News
February 11th, 2020
Suky Thompson, on behalf of the Banks Peninsula Native Forest Climate Change group, presented an oral submission, via video conference, to the Environment […]
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February 3rd, 2020
Brian Patrick, a former Trustee of the Rod Donald Trust, has been busy working alongside NZ Post to create a beautiful six stamp […]
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January 21st, 2020
The Trust has convened the Banks Peninsula Native Forest/Climate Change group – a collaboration of organisations and agencies with knowledge of, an interest […]
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December 16th, 2019
The Rod Donald Trust was delighted to launch its new Governors Bay walking brochure in November, in conjunction with the Banks Peninsula Walking […]
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December 2nd, 2019
Congratulations to Scott Smith and his team for organising the highly successful Banks Peninsula Adventure Race on Sunday December 1st. 170 incredibly fit […]
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November 25th, 2019
This years Walking Festival was a huge success, with over 500 participants out and about enjoying all sorts of walks in various locations […]
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November 6th, 2019
The weather was beautiful for the first weekend of this year’s Banks Peninsula Walking Festival. Walkers were spread far and wide over eight […]
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October 13th, 2019
The Rod Donald Trust was delighted to host a community function welcoming new Ranger and Park Staff to the Peninsula area. With around […]
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October 2nd, 2019
Many thanks to our incredible volunteers from the Christchurch office of Jacobs – the international engineering firm – who cheerfully slaved away at […]
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September 26th, 2019
Our annual newsletter is hot off the press and you can view it HERE to get an update on the Rod Donald Trusts […]
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September 20th, 2019
The Head to Head Walkway is an aspirational project to create a continuous walkway around the coastline of Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour, from Awaroa/Godley Head […]
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September 18th, 2019
The Trust has been building knowledge on the Emissions Trading Scheme this year, and made submissions stressing the opportunity the Peninsula offers for […]
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September 13th, 2019
The Trust is delighted that the Council has set up a joint working party with us to discuss our future. The Trust was […]
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September 6th, 2019
The Banks Peninsula Walking Festival will be running once again in November and ticket sales are now underway and selling fast! This event […]
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August 20th, 2019
Maintaining the Te Ara Pātaka walkway and its large network of tracks is a big job and this year the Trust has engaged […]
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August 17th, 2019
With Christchurch City Council recently declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency, the Trust strongly supports this decision and recognises how serious the problem […]
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August 12th, 2019
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust would like to pay tribute to George Waitai Tikao (28 January 1933-27 July 2019) whose memorial service […]
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July 31st, 2019
It is with sadness that we hear of the passing of Maurice White, well known as the founder of the Maurice White Native […]
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July 25th, 2019
With more than 40 guests enjoying a luncheon at the Governors Bay Community Centre, it was a lovely way to honour Simon Mortlock […]
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June 27th, 2019
We are delighted to be able to release our carbon research report to the public – “Facilitating Biodiversity Enhancement using Income from Carbon […]
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June 27th, 2019
After serving faithfully on the Rod Donald Trust board for nine years it was with great sadness that we shared a final board […]
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June 27th, 2019
The last few months have been a busy time for the Trust as we have worked through the process of compiling our Strategic […]
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June 14th, 2019
The Trust is so delighted that our Woodills subdivision is complete at last, after working through this project since we first purchased the […]
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May 16th, 2019
Yes, we have done the maths and 19 bags weighing 850kgs each means that over 16 tonnes of shingle was delivered by helicopter […]
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March 26th, 2019
Our March Rod Donald Trust Board meeting began in a different way than usual, with a stop at the Little River cemetery to […]
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February 20th, 2019
Work has begun to produce a new walking brochure for the Governors Bay area and Suky and Sue recently spent a day scouting […]
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January 20th, 2019
The Rod Donald Trust has been working to secure public access on the whole Te Ara Pataka track network. Most of the track […]
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January 4th, 2019
We are delighted to have David Brailsford on board as the new Manager for the Rod Donald Hut. Having been the builder who […]
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December 31st, 2018
Congratulations to our chair, Simon Mortlock, who has been awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years Honours list. Simon […]
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December 7th, 2018
Congratulations to the Josef Langer Trust on the opening of the new Panama Stream Family Camp at their reserve in Le Bons Bay. […]
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November 5th, 2018
Hon Eugenie Sage, Minister for Conservation, opened the new Ōtamahua Hut on Quail Island as the first event in the Banks Peninsula Walking […]
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November 4th, 2018
Banks Peninsula Walking Festival opened with wonderful weather. On the Lyttelton side of the Peninsula, over 100 people took the ferry to Quail […]
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October 2nd, 2018
The Trust has released its 2018 newsletter. Find out more about our projects and progress over the year. To download a PDF copy […]
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October 2nd, 2018
Thanks to Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and Student Volunteer Army we had a great working bee to improve the Rod Donald Hut access […]
