Department of Conservation
Poneke Area
Report written by Annabel Riley, Community Relations
Officer
Date: 30 July 2001
Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Project Description
Scope of network
Target audience
Project objectives
Approach taken
Process
Performance measures
and outcomes
Other Outcomes
Project Evaluation Summary
Discussion - What went well?
Issues
Recommendations
Appendix
Evaluation Report
Contact List
Executive Summary
Key Objective:
To broaden conservation awareness within the community through
supporting, enabling and networking community conservation / restoration projects.
Performance Outcomes:
Maintain
and develop partnerships/relationships between the department, other agencies and
conservation groups
- Have developed strong contacts with WRC, who helped finance,
organise and run events. WRC want to continue this relationship next year.
- Developed strong links with local Councils e.g Hutt City
financed Matiu/Somes boat.
Establish a co-ordinating group.
- Developed an informal email co-ordinating group.
Establish a network of restoration groups from
Wellington Region - to become independent of DOC resources.
- Developed a Wellington Branch of NZERN - a network
independent of DOC.
- Elected 3 representatives on NZERN to act as local contact
people.
- 25 groups have become members and are updating information
via the web.]
Develop a network directory / database.
- NZERN hosts an on line network directory which can be
updated directly by the groups - hardcopies can be printed off.
- A database of community groups, Councils and iwi working in
restoration /conservation has also been developed in Microsoft Word for use by DOC staff.
Promote the exchange of existing information between
DOC, Councils.
- Through hosting combined events with DOC, WRC and Councils,
information has been exchanged on specific work areas with freer working relationship
developing.
- Workshops provided opportunities for agencies to
discuss/distribute relevant reports.
Provide opportunities for community groups to
exchange information and expertise.
- Held 7 events for community groups, DOC, WRC and Councils to
get together and share information through talks and demonstrations on relevant topics
- A total of 70 groups have attended one, some or all of the
events.
- A total of approximately 450 participants have attended
events organised by DOC over the last 6 months (this includes those attending more than
one event).
- Through the workshops, many community groups have developed
a better understanding and skills of ecological restoration.
- There is a greater confidence of community groups to seek
out professional advice or share their own knowledge.
Establish and promote a restoration / conservation
event.
- Held a successful Restoration Day with 130 people attending
- DOC and WRC have agreed to support a similar event next year.
Other Outcomes:
- A greater profile for DOC within Wellington Restoration
circles.
- A greater confidence and morale, with more contact between
groups. One evaluation comment of the project was "Boosts enthusiasm and mutual support".
Urban Advocacy Project Report
Community Relations Officer /Community Awareness - Poneke Area Office
Introduction
Late last year (2000) the Department of Conservation was
allocated funding for community awareness projects. The aim of funding was to enable the
Department to become actively involved in supporting and developing conservation awareness
initiatives within the community. The project that is described in the following report
fits within the 'urban conservation awareness' category and was funded for a period of 6
months.
Project description
Throughout the Wellington Region over the past 10 years there
has been a growth in the number of volunteer community groups adopting an area and
beginning the long task of restoration. Over the years some groups have received support
and funding from District or City Councils, DOC and increasingly the Wellington Regional
Council (WRC).
Through the Community Awareness funding package, the
Department saw an opportunity to become more involved in supporting these existing
projects by facilitating the development of a network. The network would serve as an
ongoing system to co-ordinate and build conservation involvement and awareness in the
urban communities of Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti Coast.
A Community Relations Officer, Annabel Riley was employed
for a 6 month period to work with a wide range of community groups, Councils and agencies
to manage the establishment of a Wellington network of conservation /restoration groups. A
requirement of the network is that it would become independent of the Departments
resources by the end of June 2001.
Scope of network
The scope of the network has been confined to the Wellington
Region urban areas including Wellington City and the increasingly urban Kapiti Coast.
Target audience
The project targeted the existing conservation/ restoration
community groups and individuals actively operating in the Wellington Region urban areas.
Also involved would be the wide range of other agencies, Councils and stakeholder groups.
The participants in the network would include:
- the Department of Conservation
- community groups / individuals involved in
conservation/restoration
- Wellington Regional Council
- District Councils - Wellington City Council, Porirua City
Council, Lower Hutt District Council, Upper Hutt District Council
- Government agencies
- other stakeholder groups
Project Objectives
Early on a set of objectives were written to give guidance to
the development of the project.
Key Objective
To broaden conservation awareness within the community through
supporting, enabling and networking community conservation / restoration projects.
