Tuesday 13 April 2010 -- Palmerston North New Zealand
{ I wish to thank Barbara Arnold for presiding at the AGM in my absence }

Fellow Wildlife Conservationists ~
Since we met last we have witnessed change locally, nationally, and internationally within the environmental arena. From Copenhagen to Wellington, the international and national retrograde steps away from protection of the natural environment remind us that the best solutions to conservation are in fact local. And local has been and remains Forest & Bird's strong suite since 1923 when Captain Val Sanderson began to gather and build this nationwide network of local branches encouraging local public participation in wildlife conservation. Over 80 years later, it remains our central principle that environmental sustainability is the one essential for the future health of our human society and the amazing biodiversity supporting us. This is a hopeful and empowering principle.

The purpose and aims of a wildlife conservation society are among the most important and noble of any cause for which men and women organize for common aims. The committee and I welcome your continued and increasing participation in the events and activities we have undertaken since our last meeting to better realize our Society's stated aim to "preserve, protect, and promote" New Zealand's wildlife and wild places.

Together as members, volunteers, and committee, we have made several important steps forward 2009 and early 2010, thanks primarily to the strong support of the committee and volunteers, their generous gift of energy and sage advice is greatly appreciated. I, as well as all Manawatu Branch members, owe these generous souls a tremendous gratitude for their commitment to a healthier planet.

In the communications area, we have worked this year to better leverage the Social Networking and Online Media, thanks to Stella McQueen fostering our Facebook page and William Demchick keeping our website organized and current.

We enjoyed a continued success in our second running of the community focused and collaboratively run Seven Wonders Summer Nature Programme in alliance with the Department of Conservation's Palmerston North Area Office and supported by a COGS Grant and the Palmerston North City Environmental Trust. The choice to carbon offset the project's carbon emissions via the PNCC Green Corridor's programme is a positive one that I thank the committee for their support in.

The community and those members who actively participate at the local level have enjoyed a varied and engaging programme of nature excursions and habitat restoration days. The committee has recently co-opted the services of Dennis Dickenson who is charged with energizing the events programme, and has additionally taken on the task of growing our membership and better managing our membership information.

Our series of monthly Public Meetings continue to engage a wide audience within the Society and the community at large, regularly attracting an audience of over 70 and a caliber of speaker that provides excellent value. We aim to continue in this vein. The programme change to move the Feilding meeting away from a 2^nd Tuesday proved contentious as expected, and I aim to better address the meeting opportunities in the Manawatu and Tararua Districts this season. We also intend in 2011 to run the AGM on a first Tuesday of April, thus providing another slot for public meetings so as to maintain audience momentum developed in February and March through the rest of the year, and so as to be able to say yes to more of the excellent speakers we have on offer.

Despite the enjoyed aspects of the event, on recommendation the committee chose to not continue with The Race for Our River initiative, as the return to conservation per se was seen to be too little compared to the work put in. Instead, we have expanded our river advocacy networks, and supported a river-focused arts and environment project initiated and led by Forest & Bird member Margi Metcalfe.

The Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival enjoyed a successful 5^th Festival Season in 2009, thanks in part to Forest & Bird Manawatu's many members who enjoyed the films, and to the Branch providing a timely and substantial underwriting to resolve an emergent cash flow issue within Reel Earth. The funds have been repaid in full to Forest & Bird Manawatu from Reel Earth, which is entering its 2010 season under a financial and governance structure independent of Forest & Bird. I trust that as a branch and branch members we will continue to support the Southern Hemisphere's leading environmental film festival and awards. There is a global film and environment culture that gives rise to Reel Earth and enters our community each May, so our local association with Reel Earth is of national and international significance.

Forest & Bird Manawatu have also undertaken a range of active conservation activities, primarily supporting established projects at Kitchener Park, Te One, and Keeble's Bush. I am keen to see one or more local streamside habit restoration project initiated in the coming year.

At the national AGM in 2009, two Manawatu Branch remits were successful, one focused on improved internal governance process, the second on an enhanced awards programme to recognize the best of the many excellent conservation initiatives and outcomes achieved in New Zealand by a wide range of individuals, teams, and organizations, and to further encourage the same by tapping into the competitive spirit. I wish to thank the Branch for their support of these remits at the Branch AGM in 2009.