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September 28th, 2018
Rod Donald Hut is now re-opened after annual maintenance. Repeat visitors may spot that the VIP toilet has shifted to the other pit […]
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September 18th, 2018
The Trust was delighted to receive an award from Department of Conservation at the Conservation Week function held in the Air NZ Aviation […]
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September 11th, 2018
Did you know that famous Antarctic hero Frank Worsley lived in Akaroa as a boy? Enjoy a walk to the site of his […]
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September 5th, 2018
The 2018 Banks Peninsula Walking Festival is now open for bookings on Eventfinda. There is something for everyone with 29 wonderful guided walks […]
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August 11th, 2018
The Trust enjoyed a field trip to Orton Bradley Park to see the progress made since entering into a partnership arrangement in 2013. […]
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July 30th, 2018
Christchurch City Council has supported the Trust’s recommendations regarding Trustee appointments. At its meeting on July 10 it extended Cynthia Robert’s term for […]
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July 12th, 2018
The first attempt to eradicate a pest species from Banks Peninsula has been trialled at Little Akaloa with a big push to eliminate […]
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June 30th, 2018
We said a sad farewell to Trustee Chrissie Williams who retired from the Board on June 30 at the end of her term […]
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June 17th, 2018
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust was delighted to visit Living Springs and witness first-hand the discipline, dedication and delight their 60 LSV […]
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June 6th, 2018
A weekend visit to Ōtamahua/Quail Island revealed the conversion of the caretaker cottage into family style tramping accommodation is progressing well. “This builds […]
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April 1st, 2018
Walkers and mountain bikers were delighted that Kennedy’s Bush Track re-opened on Easter Sunday having been closed for over a year since the […]
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March 27th, 2018
The Trust and Department of Conservation formalised their working relationship with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at a meeting at the DOC […]
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February 5th, 2018
The Trust is concerned that Kennedys Bush Track remains closed a year after the Port Hills fires. The track is approximately 3.7km long […]
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December 8th, 2017
The Trust is delighted to announce that Department of Conservation’s Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve along the Te Ara Pātaka track near Hilltop has […]
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November 29th, 2017
A new walking brochure featuring 5 Coastal and Village Loops around Diamond Harbour launched at the Walking Festival Guides dinner event, and is […]
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November 12th, 2017
The Waking Festival continues to delight participants exploring Banks Peninsula. Walkers on the Port Hills Phoenix were able to hear first hand from […]
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November 5th, 2017
Walking Festival participants who headed to the wonderful Hinewai 30th Anniversary celebrations on November 5 were entertained by a surprise speaker, Eugenie Sage, […]
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November 4th, 2017
Fabulous weather meant the first day of the Walking Festival has been a great success and a huge amount of fun was had […]
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October 3rd, 2017
Banks Peninsula Walking Festival 2017 is underway with 30 exciting walks. Explore new places, experience properties not usually open to the public, enjoy […]
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October 3rd, 2017
The Trust’s audited Annual Report for financial year 2016-17 is now. We recommend reading it in conjunction with our colourful newsletter.
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September 15th, 2017
Rod Donald Hut is sparkling and ready for the new season after its annual maintenance and spring cleaning this week. Builder David Brailsford […]
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September 12th, 2017
Banks Peninsula was the star of the show at a Predator Free 2050 event hosted in Christchurch by Minister for Conservation Maggie Barry […]
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September 7th, 2017
Building Environmental Stewards of the Future with Sustainable Long Distance Trails was the topic discussed with U3A (University of the Third Age) members […]
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August 31st, 2017
Read all about the Trust’s activities in 2016-17 in our Storehouse Stories newsletter just released. To read it on ISSUU click here. To […]
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August 28th, 2017
Trust Manager Suky Thompson updated the Regenerating Banks Peninsula forum in Diamond Harbour on Trust activities. “I was impressed by the turnout from […]
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August 6th, 2017
The Trust said a fond farewell to departing Trustees – Stuart Wright-Stow, Brian Patrick and Debbie Tikao, and formally welcomed new Trustees – […]
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July 28th, 2017
Back in June the Trust held a seminar to thank you landowners who allow public walking access across their land, and to answer […]
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July 27th, 2017
You know you must be doing something right when 70 people attend your AGM on a wet and windy night and everyone is […]
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July 7th, 2017
Last year Lyttelton Information Centre invited the Trust to produce walking brochures describing the many walks in the Lyttelton harbour basin, and we […]
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July 1st, 2017
The Banks Peninsula Walking Festival will run on four weekends in November. The only pan-Peninsula event, the festival is co-produced by Project Lyttelton, […]
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June 30th, 2017
Sharpen your thoughts around biodiversity and access on Banks Peninsula. Christchurch City Council has begun its initial consultations on Reserve Management plans for […]
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June 15th, 2017
The Trust and Christchurch City Council collaborated on a joint project to update the Akaroa Country Walks trail head boards and these were […]
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June 9th, 2017
