New Zealand’s clean green image personified in the Strath Taieri ~ photo Southern Light For the third summer running now in Mt Aspiring National Park, I interact with many tourists intent on being the overseas equivalent of a New Zealand tramper. Most know our “Clean Green” marketing ploy is not what it seems, and that… Continue reading New Zealand’s clean green image – a couple of points of view
Author: southernlight
Fatal attraction: ferret stench to fight pests
A stoat killed by 1080 in Mt Aspiring National Park two years ago ~ photo southernlight.co.nz New Zealand’s imported predator the stoat, is quite an amazing animal, somewhat beautiful too, until you look at it’s claws and teeth! They have a very fast metabolism, thus needing constant snacks, and they don’t live to a… Continue reading Fatal attraction: ferret stench to fight pests
An overview of efforts to encourage native bird population numbers between Mt Aspiring and Wanaka, New Zealand.
top: Members of the Matukituki Trust planning trapping operations at Aspiring Hut 10 days ago Many of you know that I’ve been involved with many others giving native bird populations a leg up via the Matukituki Trust for the last 4 or so years. Progress has been very steady and positive due a good base plan… Continue reading An overview of efforts to encourage native bird population numbers between Mt Aspiring and Wanaka, New Zealand.
Variations on the New Zealand parakeet / kākāriki
top: Red Crown NZ parakeet on Codfish Island, photo credit Maggie Evans There are five main species of kākāriki, and in a previous post about gains made in native bird populations I really only touched on the return of the yellow-crowned species to the West Matukituki valley in Mt Aspiring National Park. Now thanks to… Continue reading Variations on the New Zealand parakeet / kākāriki
New Zealand’s most well known alpine plant, the Mount Cook lily (which is actually a buttercup)
The Mount Cook lily (Ranunculus lyallii) is one of the most popular icons of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. It’s fragile look belies a strength that is to be wondered at, as when flowering in Nov. the blooms literally bend in the usually extreme wind and rain, and do not break. With the onslaught of these… Continue reading New Zealand’s most well known alpine plant, the Mount Cook lily (which is actually a buttercup)