Pest-Fest set to wrap up Conservation Week

9 September 2013

Pest-Fest set to wrap up Conservation Week

Conservation Week- 8 September to 15 September- kicked off in Wellington with a family planting day at the Rimutaka Forest Park. There are plenty more upcoming Conservation Week events, including the anticipated Pest-Fest.

A free, fun-filled family day in the heart of Wellington’s CBD will provide information about New Zealand pests and how the public can assist in better managing them. Pest-Fest is on Sunday, 15 September from 9am-2pm and will host a range of events and activities for people of all ages. This includes backyard pests trapping demonstrations, kids’ crafts and face painting, information on current conservation research, as well as tutorials on how to make tracking tunnels from household supplies and design bird-friendly gardens. Members of the public are invited to to bring along their worst garden weed and swap it for a free native seedling.

Pest-Fest is the closing event for Conservation Week in Wellington and there will be lots of give-aways and spot prizes.

When: Sunday 15 September, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Join all the festivities at Waitangi Park, Wellington (CBD)

Partnering organisations: Department of Conservation, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Zealandia, Project Halo, Victoria University of Wellington, WWF New Zealand, Landcare Research, Forest & Bird, Nature Space and Queen Elizabeth II National Trust.

To find out more about Conservation Week events in your area, visit: www.conservationweek.org.nz

Background Information
Conservation Week 2013 (8–15 September) is a chance for you and your family to make a pledge for conservation, and celebrate New Zealand's special places and native wildlife.

This year’s theme is ‘Celebrate Conservation Week! What’s your whānau doing?’ It’s about getting friends and family together to experience the natural environment and all it has to offer. There are lots of awesome things you can get up to!

Join thousands of people across the country as they head along to events run by DOC and other conservation minded groups; follow in the footsteps of our conservation ambassadors as they muck in and make pledges; or choose your own conservation activity and register it as a pledge to go in the draw to win the ultimate conservation experience!

To get involved, grab your whanau—whether that’s your family or friends, your work mates or your sports team—and celebrate Conservation Week!

History of Conservation Week
The New Zealand Scout Association originally kicked off Conservation Week for New Zealand in 1969. The Nature Conservation Council then had a turn at running the campaign, while other organisations like the Post Office Savings Bank, Caltex Oil NZ, and The Todd Foundation came to the party with educational resources.

Famous artists like Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Don Binney have contributed their art for previous campaigns—you can check out some posters of the past on the Conservation blog.

When the Department of Conservation was formed in 1987 it took over the Conservation Week duties, and has since worked with other groups, businesses, councils and agencies to make it all happen.

ENDS

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