New wildlife park opens
Copyright 2001 The Southland Times (New Zealand)
October 29, 2001
By POKONEY Cassandra
THE sun was shining and the ocean was calm as about 150 people travelled to the opening of Southland's newest plant and wildlife sanctuary off the coast of Stewart Island on Saturday.
Ulva Island, a 250ha piece of land off the coast of Stewart Island, has undergone an extensive conservation operation.
Organised by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Ulva Island Charitable Trust, the project involved relocating and reintroducing several bird and plant species and developing existing walking tracks, toilets and picnic areas. Donations from organisations including the Community Trust of Southland, the Tourism Ministry, Les Hutchins Conservation Foundation, Dancing Star Foundation and the Stewart Island division of the Royal Forest and Bird Society helped make the project possible.
DOC area manager Greg Lind said the opening of the track was the culmination of 10 years of work. With 4.5km of new gravel tracks, discreet green and yellow signs and strategically placed picnic areas, the island was one of New Zealand's few "open sanctuaries." This meant not only could native plant and wildlife flourish but members of the public could view them in their natural habitat, he said.
Standing in for Conservation Minister Sandra Lee, Invercargill Labour MP Mark Peck opened the visitor areas.
The island was a great place to come to relax and unwind, he said.
" It is as close to anything we have in its purest state," he said.
He urged schools to take advantage of the educational opportunities the island offered.
" It's definitely educational. I encourage Invercargill schools to get over here for the wildlife experience." Visitors from throughout the country, and some from as far afield as Poland, took in the spectacular sights and sounds of the island on Saturday.
The island was settled by Pakeha in the late 1800s and was the site of one of the country's early post offices.