While these areas retain nearly all their stark beauties, there are clouds on the horizon, in the form of many millions of rapidly spreading and self-seeded wilding pines, firs and larches.
Great efforts have been made in recent decades to get rid of these trees, but it is now estimated they are multiplying at incredible rates across the country, invading another 90,000 or so hectares of land every year.
As pretty as these conifers — mostly lodgepole pine as well as Corsican pine and Douglas fir — can look from a distance, these tree-weeds are smothering the countryside, native plants and unique areas of biodiversity, sucking up water and ruining productive soils through acidification.
They are also a major fire risk and can harbour other exotic pests and diseases.
According to the Department of Conservation, conifers arrived in New Zealand in the 1880s. Since then, wind-blown seeds from their cones have colonised many parts of the country, especially the South Island high country, Central Otago and parts of Marlborough. Doc estimates they now cover more than 1.8 million ha and could be choking 20% of New Zealand in 20 years’ time without more funding and drastic control measures.
It’s good news then that the government is promising another $79 million for the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme across the next three years, lifting total funding to $109m. About $30m of the funding is to come from the International Visitor Levy.
Current estimates are that wilding conifers could lead to a $3.6 billion economic loss in the next 50 years if serious action isn’t taken. A large chunk of this could be down to the trees blocking scenery and threatening tourism.
Wilding pines aren’t even useful in helping offset carbon emissions, as the damage they cause can outweigh any benefits.
They are a scourge, a blot on the landscape. The sooner they can be removed, the better.
Thank you, Camp Leader
As half of the beloved Topp Twins, Dame Jools was a New Zealand legend, recognised across the country for her enduring entertainment act with sister Dame Lynda.
With Dame Jools’ death on Saturday, we are reminded that the pair weren’t just a national treasure, but also had a strong presence in the South, especially through country music and their involvement with the NZ Gold Guitar Awards in Gore and performances at shows across the region.
Indeed, the day before she died, the two received an award for their contribution to country music at the Country Music Honours in Gore.
The Topp Twins were as quintessentially Kiwi as Fred Dagg, the Pātea Māori Club and Poi E, pineapple lumps and Buzzy Bees. It would be a tough job to find someone who wasn’t at one time or other won over by their singing and satire.
They succeeded in the sometimes difficult pursuit of making New Zealanders laugh at themselves and at life in small communities. Who can forget the often clueless, bumbling Camp Leader (Jools) and bossy Camp Mother? Or Ken and Ken at rural gatherings, with their false moustaches and sideburns, garish ties, awful suits and trilby hats?
In 2018, the twins became Dame Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit for decades of service to the entertainment industry. Ten years earlier they were welcomed into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Activists from way back, the Topp Twins were a source of inspiration for young people in many ways. They helped break down barriers in a New Zealand which was not very kind to gay people.
Dame Jools and Dame Lynda both underwent treatment for breast cancer. They didn’t allow that to keep them away from their audience any longer than it had to.
At such a sad time, it’s good to recall their work over the years and chuckle — even if many of us will feel we’ve lost a little piece of ourselves with Dame Jools’ death.
