'Get Involved' in Conservation Week 2009 Events

Events involving a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the worlds rarest parrot, to 900 school children linking hands to promote marine protection are just some of the events planned for Conservation Week 2009.

This year the public will have an opportunity to meet Sirocco the kakapo at Auckland Zoo. The event starts on the 14th of September and runs through to the 23rd of September. He is one of only124 kakapo remaining, which makes them the rarest parrot in the world.

In Northland, over 900 school children will be linking hands in a human-chain to raise the profile of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve and to promote marine conservation overall.

On the West Coast, there will be a walk from the Blaketown Tip Head to Paroa. The walk will consist of a coastline clean-up and 3 planting activities at Blaketown, Karoro and Paroa.

Over 200 hundred events have been planned nationwide which will include planting days, beach clean-ups, photography competitions, art exhibitions and guided tours of conservation places. Over 200 events have already been planned.

DOC is joining forces with community groups, local businesses, tourism groups and local councils around New Zealand to celebrate Conservation Week.

Director General of Conservation, Al Morrison, said, "Conservation Week 2009 is about celebrating the contribution of thousands of New Zealanders who get involved, whether it’s volunteering for conservation projects; enjoying conservation places in their spare time or participating in events being held around the country.”

For the very first time, DOC and TVNZ 6 have created a stand-alone conservation website as the key place for the New Zealand public to find out what’s happening during Conservation Week, and how they can get involved. DOC staff are posting blog entries to share their work stories and a photo gallery has been made available so that images can be uploaded.

To find out more about conservation week, including activities that New Zealanders can do at home, at school and in their communities visit www.conservationweek.org.nz