Media Advisory: 19 May 2009
Planting To Celebrate Opening Of Kepler Track

Department of Conservation, Meridian and Project Crimson will celebrate the opening of the upgraded Kepler Track entrance, car park and amenity area, near Te Anau in Southland, on Friday May 22.

The Department of Conservation are inviting local people to attend the opening celebrations. The ceremony will be followed by the chance to be the first to experience the new amenities and view the native restoration work, undertaken by DOC and local schools, in partnership with Project Crimson and its principal sponsor, Meridian.

Meridian, Project Crimson and DOC staff will also be joining forces to complete the native flora restoration planting after the official ceremony.

“This project brings together representatives from three organisations with a huge interest in the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park,” said Reg Kemper, Te Anau DOC Area Manager.

The three organisations are Meridian, which operates the Manapouri hydro power station at West Arm, fed by Lake Te Anau; Project Crimson (a key sponsorship for Meridian), which aims to protect native rata and pohutukawa throughout New Zealand; and the Department of Conversation.

“Southern rata are a vital part of the ecology in the Fiordland region and their protection, along with all the other species in this special ecosystem is of great importance,” says Project Crimson’s Executive Director, Bridget Abernethy.

“It’s just great to be involved in this planting and to know that this will benefit so many visitors and local people now and in generations to come.

“We are delighted to be working along-side our special partners, Meridian and the Department of Conservation, to get this project underway to celebrate the opening of the Kepler Track entrance,” says Bridget Abernethy.

Project Crimson is active throughout New Zealand and has developed nine regional Crimson Trails, including one in Southland/Otago.

The upgraded Kepler Track entrance also includes an educational ‘super site’ for pupils to learn about conservation issues from DOC.

“The Kepler Track is a huge asset for the local community and the upgrade will provide a better experience for locals and visitors alike. It is very encouraging to see the organisations coming together to celebrate this event.”

About Project Crimson

Project Crimson is a national conservation trust that was established in 1990 to protect pohutukawa and rata trees around New Zealand by raising awareness of tree protection and supporting restoration programmes.

Since then, with the help of principal sponsor Meridian, enormous progress has been made to arrest the decline and restore these precious natives in their natural habitats and in the hearts and minds of New Zealanders.

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