Everybody’s Business – Conservation Week 2006

Conservation is Everybody’s Business. That’s the message the Department of Conservation wants to get across during Conservation Week 2006, which runs from August 7-13. Department of Conservation staff have been planning for months, and over one hundred public events will be taking place from Kawau Island to the Chatham Islands. From treeplanting to film screenings, guided walks to art competitions, these events give the public the chance to celebrate New Zealand’s flora and fauna.

“We all benefit from conservation. All New Zealanders have access to clean air and water, and many of us make a living or spend our free time making the most of New Zealand’s unique environment. Conservation Week gives us the chance to celebrate the benefits of conservation, and to consider what we can do to give something back,” says Minister of Conservation Hon Chris Carter.

This year’s theme gives the opportunity to explore how conservation of our resources is critical to our environmental, economic, social and cultural wellbeing. The emphasis on conservation as ‘everybody’s business’ seeks to provoke people to think about how conservation enriches their lives in many different ways and how people can, and ultimately must, use the land in sustainable way.

“In New Zealand we have a world-renowned environment of pristine coastline, vast mountains and old forest which requires constant protection from harmful development and introduced pests to ensure we can continue our great ‘kiwi’ lifestyle,” says the Minister. “Everybody has a stake and plays an important role in the ongoing protection of our land and its people.”

Conservation is a major contributor to the economies of some regions, whether through direct employment or increased tourism. Together with a range of community organisations and key partners, DOC both provides and protects some of the best recreational opportunities in the country.

Conservation Week events nationwide provide an opportunity for people to try something new, to get involved in conservation or recreation activities on conservation land and to learn about the plant and animal species that make New Zealand unique.

“During Conservation Week this year, we are focussing on the benefits of conservation for all of us, and the people and programmes that support our economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing,” says the Minister. “We have a fantastic resource right on our doorsteps, and I encourage all New Zealanders to get out there and enjoy it!”

Event listings nationwide can be found on DOC’s website at http://www.doc.govt.nz/Community/002~Events/Conservation-Week/index.asp or call local DOC offices.

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