Current Newsletter

"Charlie and Stephanie family contribution" is the way Neil Cooper has described his donation this year. The funds will cover the annual cost of insurance for our machinery, and is most appreciated, thank you.

Tane and Clare and family visited the Mill Stream Walkway and spent time exploring some of the highlights. The children especially enjoyed the "bamboo grove" as it is dark and "a little bit scary".

They also spent some time enjoying the cascades area. This part of the walkway invites walkers to get up close and personal with the Mill Stream. It also provides a wonderful experience of the small birdlife in the area.

If you are very quiet and patient, the small birds will come down into the shallows of the stream and undertake their bathing. Birds observed indulging this activity include Piwakawaka (Fantail), Tauhou (White-eye), Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Thrush, Tui, and even Rosella.

Sadly we do not see Weka, Hihi (stitchbird), Titipounamu (Rifleman), Piropiro (Tom Tit), or even Korimako (Bellbird) in this area, although if you are lucky you may see Kereru very occasionally. All of these birds could be part of our wilderness environment at Union Hill.

We envisage that Union Hill could be a wonderful place for environmental rehabilitation; and an opportunity for some great community projects.

New Community Services Manager for Hauraki District Council, Steve Fabish, is an enthusiast of walkways and cycleways for all the Hauraki communities. We look forward to working with him in the coming years. Steve Clark, Parks and Reserves Manager for five years now, continues to support and endorse the work of Waihi Walkways. We wish to acknowledge and appreciate that, thank you Steve.

The cycleway from Waikino to Paeroa has been completed as the first stage. Waihi Walkways contributed their accumulated information to assist the planning of the Waihi to Waikino section, and we understand that will be "Stage two" of the rail trail.

We endorse the creation of walkways and cycleways on public land, as means of enhancing community involvement and appreciation of our wonderful Waihi and district landscape.

The Ohinemuri River, the Gorge, the mountain, the hills, the bush, all confer their value to our habitation of this area. May they never be taken for granted.

We are increasing the wetland at the bottom of Pylon Paddock on the Mill Stream Walkway. This initiative began 3 years ago, and Goldfields School from Paeroa assisted us with the first planting.

The students and staff again worked with us, contributing their time and enthusiasm to extend the wetland area. We added a total of 80 Harakeke (large) and 25 Wharariki (small) flax plants.

The students also took time to investigate the quality of the water in Mill Stream, and found some small freshwater snails on some of the rocks in the stream.

Recently Jeff Milham, Department of Conservation Visitor and Heritage Assets Manager, and Pete Huggins, Ranger, Community Relations visited to view the Mill Stream Walkway and discuss any issues or initiatives for the coming year.

As part of our Memorandum of Understanding with DoC, we discuss and produce a "Works Programme" on an annual basis, just to ensure we are all informed about the activities for the walkway.

Mill Stream Walkway is the only walkway we manage on conservation land. The remainder of our walks are on Hauraki District Council land.

Jeff and Pete expressed enthusiasm and satisfaction with the management of the walkway.

This year, Ian and Bob teamed up to volunteer their efforts with mowing and scrub bar work for all the walkways. They undertook our internal training programme, to ensure all the health and safety issues were understood; and to confirm the safe methods of using the machinery.

Keeping the walkways mown is a continuous commitment, and it is gratifying to have their efforts in this regard.

Also, Dennis not only contributes to the mowing down at Cabbage Tree Flat and surrounds, he also provides his energy and machinery for chainsaw work when a tree has fallen.

Derek is another valued contributor. He works away at Mill Stream walkway, keeping the path trimmed, drains cleared out and attending to some of the weed species.

This "project volunteering" is a great way to contribute to the overall wellbeing of the walkways, and is much appreciated.

If you would like to do some "project volunteering", don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our coordinator sponsor is unable to continue their support for this year and so the Committee will be reorganising into a different management style over the next few months. Members are invited to contribute their skills and ideas.