Project Director’s Report
Project De-Vine Trust – AGM November 2019
With funding updates added June 2020.
The Trust has had another busy year with a reasonable rate of success with grants, i.e. we failed with one large grant
application to DOCCF and several under $5000 – they are quite fickle. Over the years there have only been three grant
applications over $5,000 that have failed – all DOCCF ones and successful with 60 from multiple funders & sponsors.
We have carried out a wider range of contracts. Our contracted work is all part of our mission to “Clear pest plants and
trees out of Golden Bay and around Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks”. With the government and other
agencies all contributing to this work, it encourages the many landowners to be more active.
The following grants were finished off in the 2019 year (All figures are GST exclusive):
• DOC Community Fund for Operations – $73,478.28
• Golden Bay Community Trust for MU-C1 assessments – $7,000
• Motueka Community Board for MU-H assessments – $500
• TDC for MU-H assessments $2,600
• Project Janszoon for MU-H assessments $2,000
• TDC Grant for MU-B control work and assessments $2,287
We have received ten grants in this last financial year 2019 – value $215,341.35:
o Lottery grant for MU-D6 control work – $90,000
o Tasman Environmental Trust for MU-D6 control work – $60,000
o Rata 2018 grant for – $35,000 – split between MU-D3 control work $30k and operations – $5k
o Golden Bay Community Trust for MU-C1 assessment – $7,000
o Motueka Community Board Special Projects fund – $5,000
o Motueka Community Board Discretionary Fund – $500
o TDC Grant for MU-B control work and assessments $2,287
o TDC Office grant – $11,250
o NBS Takaka – $869.57
o NBS Motueka – $434.78
o Sargood Bequest for operating expenses – $3,000
• Grants from Lotteries ($90k) and Tasman Environmental Trust ($60k + $7k for the assessment work) over
three years to carry out a major pest plant control programme in the Lower Takaka Valley floor. It involves
the main sites in that area of two invasive plants, woolly nightshade and climbing asparagus as well as
working to stop the spread of these, Italian jasmine and the pest vines banana passion vine and old man’s
beard across the valley, where they are already threatening the boundary of Kahurangi National Park. In the
first year we offered landowners 45 hours of work per property for free and asking for contributions to enable
us to carry out more work after the 45 hours. Some of the larger properties are contributing for extra hours to
be done. This work started in the 2018/19 financial year.
Now in the second year, we are offering only 30 hours for free to reach more landowners. We have targeted
the only climbing asparagus site over 4 properties and woolly nightshade in the same area, between Rameka
Creek and Dry River, which is the source site, and throughout the management unit.
• In its third and final year, a grant from DOC Community Fund of $80k over two years to carry out control
work in Ligar Bay to Wainui Hill. This will complete one of our primary goals of carrying out three years of
pest vine control work on all properties, complete sweeps of all have happened except for a few large
properties that we are still chipping away at, along the eastern escarpment of Golden Bay from Rameka Creek
to Wainui. See the phase reporting data, which tracks our progress there.
• From TDC, in their long-term plan we received $11,250 towards operating costs as an annual grant for the
next three years. This amount is due for review in 2020 and we will be submitting for an increase.
• Project Janszoon, TDC, Motueka Community Board Discretionary Fund and NBS Motueka supported the
assessment work in MU-H from Riwaka to Marahau of BPV, OMB and Douglas Fir.
• The Motueka Community Board Special Projects fund grant of $5,000 will be used to boost the DOCCF
approved grant which TET applied for to control BPV, OMB and Douglas Fir over 3 years. Starting soon! A
big thanks to TET, TDC, Landcare Trust and Project Janszoon for helping to make this project come to
fruition.
New projects for this current year for which we have received, have pending, or are applying for grants
include:
• Rata Foundation approved for $35k. For follow up on about 40+ properties for pest plant control work – split
between MU-D5 Wainui and MU-D1 & 2 – approx. $30k and operations $5k.
• TET have applied to Lotteries and had approved funding for the Motupipi River MRWERP scheme which has
included a personal favourite, the clean-up of Motupipi Spit of exotic trees and pest plants. It will enhance the
estuary nearby. Value about $11k.
• The World Wildlife Fund NZ have approved a grant to control pest plants on properties in MU-C1, from the
Takaka River to the “Lookout” (just before Onekaka). It will be limited to key properties there, which are
Rangihaeata Peninsula headland, Puramahoi Farms with high vine numbers and Patons Rock properties for
climbing asparagus. The rest will have to wait until next year’s application to the DOCCF, Feb 2020, or if it
fails again, WWF in a years’ time. Value $15k.
• PENDING: Sargood Bequest to boost our cover of operating costs. Since approved.
• PENDING: Pub Charities to pay for a 4WD vehicle. Since declined.
• We are finishing the assessments – funded by Tasman Environmental Trust ($7k for the assessment work +
$60k as secured funding for the control work over 3 years) to allow us to apply to Lotteries in Feb 2020 for a
grant over three years to carry out a major pest plant control programme in the Middle Takaka Valley floor. It
will include the Anatoki catchment and spread across to East Takaka Road and reach up to Lindsays bridge. It
is working to stop the spread of Italian jasmine, woolly nightshade and the pest vines banana passion vine and
old man’s beard across the valley, where they are already threatening the boundary of Kahurangi National
Park. Lotteries declined this application in June 2020. Looking for other options.