Specific Objectives
Approach
In the planning stages of the project, different ways of
developing the network were looked at. However due to the short time frame, a requirement
for it to become independent of DOC and the existence NZERN (New Zealand Ecological
Restoration Network), it become evident that working with NZERN would bring the best
sustainable outcome. NZERN had already spent considerable volunteer hours developing the
national network and had a well developed website. Mike Peters President of NZERN welcomed
the idea that the Wellington network become part of NZERN and we worked together to
achieve this.
Part of the approach was to create an identity which was
independent of DOC's corporate identity. By doing this other groups, councils and agencies
could feel ownership over the network and when DOC was no longer actively supporting the
project, the network would continue without an obvious loss of DOC.
Another conscious decision was to involve WRC and councils and
community groups early on in the process so that they had the opportunity to be fully
involved in the project. All community groups and individuals interested, would be able to
do so regardless of the ownership /management of the land.
The approach would be to create many opportunities for
community groups, DOC, WRC and councils to get together, share skills, experience and
resources and these would be 'hands on' practically based events. Through these
opportunities people would be able to get to know one another and build towards the
network.
Performance
measures and outcomes:
The performance outcomes have been developed from the
original job description key result areas.
Maintain and develop partnerships/relationships between the
department, other agencies and conservation groups.
Achieved outcome:
- Developed a particularly strong relationship with WRC who,
in effect, acted like partners in organising and running the practical sessions and
Restoration Day part of the project. Their input included the following assistance or
support:
- planning and organisational help
- facilitation at events
- providing staff on the ground to help run events
- attendance at practical sessions and meetings
- providing written resources,
- providing resources including food, tents, venue
- financial assistance with holding events
Near the end of the project a debrief meeting was held and
WRC indicated support for the project and a willingness to continue this relationship next
year and develop the network further.
- Less strong relationships but still beneficial were those
built with planning /reserve departments of the local councils. In particular Porirua
City, Lower Hutt City Council provided support
- financial support for practical sessions e.g. the cost of
the ferry ride to Matiu/Somes return.
- attending some events
- providing venues for meetings, supper
- providing written resources
The relationships with the 5 councils and WRC were built
through an initial letter before Christmas, face to face meetings and an email network
which developed.
Establish a co-ordinating group.
Achieved outcome:
- An informal co-ordinating group was achieved through the
email with staff from District and City Councils, however this did not develop into a
regular meeting due to time and work commitments. Through the email network, councils were
kept informed of events coming up and any support that may be required.
Establish a network of restoration groups from Wellington
Achieved outcome:
- We successfully established a network of
restoration/conservation groups from Wellington Region.
The network is to operate as a branch of NZERN (New Zealand
Ecological Restoration Network) established 5 years ago in Christchurch. It is to be a
self sustaining network of groups from the Wellington Region. However it will require
support from DOC for specific tasks.
Throughout the series of events that have been run over the
6 months as many as 70 groups have taken part. Out of those, 25 have joined as members of
NZERN.
By joining the groups are able to:
- be part of a national network of volunteer groups, Councils
and Agencies all working towards the ecological restoration of New Zealand.
- receive regular emails of events/notices of what is
happening around the country in terms of restoration.
- can update their contact details directly on to the combined
national web-site.
- Update events i.e. working parties, regular events.
- Add articles written by them.
- Look up ecological information from around the country
- Find contact details from other groups
- Attend an annual event for groups involved in ecological
restoration work.
As part of the structure of the network and to devolve
ownership out into the community 3 people have been elected as Regional Representatives
for the network to act as local contact people.
Develop a network directory/database.
Achieved outcome:
- A network directory has been developed for use by the
community on the NZERN web-site. This directory can then be updated directly by the groups
and can be kept current. This removes the responsibility of updating the list. WRC have
offered to distribute a hard copy of the list once a year.
- A database has also been developed in Microsoft word for use
by DOC staff. There are several documents:
- A wide list of groups, councils, Iwi and Agencies and
interested individuals
- A list of groups, councils and agencies for label printing,
WNCGO - 27583
Provide opportunities for community groups to exchange
information and expertise.
Achieved outcome:
Over the 7 months a series of 7 public workshops, practical
sessions and day long events were held by DOC as part of the urban advocacy project.
- Another event was hosted in late July by the Wellington
Sustainable Trust and the 20/20 Trust to train NZERN members on how to use the internet
and the NZERN site.
