Committee will protect heron

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34045, 8 January 1976, Page 8

Committee will protect heron

’From Our Oren Reporter) [] GREYMOUTH. -.J January 7. u Growing dangers to ? the white heron colony at fl Okarito have prompted the Government to set c up an advisory committee to assist in the management planning of]c the reserve. jc i The Minister of Lands it l(Mr V S. Young) and the? Minister of Internal Affairsjl (Mr Highet) in a joint state-1 i ent yesterday said that pub-’t j lie entry to the colony, f which covers 773 acres at the it mouth of the Waitangiroto i S River, was restricted to avoid if disturbance of the white it heron, or kotuku. which t nested only in the reserve. c They’ said that the reserve had an international reputa- ~ tion and it was important H that the area be given the utmost care and protection. !‘ Until now. the physical!' condition of the area had| c provided the protection and r

ie environent suitable for le nesting birds, but doubts ere being expressed about ie continued well being of le herons with the increasig danger from outside inuences. The reserve was under the jntrol of the Department of ands and Survey, and the ommissioner of Crown ands at Hokitika, will be the hairman of the advisory’ ommittee. Other members would be ie director of the Wildlife ervice of the Department of iternal Affairs or his nomlee. Mr T. P. O'Regan, of ie Westland Catchment ioard; Mr D. V. Pfahlert, of he Westland Acclimatisation ociety; and Dr P. Wardle, botanist with the Departlent of Scientific and Indusrial Research in Christhurch. The committee will provide cientific guidance in the management of the herons nd the other wildlife and bra in the reserve. Its duties .ill include co-ordinating reearch projects and advising n the general management f the reserve.