Robin Lieffering. |
Dear Friends,
As we move into a new phase in the life of the Bream Head Conservation Trust our original Chairman, Don Hewitt, has passed the baton on to Robin Lieffering. We are grateful to Don for his excellent leadership over the initial years and we are delighted that he will continue as a trustee.
Robin has been a trustee from the beginning. Below she introduces herself and comments on her vision for the Bream Head Scenic Reserve:
“I am one very lucky person, as from where I live at Whangarei Heads, I look upon the Bream Head Scenic Reserve from every room, and the deck, of our house. It is inspiring.
“For me, a visit in 1998 to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in the very heart of Wellington, was the beginning of this journey with the Bream Head Restoration Project. If they could achieve in the middle of a city such a great wildlife sanctuary then we had a head start to do even better! And in such a setting!
“So from humble beginnings with a few like-minded enthusiastic “travellers” in the community, we formed out partnership with DoC and became the trust we are today; and we have been well led by our first Chair, Don Hewitt. Thank you Don. And we have been so lucky to have had Sir Edmund Hillary as our founding Patron.
“Our Trust, with outstanding support from its Restoration Committee, has been concentrating on establishing the need for, the type of, and ultimately the building of a predator proof fence. With all the research behind them the Trust took the decision to proceed with the fence. We have produced a public document (an Assessment of Environmental Effects) and are now into fund-raising mode.
“However, we do recognise the bigger picture also needs to be addressed and it is with this in mind that I hope to give some leadership. We will work in the next few months to put together a picture of what the reserve may offer those who use it for inclusion into DoC’s planning processes.
“We recognise there are different users of the reserve (with the natural creatures being at the top of the list) and there are opportunities to assist the different users so as to enrich their experiences. I think particularly of the educational and research possibilities we have, both ecological and archaeological. We have the historical and spiritual significance of the area to Maori; there are recreational users; we have local, national and international visitors. What opportunities exist within the reserve and where are the partnerships to help meet the possible expectations of the different interested parties?
“These are exciting times, and the Trust and Restoration Committee members are enthusiastic and willing workers, keen to see this vision proceed. I hope in this leadership role to earn their support to continue to advance.”
Robin Lieffering, Trust Chairwoman.
Robin (pictured below against the view from her home) has been a trustee from the beginning. I have asked her to introduce herself and comment on her vision for the Bream Head Scenic Reserve. She writes:
“I am one very lucky person, as from where I live at Whangarei Heads, I look upon the Bream Head Scenic Reserve from every room, and the deck, of our house. It is inspiring.
“For me, a visit in 1998 to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in the very heart of Wellington, was the beginning of this journey with the Bream Head Restoration Project. If they could achieve in the middle of a city such a great wildlife sanctuary then we had a head start to do even better! And in such a setting!
“So from humble beginnings with a few like-minded enthusiastic “travellers” in the community, we formed out partnership with DoC and became the trust we are today; and we have been well led by our first Chair, Don Hewitt. Thank you Don. And we have been so lucky to have had Sir Edmund Hillary as our founding Patron.
“Our Trust, with outstanding support from its Restoration Committee, has been concentrating on establishing the need for, the type of, and ultimately the building of a predator proof fence. With all the research behind them the Trust took the decision to proceed with the fence. We have produced a public document (an Assessment of Environmental Effects) and are now into fund-raising mode.
“However, we do recognise the bigger picture also needs to be addressed and it is with this in mind that I hope to give some leadership. We will work in the next few months to put together a picture of what the reserve may offer those who use it for inclusion into DoC’s planning processes.
“We recognise there are different users of the reserve (with the natural creatures being at the top of the list) and there are opportunities to assist the different users so as to enrich their experiences. I think particularly of the educational and research possibilities we have, both ecological and archaeological. We have the historical and spiritual significance of the area to Maori; there are recreational users; we have local, national and international visitors. What opportunities exist within the reserve and where are the partnerships to help meet the possible expectations of the different interested parties?
“These are exciting times, and the Trust and Restoration Committee members are enthusiastic and willing workers, keen to see this vision proceed. I hope in this leadership role to earn their support to continue to advance.”
Robin Lieffering, Trust Chairwoman.
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