- A total of 70 groups have attended one, some or all of the
events.
The events included:
Preliminary workshops - held in February
- These include 3 preliminary workshops to introduce NZERN and
find out what groups want from a network.
- Kapiti Community Centre, Kapiti - 12 February 2001
- Approximately 65 people attended including the Kapiti
District Council, Wellington Regional Council
- Hutt City Council Chambers, Hutt City Valley - 13 February
2001
- Approximately 40 people attended this workshop held at the
Council rooms
- Wellington Regional Council, Wellington - 14 February 2001
- Approximately 70 people attended the workshop held at the
WRC rooms.
Practical Sessions
- From ideas at Preliminary workshops , we held 3 'practical
sessions' on Saturday afternoons through April and May
The objective of the practical sessions, was to provide an
opportunity for experts and community groups to share experience, knowledge and skills. It
also provided an opportunity for people to develop contacts and get to know others within
the restoration community.
For details of the programmes for each day please see the
black accompanying ringbinder.
The practical sessions held were:
Restoration Day
- Held a 'Restoration Day' at Tapu Te Ranga
Marae - 120 people attended representing approximately 60 groups for a daylong event. The
day was organised as a culmination of the Poneke 'urban
advocacy' project to highlight the work of volunteer groups involved in ecological
restoration. Members of community groups attended from throughout the Wellington Region
including many from Kapiti, Horowhenua and the Wairarapa. Please read media releases, and
newsletter in black file for more information.
Establish and promote a restoration / conservation event.
Achieved Outcome:
- The Restoration day was held on Saturday May 26, as
discussed above. This day is proposed to become a regular annual event in the restoration
calendar. This year the day was held in May to fit within the project timing. Next year
the day may occur on another day yet to be decided. An indication of either September or
March-April. WRC have indicated a willingness to take part in hosting/organising this
events.
- A yearly workshop in each city or district has been
suggested as an alternative to the Restoration Day, which has a regional focus. This would
involve 5 individual workshops focused on the needs of the groups in each area and would
create a more local perspective. An impact of this would be the extra work involved - they
could however be integrated with proposed workshops for next year.
Promote the exchange of existing information between DOC,
councils.
Achieved Outcome:
- By running a series of practical sessions and the
Restoration Day we promoted the exchange of information. At each event members of the
community, DOC and WRC staff gave talks on specialist topic areas.
- In conjunction with the talks and demonstrations, displays
were erected and pamphlets/ reports distributed. For example, John Sawyer of DOC gave a
talk on Conservation /Threatened Plants at the Restoration Day and distributed information
to all those who attended. At the Weed Workshop John had the opportunity to sell some
'Weed Atlas' and discuss the work DOC was involved with in Weed Surveillance
- A valuable part of the events was the opportunity for people
to informally exchange information between themselves, swap phone numbers and arrange
further meetings. This has been a good spin off the event.
- There is a greater level of understanding of where to find
information from agencies and who to talk to about the specific information often
required.
Other Outcomes
- A greater profile for DOC within Wellington Restoration
circles.
- A greater confidence and morale of groups in general with
more contact between groups.
- A greater confidence of the community groups to seek out
professional advice or share their own knowledge.
- A better understanding and skills of ecological restoration
through practical workshops.
Evaluation Results
- 40 out of the 80 people who attended the Matiu / Somes
Island trip completed written questions with very positive results. Please see the
appended evaluation report from the Matiu/Somes Island trip, which asks respondents to
comment on both the overall practical sessions and specifically the Matiu/Somes Island
trip.
In what ways has the project to date been of benefit to
you?
Comments received:
"Boosts enthusiasm and mutual support"
One person commented after the weed workshop:
"The workshops emphasis that you are not alone, it can
be a lonely out there. It is good to see that other people are doing the same thing"
"Yes - as a leadership encouragement exercise"
"Very very positive - chance to get together with
people with some interests and expertise to benefit from"
- Further evaluations were completed over the telephone with 6
key community people who have been involved in the project and attended the restoration
day. The respondents were asked to respond to a set of questions. The respondents all gave
positive comments about the Restoration Day.
Was the Restoration Day beneficial to your group - in what
ways?
The reoccurring themes were:
Networking
Workshops - developing skills
Reaffirming for groups that they are on the right track
Stan Butcher of Lower Hutt Forest and Bird said"
there was an air of excitement"
Colin Ryder of Friends of Mana Island / Forest and Bird said
" I have got re-inspired!"
Discussion - What went
well?
