The notes & presentations from BGANZ NZ Spring Seminar, hosted by Dunedin BG, can be found under the NZ regional news tab 'archived items' below, or by clicking this link
BGANZ New Zealand
- November 2011, Newsletter 13
- May 2011, Newsletter 12
- November 2010, Newsletter 11
- April 2010, Newsletter 10
- November 2009, Newsletter 9
- May 2009, Newsletter 8
- November 2008, Newsletter 7
- May 2008, Newsletter 6
- March 2007, Newsletter 4
- November 2006, Newsletter 3
- May 2006, Newsletter 2
- February 2006, Newsletter 1
Posted: 01/11/2011
Over the last five years seminars and workshop sessions at the regional meetings and the Hamilton Congress have covered quite a diverse range of topics including the following. Sponsorship and fundraising, staff training, conservation partnerships, species conservation, community partnerships, park interpretation, volunteers, botanic garden nurseries and managing events on parks.
The most recent seminar at Dunedin Botanic Gardens (September 2011) had the theme of "Plant Collections". Forty two people attended a well-rounded programme that focused on defining a plant collection, setting collection standards, keeping records and the ongoing development of plant collections.
The next BGANZ NZ seminar will be held at Hamilton Gardens from 25 -26 April 2012 and precede the NZ Gardens Trust Conference which runs from 27th to the 29th April 2012 in Hamilton. The Banks Lecture (RNZIH) is at 6pm on 26th April.
At present it is intended this seminar follow the successful format and fast pace of the Dunedin one with about two dozen 10 minute presentations.
Tentative outline of the April Session:
25th April
Pre-Workshop options of morning visits to Waiwhakareke and Taitua Arboretum. 2.30 – 4.30 pm - BGANZ Executive Committee Meeting or a tour Hamilton Gardens and afternoon tea.
26th April
Workshop: Design in Public Gardens 9am to 3.30pm
This will follow four general themes.
1. Design processes including: preparing a design brief, selecting the right consultant, consultation and community involvement in the design process, preparing a master plan and maintaining the design integrity of a garden.
2. Designing the visitor experience including: examining how people experience gardens, planning and improving circulation systems and the design of signage, information centres and web sites.
3. Practical design in the Garden including: designing with plant colour, laying out plants for best effect, renewing old gardens, temporary plant displays and utilizing in-house skills.
4. New design directions including: possible design trends in public gardens, planning for climate change, new technology in the garden, design for cost recovery from gardens and new information systems for park visitors.
Presenters will include botanic gardens staff with relevant experience as well as some external experts. If you think you may have something to contribute or to book a place please contact hamilton.gardens@hcc.co.nz
There is no charge for BGANZ members or affiliated regional gardens.
Posted: 05/12/2011
Stunning summer of sculpture at Auckland Botanic Gardens
Sculpture in the Gardens opened on 8 October with visitors enjoying a fabulous display of outdoor sculpture. Commencing at the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre, visitors can take a two kilometre trail through the garden collections and enjoy the irresistible combination of great art in a beautiful garden setting.
The McConnell Family Supreme Award was presented to Lucy Bucknall for her work ‘Big Man’, standing tall in the Perennial Garden with his super sized hoodie. The Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens announced their acquisition as being Jim Wheeler’s ‘Object of Devotion’, a bronze oversized tanekaha leaf.
A must for the summer calendar visitors can make a day of it and enjoy various associated activities including an indoor exhibition of sculpture, free guided walks, kid’s activity trail, workshops and competitions throughout the event and music every Sunday. Come and vote for your favourite sculpture.
Go to www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nzfor more information.
Sculpture in the Gardens runs until 12 February 2012. Entry to the gardens is free.
Posted: 14/10/2011
The new pre-European productive Maori garden at Hamilton Gardens opened in December 2010, marking the end of a seven year development process. Most of its development has been sponsored thanks to the joint efforts of the Te Parapara Garden Trust, Hamilton City Council and Nga Mana Toopu o Kirikiriroa.
Te Parapara tells the story of the arrival of the Tainui waka to Aotearoa New Zealand and the relationship between pre-European Waikato Maori and the plants that they relied on, including the native plants that were found here and the introduced species that were brought aboard the waka.
The garden is divided into two realms:
Te Ara Whakatauki (The Path of Proverbs) leads to the waharoa (gateway). This is the realm of Haumiatiketike, deity of the uncultivated food plants of the forest.
Te Taupa (the Garden) beyond the waharoa is the realm of Rongomatane, deity of cultivated food plants.
The journey through the garden represents the story of the establishment of agriculture in the Waikato region. The garden entrance represents the landing of the Tainui waka and arrival of the Waikato people’s ancestors. At the beginning of the story the planting is composed of productive or culturally significant natives. Maori used plants not only as material resources, but also as a source of symbolic resources; for example, as metaphors in whakatauki (proverbs). Plant species that are mentioned in some Waikato whakatauki are marked in the garden, and those whakatauki are printed in the Te Parapara Guidebook.
As the path enters Te Taupa, the planting changes to a mixture of native and introduced, cultivated, species. The centerpiece of Taupa is the kumara garden. Kumara was the most important food plant for pre-European Maori because it had the highest carbohydrate yield of any available plant. It is grown in Te Taupa in the traditional way: in soil mounds arranged in a quincunx pattern, augmented with river gravel & pumice to increase drainage and extend the growing season. Two of the four surviving pre-European kumara varieties are planted.
The buildings inside Te Taupa are different kinds of storehouses. The pataka and whatarangi are raised off the ground on posts and are used to store taonga, while the rua is an underground pit with a carved entrance that was specifically used for kumara storage.
All the carvings on the storehouses, palisade fence and waharoa are ancient Waikato designs. They tell the story and tikanga of the Waikato region and its renowned riverside gardens and chiefs.
Posted: 06/09/2011
National arboretum focuses on the next 100 years
International award winning landscape architects Thomas Woltz and Breck Gastinger from USA based Nelson, Byrd and Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) will present Eastwoodhill Arboretum’s 100 year Masterplan in a presentation to invited guests at the Portside Hotel on Friday July 29.
The Masterplan was devised by NBW to guide Eastwoodhill, the national arboretum’s development over the next hundred years as it faces more environmental uncertainty and increasing pressure on rare and endangered plants and trees. The plan likens the arboretum to an “arboreal ark”, a global repository with the benefit of relative isolation, for securing and caring for species.
NBW Principal Architect Thomas Woltz and Project Manager Breck Gastinger will discuss different priorities within the plan, including new developments and projects ensuring mature plantings are repropagated, new features are introduced and future educational resources are considered.
Mr Woltz has led designs of a broad range of institutional and corporate projects in the US and abroad with over 15 years experience. Mr Gastinger has also worked on a wide range on projects in the US and abroad, and both have worked on numerous projects in New Zealand.
Eastwoodhill Trust Board Chair Lee Newman knew that developing Eastwoodhill would require outside expertise when the trust board discussed creating a 100 year Masterplan.
“NBW came with experience in large project landscaping, proven plans for arboreta, adviser experience in exciting projects worldwide, and the added benefit of knowing the East Coast environment” she said.
“Thomas Woltz and Breck Gastinger worked for two years assessing the Eastwoodhill site, soils and northern hemisphere collection needs. Their research was deeply thorough, their recommendations far reaching but environmentally sound and their ideas globally encompassing yet achievable” Mrs Newman said.
Please click here to view the masterplan summary
Posted: 01/08/2011