Hemi Matenga Track North ridge- Peter MacKenzie

Pteris macilenta

Trichomanes reniforms

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I just love finding new material and I had two great days on the track at the end of last week doing just that! It is so exciting when you pick up new ferns and then identify the rascals for collection and data. Takes me a while to do the second half of the job and identifying accurately does take precision and care....I'm getting quicker but still I can get stumped . the filmy ferns sometimes fail on the fertile fronds and therefore become difficult at best and really of no use. The northeren end of the Hemi is steep and I was on my bum for a lot of the descent...much easier to go up and the forest is quite different ...hence the different ferns. At last I have Polystichum- shield ferns ...a couple of species and also Ctenopteris and Pallaea...that is what I get excited about! Core curriculum days are coming up next week and I need to do my Leadership assignment...second one before we depart for the South Island on May 24...finding it hard to be inspired about that as i have been busy getting spreadsheet of fern data up to date and also the mounting process. In quiet moments I have also been working on a power point but long way off yet and not long to go....i really love the passion i have found when i come across a new plant!!
Took in the competition to school for naming our new kiwi at Nga Manu and it will hopefully be a tribute to the late Peter MacKenzie who died last week....he was the founding father and inspiration for Nga Manu...a true conservationist. Though I never met him he is one of the reasons I am so privelleged to have this opportunity to work in such a treasure as Nga Manu....thankyou Peter.

The founder of Waikanae's Nga Manu Nature Reserve, Peter McKenzie, has died, aged 59.

Mr McKenzie founded Nga Manu in 1974, preserving the last large remnant of lowland coastal swamp forest on the Kapiti Coast.

Over the years he developed the reserve and became heavily involved with many recovery programmes to boost threatened native species.

He was involved with the Tuatara Recovery Programme for more than 20 years with over 1000 tuatara going through Nga Manu over the years for translocation.

In the mid 70s he spearheaded captive kiwi breeding programmes, setting the standard for breeding kiwis in institutions. A lot of his methods are still used today.

Mr McKenzie was also involved in the blue duck and brown teal recovery programmes and established a recovery programme for native mistletoe.

His interest in wildlife photography saw him launch Nga Manu Images producing photos used in many conservation publications.

He captured a puriri moth hatching on camera, which is still available on You Tube. Nga Manu manager Bruce Benseman described Mr McKenzie as an all round good bloke with a passion for conservation.

"He inspired thousands of people to go down the conservation path with many pursuing careers in conservation,'' Mr Benseman said.- DOM POST KAY BLUNDELL