In the local advocacy arena, the saga of Mighty River Power's assault on the natural values of the Turitea Reserve is ongoing, having been addressed in my 2009 report. We have lodged a submission vigorously opposed to turbine placements that are predicted to damage the natural values and ecological processes of the nature reserve area.

We have also been active with submissions and media presence in support of a healthier future for the Manawatu River - an area where we will continue to increase our focus.

In the midst of our advocacy efforts, we have increased our capacity with a Branch mandated recruitment of four advocates onto our committee:

Turning our focus to the next generation of nature lovers and advocates, Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club for the 12 and under age group locally continues to enjoy the leadership of Zaneta Park and Rowan Bell and a small clutch of volunteers with a heart for children and zest for introducing them to nature. This is increasingly important in a modern society that has become increasingly detached from the site, feel, smell, sound and taste of nature. I've particularly appreciated Rowan's participation in the Branch committee which he was co-opted onto, and his generosity in assisting with many Branch activities as well. They have also run successful KCC outings and run stalls at prominent local events.

Currently Forest & Bird Manawatu is in a stable financial position while substantially increasing the flow of financial resources through our organization. Often impact is achieved more easily with funds, and there is a need in future years to grow our financial support from donations and fundraising. There are however, many things which can and are being done at little or no cost through the generous donation of time.

The committee has undertaken the first steps in the development of a Five Year Plan development with goals for increased and more diverse membership, for tangible conservation outcomes, financial viability, and increased public interface.

As a branch we maintain an active liaison with the Palmerston North City Environmental Trust via the Chair, with Environment Network Manawatu via Keith Young and via their Coordinator Sally Pearce, and with Reel Earth via several Forest & Bird committee and branch members.

I wish to thank the 09.10 committee by name and role for their active engagement and initiative over all or part of the past 12 months, and their collective forbearance of my continued tenure in the chair:

It is with regret that we have bid farewell to two committee members over the year. Donald Kerr, longtime committee member and advocate general, prior branch chair, former national executive member, has moved away for a period of time and with regret ended his services to the local committee. Leonora Pearson, our exceptional treasurer, has also left the local area for browner pastures and redder sunsets in Australia, a journey in which we wish her well.

It is with regret that we also see a third committee member enter a well deserved retirement this evening, and a fourth journey near that point. This evening Alan Hawkins concludes a long tenure of solid committee involvement as a Feilding Rep. We note with relief that we will continue to enjoy Alan's active involvement in the branch, and I wish to thank Alan especially for his persistent and practical approach to wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, and the energies he has devoted to Forest & Bird over his many years of service on the team. Anthea McClelland is also in the process of retiring for committee in the key role of Secretary in which she has worked so tirelessly and so ably. While Anthea is willing to accept re-election tonight she will be transitioning out of committee in 2010.

In addition to the committee roles identified, we need to build capacity in the key volunteer roles, including enhancing our external communications and an organizer for new habitat restoration projects.

The Branch has enjoyed and benefited from the active engagement of a number of key volunteers over the past 12 months. In particular the Seven Wonders team, other trip leaders, Helen Peek with the postal team, and the photographic skills and willing helpfulness of Paul Vandenberg at a range of events. The many other volunteers are acknowledged as well for their valuable contributions.

I recommend that the Branch accept the services of those nominees offered for the 2010 committee. One vacant role that is transitioning is the Feilding Rep, which is being expanded to the role of Districts Rep to take into account those members, future members and supporters in both the Tararua and Manawatu Districts, and recongnising the gap in Branch coverage between Masterton and Hawkes Bay. Until this role is stabilized and the membership consulted I ask that the Branch not elect a person into this role.

Finally, while not a permanent fixture, I do seek the opportunity to again lead this fine team and the new members it may acquire by appointment through the 10.11 year.

For the year 2010 I ask that you enjoy all that nature has to offer, that you engage in local democracy on behalf of environmental sustainability, and that you make decisions improving the natural environment for this and future generations.