Special Evening Program On New Zealand Parks

Date: August 22, 2011
Contact: Kyle Patterson, [phone]

Jim Herdman is Program Manager of Historic and Visitor Assets for the Department of Conservation in New Zealand at the South Marlborough Area Office.  On Sunday, August 28, at 7:30 p.m. Jim will give a presentation on New Zealand Parks focusing on the Marlborough Area, the Molesworth Station Farm Park and the Hutton's Shearwater relocation program. The program will be held at the auditorium in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

At Molesworth Station Farm Park, New Zealand's largest farm, farming and recreation go hand in hand. Molesworth has been managed by the government for over 50 years, bringing together three areas (Tarndale, Molesworth and St Helens) which had been overgrazed by sheep and rabbits and repeatedly burned.  With careful management including solely stocking with cattle, soils and vegetation have been gradually restored to good health. Molesworth Station is located behind the Inland Kaikoura Mountains in South Marlborough.

The Hutton's Shearwater relocation program helps preserve Hutton's shearwater/tītī (Puffinus huttoni) which is the only New Zealand seabird that breeds in a sub-alpine environment.  The species is nationally endangered, with its two remaining breeding colonies located in the Seaward Kaikoura mountains. The Department of Conservation helps secure the long-term survival of Hutton's shearwater/tītī, a third colony is being established on a Kaikoura Peninsula site, with support from Ngāi Tahu and Whale Watch Kaikoura Limited.

Jim has worked for the Department of Conservation, New Zealand since it was formed in 1987. He began his career in 1979 with the New Zealand Forest Service. In Jim's current role as the Program Manager Historic and Visitor Assets, he manages a group of campgrounds, picnic areas, roads, trails, cabins/huts and historic assets. He also fills a role as a Rural Fire Officer and is part of a Regional Incident Management Team. He is married with four grown children. Jim is in Rocky Mountain Nation Park on a three month working visit to gain knowledge of how the park operates and share his experience with park staff.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park's Information Office at [phone].