The Rod Donald Trust hosted a well-attended seminar and panel discussion at Kaituna Homestead on June 9 to help landowners better understand where […]
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June 7th, 2017
Youth groups keep on coming up with creative ways to enjoy Rod Donald Hut. Enjoy this video made by Stephanie Barbier and the […]
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May 29th, 2017
Trust welcomes aboard four new Trustees: Richard Suggate, Bryan Storey, Maureen McCloy and Paul McNoe starting July 1. All have strong connections with […]
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May 24th, 2017
Trust Manager Suky Thompson gave a guest lecture on Long Distance Walking Trails, exploring the issues around sustainability and using Te Ara Pātaka […]
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May 3rd, 2017
Lincoln University has now released the Predator Free Banks Peninsula Scoping analysis report as LEAP Research Paper number 44. The Trust commissioned the […]
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April 27th, 2017
Rod Donald Hut seems to be getting a reputation as a great place to take kids for their first tramp. Our latest statistics […]
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April 19th, 2017
The Trust was excited to receive this amazing old map and book entry from YHA Corporate Services Manager Maureen McCloy. YHA was started […]
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April 18th, 2017
The period for Expression of Interest closed on March 31 and the Trust has been absolutely delighted with the response from so many highly […]
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April 10th, 2017
Trust Manager Suky Thompson met with the new Banks Peninsula Community Board at a workshop on April 10 and gave a presentation to […]
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April 7th, 2017
With the New Zealand government setting an aspirational goal of a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050, the Trust funded a summer scholarship […]
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March 29th, 2017
Trust contractor David Brailsford accompanied by Trust Manager Suky Thompson spent a happy morning installing bright orange track markers on the Monument South […]
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February 24th, 2017
Are you passionate about Banks Peninsula? Keen on walking and tramping and with skills in financial management or negotiation? The Trust is now […]
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February 17th, 2017
Our hearts go out to everyone who loves the Port Hills and has worked for so many years to bring back native forest […]
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December 27th, 2016
The Trust was delighted that the Hilltop Tavern owner and lessee agreed with us that it would be much better if Te Ara […]
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December 16th, 2016
Sadly Sarah Pritchett has decided it’s time to move on from her role with the Trust as its assistant manager. Sarah brought her […]
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November 26th, 2016
On Saturday 26 November over a hundred people, including Peninsula historian Gordon Ogilvie, braved strong nor’west winds ascending Mt Herbert, the highest point […]
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November 6th, 2016
The 2016 Banks Peninsula Walking Festival kicked off with great weather on Saturday November 5th. The Penguins of Godley Head group enjoyed fabulous […]
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October 30th, 2016
Kaituna Homestead proved an excellent venue for the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust’s annual strategic planning meeting. Trustees identified securing public access as […]
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October 13th, 2016
The Trust’s Annual Report and Review has now been approved by the Trustees and submitted to the Christchurch City Council as part of […]
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October 10th, 2016
Get your boots on because the Banks Peninsula Walking Festival is now open for bookings. Birds, botany, camping, dogs, families, penguins, period costume, […]
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September 21st, 2016
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust is proud to be co-leading this year’s Banks Peninsula Walking Festival with festival founder Project Lyttelton. The […]
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July 21st, 2016
In June the Trust farewelled Trustee Stewart Miller who has been with the Trust since its inception. Stewart has been a Banks Peninsula […]
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June 3rd, 2016
A youthful crew from Youthtown recently took on the challenge of an overnight walk to the Rod Donald Hut. They started from the […]
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May 28th, 2016
The Trust has just issued its 2016 Newsletter. Read about our busy year and progress with Te Ara Pātaka, Purple Peak Curry Reserve, […]
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April 19th, 2016
Trust manager Suky Thompson and contractor Steffan Kraberger were recently up at the Packhorse Track behind Mt Bradley identifying the next batch of […]
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March 9th, 2016
The name Te Ara Pātaka has been now been chosen for the track that covers Gebbies Pass to the Hilltop by the four […]
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March 9th, 2016
Track improvements on Te Ara Pātaka in Montgomery Reserve were recently tested out and appreciated by Akaroa’s “Women Out Walking” group. Being a […]
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March 2nd, 2016
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust and the Hinewai team are buzzing after a wonderful official opening of the Purple Peak Curry Reserve […]
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February 15th, 2016
Each year a South Island marae hosts the official Waitangi Day commemorations on behalf of Ngāi Tahu. This year it was the turn […]
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January 28th, 2016
The Christchurch Tramping Club recently tested out the Summit Walkway from Gebbies Pass to Hill Top. They skipped the Packhorse and did the […]
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January 13th, 2016
Akaroa District Promotions has awarded the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust with a Customer Service Award. The Award, which is sponsored by the […]
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January 13th, 2016
Akaroa local Lynne Alexander recently received recognition from the Walking Access Commission for her significant work in improving public access to the outdoors, […]
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January 13th, 2016
DOC and the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust have begun work on their joint Summit Walkway upgrade project with track work in the […]
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