Conservation staff changes

Forest and Bird, Volume 16, Issue 1, 1 February 1985, Page 27

Conservation staff changes

In January Terry Fitzgibbon of Whangarei moved to our head office to commence duties as a Conservation Officer. Terry has a Masters degree in planning and work experience in resource planning and biological surveys. For the last two years he has lived in Whangarei and worked for the Northland United Council and has organised the Northland Information Centre for the Environment. From April, Terry will take over head office conservation work from Gerry McSweeney who is to visit Australia for three months on an Anzac Fellowship, to study conservation organisation, national parks and reserves. Bruce Mason of Dunedin is working jointly for our Society, FMC and NZ Acclimatisation Societies this year on our South Island Pastoral Lease Campaign. His primary task is to identify ways to protect natural areas and recreational opportunities on the 2.7 million hectares of Crown-owned pastoral lease land. -He will also coordinate the six pastoral lease working groups we have established from Blenheim through to Southland. From March, Kevin Smith (Box 57, Hari Hari, South Westland phone 33-090) will start working as the Society’s West Coast Regional Field Officer.

His appointment recognises the major importance of Westland with its extensive remaining lowland native forests and wetlands. Kevin is a botanist with broad experience in ecological survey work. During his 10 years’ residence in Westland he has been a leader in nature conservation in the region. His position will be largely funded from the resources of our Canterbury and West Coast branches who have recognised the need for a full time worker in the region. ‘These branches would welcome any offers of financial assistance to support Kevin’s employment.