that many of the pieces of forest now being pre-
served are too small to sustain viable populations of
native birds and insects.
A small group lead by Russell Bell is working on
a plan to develop corridors connecting scattered
pieces of bush to enable the spread of native birds,
insects and plants and therefore enhance their
chances of survival.
We invited Russell to a special meeting of our
branch committee to discuss how the concept might
work on the Kapiti Coast.
Russell has provided us with maps showing all
existing reserves and conservation land in our area.
Because we would be involved with local councils
in planning these corridors, we hope it will encour-
age planners to set aside pieces of land in new subdi-
visions to connect with existing reserves.
Steep gullies and river banks would be obvious
choices. We hope that the proximity of native trees
and bird life will enhance urban environments and
educate people about the need for conservation.
Our Kapiti Branch committee has decided to look
at how we might apply a similar approach on the
Kapiti Coast. — Tony Ward
Human Birds
Thanks to the pioneering work of the Kiwi Con-
servation Club, we know that restoration of difficult
areas can be hastened by throwing seedballs — imi-
tating the birds who are New Zealand's main regen-
erators of the forest.
If you would like to learn more about this method
for use in your own restoration projects, contact: —
Sylvia Jenkin, 04-237-4760, sylvan@actrix.co.nz
Kapiti Branch Barbecue
We will break with tradition for our Branch Barbe-
cue next year, by holding it at the
Otaihanga Domain, Paraparaumu,
on Saturday, 20th FEBRUARY at 12.30 pm.
The barbecue will be followed by a guided walk up the
south bank of the Waikanae River to see the replanting
programme undertaken by Kapiti Forest & Bird mem-
bers. — David Gregorie 04-904-2183 (K)
Infected kokopu
Graham Petterson spotted this giant kokopu in a small
tributary stream to the Wharemauku Stream and was con-
cerned about the white areas along its top and sides.
DoC experts confirmed that it was a fungal infection,
Saprolegnia ferox, that is likely to infect a fish that has had
its skin damaged.
Cost of Newsletter
With our much reduced income since the Waikanae
Nursery was closed, the costs of producing the newslet-
ter loom that much larger.
Any donations to offset this cost will be welcome.
— Maurice Andrews, PO Box 178, Waikanae
Signs of the times
Sharyn Gunn reports that the most common finds by
KCC children doing a beach clean up on Matiu/Somes
Island were For Sale signs.
Colin Gilbert
We regret to report that Colin Gilbert died on
Sunday, 18 October.
Colin was an active member of the Kapiti
Branch and for many years arranged and
co-ordinated the programme.
He also took part in the planting projects of
the day.
Nursery Offer
Member Charlie Smith has very generously offered
a part of his section for a small Branch Nursery.
Potting up will begin in November. 
Should you be interested in assisting,
please contact John McLachlan — 04-904-0027.
Kakariki Sighting
A Raumati South member rang to report delightedly
that, for the first time ever, she had seen a pair of
kakariki on flax stems in her garden.
Street Stall Sales
Funds raised by the two street stalls held
recently were — Raumati $211, Waikanae, $314     
Public Toilet
Four years ago the Branch made a submission to the
KCDC Annual Plan hearings proposing that a public
toilet be built in the Kaitawa Reserve, to serve the
needs of the many school groups using the reserve for
environmental studies. This has now been built.
Penguin poo
Penguins are not visible from outer space, but their
droppings are. British Antarctic Survey scientists use
satellite images to find the reddish-brown guano
stains of emperor penguin colonies. — New Scientist