title: An overview of mining in the Te Aroha mining district in the eighties

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: At the time of the first crushing, at the end of 1883, hopes for a prosperous goldfield were high because of its well-constructed tramway, water races, and battery and because of the many apparently payable mines. Within a few months, the field’s reputation had plummeted, as formerly promising ground had proved to be unpayable. It had become clear that the costs of carriage and treatment were too high and that a better method of treatment was required. Despite the many reports of good discoveries keeping hopes alive, fears spread that the field might not be permanent. Despite more prospecting and a second battery being erected, eventually, Waiorongomai’s fortunes failed to improve.
Two new mining areas were discovered, at Stoney Creek and, more significantly, at Tui, the latter being a consequence of a new interest in finding silver. As a lack of capital was recognized as being a significant handicap, overseas capital was sought, successfully, but without permanently reversing the decline in the district’s fortunes. Too much ground was held for speculation, and too little profitable mining took place.
Throughout the decade, both the county council and central government were beseeched to assist, and did so, especially by paying part of the cost of tracks into new areas. But by the end of the decade the prospects looked bleak.

text: An overview of mining in the Te Aroha mining district in the eighties At the time of the first crushing, at the end of 1883, hopes for a prosperous goldfield were high because of its well-constructed tramway, water races, and battery and because of the many apparently payable mines. Within a few months, the field’s reputation had plummeted, as formerly promising ground had proved to be unpayable. It had become clear that the costs of carriage and treatment were too high and that a better method of treatment was required. Despite the many reports of good discoveries keeping hopes alive, fears spread that the field might not be permanent. Despite more prospecting and a second battery being erected, eventually, Waiorongomai’s fortunes failed to improve.
Two new mining areas were discovered, at Stoney Creek and, more significantly, at Tui, the latter being a consequence of a new interest in finding silver. As a lack of capital was recognized as being a significant handicap, overseas capital was sought, successfully, but without permanently reversing the decline in the district’s fortunes. Too much ground was held for speculation, and too little profitable mining took place.
Throughout the decade, both the county council and central government were beseeched to assist, and did so, especially by paying part of the cost of tracks into new areas. But by the end of the decade the prospects looked bleak.

year: 2016

title: Boat electrofishing survey of the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted the University of Waikato to conduct a boat electrofishing survey of the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow.  This survey was in response to sightings of large orange fish in the oxbow by members of the public and the consequent concern that these fish might be koi carp (Cyprinus carpio).  We also recorded species of native fish to determine their relative density and biomass in the oxbow and the adjacent Kaituna River.  
The 10 sites fished in the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow (latitude 37.743780°S, longitude 176.359509°W) are located about 5 km northeast of Te Puke township and about 5.5 km upstream from the sea. Both the oxbow and the main river channel are tidal at this point. The oxbow had a diverse macrophyte assemblage of hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), the oxygen weed 
Egeria densa, floating sudds of reed sweetgrass (Glyceria maxima), and water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper), with scattered plants of curly-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). There were also small amounts of parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), floating water fern (Azolla rubra), duckweed (Lemna minor), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), and native pondweed (Potamogeton ochreatus). The main river channel had fringing beds of the oxygen weeds Lagarosiphon major and Elodea canadensis below the low water mark. 
All sites where fished on 8 October 2014; surface water temperature was 14.7°C in the oxbow at the start of fishing at 1030 h, ambient conductivity was 187.0 μS cm⁻¹, and specific conductivity was 232.8 μS cm⁻¹. Black disc distance was 0.98 m. In the main river channel at 1440 h ambient conductivity was 106.6 μS cm⁻¹, and specific conductivity was 136.7 μS cm⁻¹. We fished 1,953 m in length and an area of 7,812 m2 from a total of ten sites.  We caught a total of 127 fish, with shortfin eel the most abundant species. Longfin eel comprised 14.0 kg of the total fish biomass caught of 26.4 kg. The 24 goldfish caught in the oxbow comprised 3.3 kg of biomass. Common, giant, and redfin bullies were about equally abundant. Yelloweye mullet were caught only in the main channel of the river. Shrimp were caught in varying numbers at all sites v, the mid-water shot in the oxbow. 
As the purpose of this fishing was to establish the identity of large orange fish seen in the Bell Road oxbow, the finding of goldfish was significant. From the size and colour ranges and abundance of the goldfish caught in the oxbow it is highly likely that any orange fish seen in the oxbow were large orange goldfish and not koi carp.

