Event
Ecological Site Visit with Andy Ellis
Wednesday 29 November, 5pm.
Our first tour is at Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush.
The bush is a 7.8-hectare remnant Kahikatea Forest situated just 3km from the city centre of Christchurch.
Pūtaringamotu is hugely significant, ecologically and culturally. It is the largest remnant of alluvial podocarp forest on the lower Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula, a forest type that today only covers a tiny fraction of its former extent. It is a key Mahinga Kai site for Ngai Tuahuriri, and the place of first permanent European settlement in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Pūtaringamotu is thought to mean ‘the place of the echo’ or ‘the severed ear’. The latter is thought to refer to the bush being isolated from other forests. It is also believed by local Māori that at a certain place in the forest, those trained and skilled in the practice could hear the sound of people approaching on the trails through the surrounding swampland by putting their ear to the ground – hence the ‘place of the echo’.
The Bush was gifted to the people of Christchurch by the Deans family, with the official hand-over date being 2 November 1914 (when the Riccarton Bush Act was gazetted). The Act seeks to preserve the bush for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Christchurch. This is achieved through vigilant management by the Riccarton Bush Trust and the operational staff.
Our speaker is Michael Steenson who is the bush ranger.
Mike has a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Canterbury, in which he developed a passion to champion community values, involvement, and local knowledge into conservation planning and management.
As the Ranger of Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush, he seeks to improve native biodiversity across Christchurch through education, community involvement and outreach, and networking with the various conservation entities.
Speakers
Andy Ellis Ambassador
Andy is a Cantabrian growing up in Christchurch playing rugby for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, Canterbury in provincial rugby and the All Blacks, more recently he finished his second season with Rugby United New-York in the United States as scrumhalf.
Before Andy Ellis was an All Black, he was a landscape architecture student at Lincoln University. He put his degree on hold to play professional rugby but did gardening work on the side. He has never lost his passion for gardening and the environment. He has even competed in the Ellerslie International Flower Show and Singapore Garden Festival. He has a passion for ecology and native biodiversity and his parents and grandparents are horticulturists. Andy wrote a book “Kiwi Back Yard” with his friend and fellow landscape architect Danny Kamo, celebrating their love of the outdoors.
Andy is the Ambassador for the Green Philanthropy Fund but is also passionate about our work with sport as a means to address social issues.
Mike Steenson Ranger, Riccarton Bush
Mike has a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Canterbury, in which he developed a passion to champion community values, involvement, and local knowledge into conservation planning and management.
As the Ranger of Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush, he seeks to improve native biodiversity across Christchurch through education, community involvement and outreach, and networking with the various conservation entities.