• We will start the assessment of MU-C2 in mid-2020, funded by a grant from the Aorere River prize money,
with the aim to apply to WWF late 2020 and DOCCF in 2021. Targeting the usual suspects, plus climbing
asparagus.
• Tasman Environmental Trust has approved with the Cobb Mitigation Fund to cover $7k for the assessment
work in 2022, as well as $60k as secured funding for the control work over 3 years, to carry out a major pest
plant control programme in the Upper Takaka Valley floor. This will allow us to apply to Lotteries in Feb
2023 for a grant over three years. Targeting the usual suspects.
• We will start the assessment of MU-A & B in mid-2021. Funded by a grant from the Aorere River prize
money, with the aim to apply to WWF in late 2021 and DOCCF in 2022. Targeting the usual suspects, plus
climbing asparagus.
• This brings our total grants received, to Dec 2019, to $1,640,040
The Trust now has a mix of one-, two- and three-year approved grants, which gives us a greater certainty of being able
to retain staff with steady work through the quieter periods of the contracted work – usually July to September.
These planned funding applications – if successful – will mean that ALL of Golden Bay will have received a
reasonable level of control work on the usual suspects, plus climbing asparagus, by 2026. See our Funding Timeline
plan.
Contracted work:
This has been steady, like the previous year.
Value of our contracted work for 2017 was $136k.
Value of our contracted work for 2018 was $137k.
Value of our contracted work for 2019 was $142k.
2019 saw more contracted work including our existing clients and the Motupipi River willow removal and riparian
restoration project.
Our 5-year contract with LINZ for the 11 rivers of Golden Bay ended and the Trust needed to apply to be approved to
be on their “Services Panel”. This comprehensive application was approved and the contract for the rivers of Golden
Bay was re-awarded to us for the next 5 years.
Other ones included:
• DOC contract to control Tradescantia and Ivy in The Grove and Paynes Ford Scenic Reserves.
• DOC contract to control mixed pest plants / trees in QEII covenants in the mid Takaka valley.
• TDC contract to plant riparian trees and release them in Puramahoi.
• Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) contract to control kiwifruit vines at various sites in Golden Bay.
Presentations about our work have been given to or are planned for:
• TDC Biodiversity Forum
• TDC Community Board
• Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board
• Local DOC staff and local iwi updates are provided annually.
• Nelson City Council – talk to their conservation team and volunteers
Behind the scenes:
A claim was brought against the Trust by one of its contractors with the Employment Relations Authority. It was a
long process and involved a lot of documents and extensive statements. The hearing was in September 2019 and the
ERA member decided in our favour. This matter is now settled.
The Trust has three reporting methods in action:
1. A seedling count on 4 properties in Clifton and now in its 10th year. The graph shows the residual reseeding.
2. Counting all pest species killed for each property visited.
3. The Trust has developed a new reporting system based on the 4 phases of weed control – see attached phase
table. This has so far been applied to our work in:
• MU-D4 – see attached summary tables of before and after.
• For the MU-H assessments starting soon with a DOCCF grant. See map of the phase status of the properties
• The assessments for the upcoming MU-E plus MU-G1 Lotteries application.
The Trust is developing a carbon-neutral programme and is in talks with an agency landowner to plant trees on their
land.
The Trust continues to use primarily chemicals without the reputedly toxic surfactant polyethoxylated tallowamine, or
POEA, instead using the cosmetic grade safe surfactant containing alkyl polyglycosides, or APG, which is derived
from sugars or fatty alcohols.
The Trust maintains a high level of reporting to funders and maintains its approved contractor status with TDC, DOC,
NZTA, LINZ and QEII.
Total number of vines & other pest species killed manually to 31/10/2019 is 434,400+, including 367,900+
banana passion vines, 45,250 old man’s beard, about 15,000 woolly nightshade and many climbing asparagus.
- A big thank you to our sponsors:
• Cut’n’Paste who give us a generous discount on their gel products.
• Golden Bay Weekly who publish our monthly tally of vines & other pest species killed manually.
• Nelson Building Society – Takaka, Richmond and Motueka branches – who assist with giving out gel bottles.
• Annette Litherland at Landcare Trust, who has been a great resource to help make projects happen.
• Tasman Environmental Trust – our partnership with the Motupipi River project has been a great way for a true
team effort and their support via the Cobb Mitigation Fund, in particular for our Lotteries projects to work our
way up the Takaka Valley in 3 applications, is creating amazing outcomes.
Thank you to our trustees, staff and many others for your support & advice on this journey of pest plant control which
paves the way for enhanced environmental restoration in Golden Bay & the “haloes” of our adjoining National Parks.
Chris Rowse – Project Director for Project De-Vine Trust
Appendix:
1/ Summary of key data
2/ Map for AGM presentation- BPV & OMB Status November 2019
Summary of key data
To 30 June 2016
To 30 June 2017
To 30 June 2018
To 30 June 2019
Vines & other key pests plants killed
212,000
276,000
342,000
409,900
Vines & others killed– change per year
69,000
64,000
66,000
67,900
Grants total to date
$737,000
$976,000
$1,180,000
$1,336,000
Contracted work – value per year
$63,450 approx.
$136,000
$137,000
$142,000
Landowner contributions
Not recorded
$12,704
$8,528
$7,942
Number of properties we have visited
367
370
450
492
Download copy below