text: Boat electrofishing survey of the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted the University of Waikato to conduct a boat electrofishing survey of the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow.  This survey was in response to sightings of large orange fish in the oxbow by members of the public and the consequent concern that these fish might be koi carp (Cyprinus carpio).  We also recorded species of native fish to determine their relative density and biomass in the oxbow and the adjacent Kaituna River.  
The 10 sites fished in the Kaituna River and Bell Road oxbow (latitude 37.743780°S, longitude 176.359509°W) are located about 5 km northeast of Te Puke township and about 5.5 km upstream from the sea. Both the oxbow and the main river channel are tidal at this point. The oxbow had a diverse macrophyte assemblage of hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), the oxygen weed 
Egeria densa, floating sudds of reed sweetgrass (Glyceria maxima), and water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper), with scattered plants of curly-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). There were also small amounts of parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), floating water fern (Azolla rubra), duckweed (Lemna minor), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), and native pondweed (Potamogeton ochreatus). The main river channel had fringing beds of the oxygen weeds Lagarosiphon major and Elodea canadensis below the low water mark. 
All sites where fished on 8 October 2014; surface water temperature was 14.7°C in the oxbow at the start of fishing at 1030 h, ambient conductivity was 187.0 μS cm⁻¹, and specific conductivity was 232.8 μS cm⁻¹. Black disc distance was 0.98 m. In the main river channel at 1440 h ambient conductivity was 106.6 μS cm⁻¹, and specific conductivity was 136.7 μS cm⁻¹. We fished 1,953 m in length and an area of 7,812 m2 from a total of ten sites.  We caught a total of 127 fish, with shortfin eel the most abundant species. Longfin eel comprised 14.0 kg of the total fish biomass caught of 26.4 kg. The 24 goldfish caught in the oxbow comprised 3.3 kg of biomass. Common, giant, and redfin bullies were about equally abundant. Yelloweye mullet were caught only in the main channel of the river. Shrimp were caught in varying numbers at all sites v, the mid-water shot in the oxbow. 
As the purpose of this fishing was to establish the identity of large orange fish seen in the Bell Road oxbow, the finding of goldfish was significant. From the size and colour ranges and abundance of the goldfish caught in the oxbow it is highly likely that any orange fish seen in the oxbow were large orange goldfish and not koi carp.

year: 2014

title: Understanding student learning in environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Eames, Chris W.

subjects: environmental education

abstract: This paper seeks to provide a perspective on environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand. To contextualise this perspective, it illustrates how environmental, socio-cultural and political imperatives have shaped the development of environmental education in this land. These imperatives illuminate the natural history of the country, the connectedness within the worldviews of the indigenous Maori people, the pioneering views of some enlightened European settlers, and tensions between development and conservation. We connect this context with an overview of research in Aotearoa New Zealand into one aspect of environmental education - student learning in schools. Examples from recent research in this area are provided to show how these approaches are contributing to the Aotearoa New Zealand-ness of environmental education.

text: Understanding student learning in environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand This paper seeks to provide a perspective on environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand. To contextualise this perspective, it illustrates how environmental, socio-cultural and political imperatives have shaped the development of environmental education in this land. These imperatives illuminate the natural history of the country, the connectedness within the worldviews of the indigenous Maori people, the pioneering views of some enlightened European settlers, and tensions between development and conservation. We connect this context with an overview of research in Aotearoa New Zealand into one aspect of environmental education - student learning in schools. Examples from recent research in this area are provided to show how these approaches are contributing to the Aotearoa New Zealand-ness of environmental education.

year: 2011