Annual General Meeting

Forest and Bird, Volume 20, Issue 3, 1 August 1989, Page 8

Annual General Meeting

The Society's 66th Annual General Meeting and Council Meeting were held in Wellington on 24th June. Two new executive members were elected, Catherine Ashley-Jones of Wellington, and Alan Fielding of Levin. Professor John Morton from Auckland was created a Distinguished Life Member in recognition of his contribution to the Society and his service on the Executive for many years. President Dr Alan Mark spoke of the departure of Dr Gerry McSweeney, Conservation Director, and expressed sincere regrets that he was leaving. He thanked him for the professionalism which he had brought to the Society's operations on all levels, in liaison with branches, with Ministers of the Crown, and senior Government staff in all fields. He commended him for the significant contributions he had made to the protection of

the South Westland World Heritage area, and to the creation of the Tasman Accord. He also noted that the Department of Conservation had expressed their respect and appreciation for his considerable contribution to conservation. Dr Mark wished him well with his Lake Moeraki enterprise and presented him with a personal computer in appreciation of all that he had achieved for the Society. Old Blue Awards were presented to: David Appleton (Napier) for 9 years service on the National Executive, and services to conservation in Hawkes Bay. Stan and Kath Ayling (Coromandel) for conservation in the Coromandel. Bill Ballantine (Leigh Marine Laboratory) for promoting and raising public awareness of marine reserves. Helen Coulson (Wellington) for 12 years loyal service as one of the Head Office staff. Linda and Peter Daniel (Kapiti Island) for preserving Kapiti Island and helping to eradicate possums on the island. Paul Every (Dunedin) for conservation in Otago, particularly with the yellow-eyed penguin. Earle Norris (Nelson) for conservation work with children, and branch development at Ashburton and Oamaru. Through the remits the council resolved: To call on the Government not to

ratify the Antarctica Minerals Convention; to apply a total export ban on indigenous woodchips and whole logs; to call on the Government to take all appropriate action to halt the practice of drift-net fishing; to encourage the Government to formally protect a comprehensive network of coastal and marine reserves; to urge the Government to implement a policy of native species for erosion control; to encourage the growing of special purpose exotic and native trees for timber; to adopt as the Society's 1990 theme "1990 onwards .. . towards a sustainable future’; to persuade the Government to initiate a major campaign to eradicate Clematis vitalba throughout the country; to strongly support increased funding for the eradication of possums and goats; to call on the Prime Minister to appoint the Minister of Conservation to Cabinet; to urge the Government to give complete protection to all brown teal nesting sites. Councillors also set new subscription rates for 1990, and passed a vote of thanks to all involved in successfully negotiating the Tasman Accord.