Orari River Protection Group Inc.

15/04/2026

COLIN MONTEATH is coming to Geraldine

“At heart I am a polar and mountain nomad”

Fundraiser for Orari River Protection Group

Legendary Antarctic and international mountain expedition photographer and author, will present a lecture:

Saturday June 27th Geraldine Cinema 7pm

“Raiders of the Lost Archive”

Dusting off his expedition archives Colin will take us through a career spanning 33 seasons in Antarctica, 4 in the Arctic and over 20 expeditions in Asia and beyond. The lecture will focus on his freelance photography and writing career.

From 1973 to 1983 he was Field Operations Officer at Scott Base. During this time he helped coordinate recovery operations of the Air NZ crash site. Colin’s organisation and maintenance of Field Operations became highly respected for efficiency, safety and success. He was also in charge of the Scott Base huskies.

Since 1983 he has worked as an expedition leader and lecturer on many polar cruises and adventure companies. He has been a very active and highly respected mountaineer with outstanding climbs in Antarctica (including descents into the live volcano Mt Erebus), NZ, Peru, Irian Java, Pamirs and 21 expeditions to the Himalayas.

Amongst the very long list of extraordinary accomplishments he has ski/dog sledded across the Greenland ice cap, twice crossed South Georgia, skied across Svalbard, climbed Mt Cook 13 times, once by the Caroline Face and another time the first ascent of the East Ridge in winter. He has also ski traversed Denali in Alaska as well as climbed Karsten’s Pyramid in Irian Java.
Colin’s 21 Himalayan successes are astounding and can be seen in detail in his extraordinary bio on his web site: https://www.colinmonteath.nz/about

He is a highly acclaimed writer of articles and written many very well received and popular books, most recently “Erebus - The Ice Dragon”. Colin was awarded the New Zealand Antarctic Medal in 2025 for lifetime services to Antarctic Field Support, archival preservation, literature and photography.

Ticket sales at the door: Adults $20 - High School students $5 - Tertiary students $10
Tea and snacks afterwards and a chance to chat with Colin.

*Colin is donating his time as a contribution to the Orari River Protection Group*

Keep up to date with ORPG on Facebook Orari River Protection Group Inc

28/02/2026

Trapping continues with our volunteers heading out to clear the traps twice a month during the summer. We are looking forward to trying the new "fishy smelling" bait for our AT220 automatic traps, specifically to attract feral cats.
A big thanks to Tim Exton for the gift of some Timms traps. They and all existing ones have been pegged solidly into the ground prior to winter possum slaughter. Thanks Tony!!
Once again, a very big thanks to Community Trust of Mid & South Canterbury for their continued support, and we are getting to grips with the AI thermal camera technology that we were able to purchase with their grant. This technology will enhance our trapping skills by identifying predator movement, location, habit and numbers.
It is a privilege to be able to work in these environments, and see the benefits of our efforts.

25/11/2025

Some more trapping results!!

The other day we got a great text from one of our members who is part of a team that traps the Orari Lagoon, an important wetland site near the Orari hapua (river mouth). The group has been trapping the area for a few years now. This is what they wrote...
"Just completed the lagoon trap line and the results were 1 cat, 5 hedgehogs and 1 weasel and a growing population of royal Spoonbills. It was a nice day. I love seeing the Spoonbills, they're a good reason to keep going back. When we first saw them there were only around 10. Now they number 20-30 ish.
I wonder if the trapping is helping to increase the number of Spoonbills that can successfully breed there".

If anybody is interested in getting involved with our valuable mahi, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

18/11/2025

Orari River Annual Survey 8th November 2025
Presented by Tony Doy
(Thanks Tony)
(Also big thanks to Karen and Tim and Ken for putting out the signs around colonies later).

"The survey was carried out a week after it was originally planned. On the original planned date, 1st November, the river was running at 13 cumecs due to adverse weather conditions a week before. We aim to survey at 10 cumecs or below. The 8th was our stated postponement date and the river was down to 7. 2 cumecs.
On the 8th November 6 people met at 8.30am at SH79/Orari Bridge. There are 7 sections of the river plus the lagoon section. 16 people would’ve been ideal. (The previous week, going on email responses sent to 20 people, it was anticipated at least 14 would be surveying the river).
We worked in pairs and covered 4 sections (1 team did two sections). Burdon’s Road to SH79/Orari Bridge, SH79/Orari Bridge to Bennett Rd, Bennett Rd to SH1/ Victoria Bridge and SH1/Victoria Bridge to Factory Road Bridge.

4 colonies of Black Billed Gull/Black Fronted Tern were identified. 1 near to Thatcher road, This was the largest Gull/Tern colony found this year of 150+ nests. This was revisited 4 days later to put out signs and start monitoring but the colony had disbanded. It is believed that some Terns had relocated to join others
at a smaller colony at SH1/Orari Bridge because this colony increased in size the following week. A week later this colony was confirmed to contain around 30 nests and fledgling chicks on the east side of the bridge with a further 25 nests on the west side upstream of the bridge. 1 White Winged Black Tern was
seen at the same amongst the BFT. This was confirmed by an observer on E-Bird.
A third and fourth colony of BFT at Bennett Road and 25 BFT at Vance Road respectively.
3, maybe 4 Black Fronted Dotterel were seen between Victoria Bridge and Factory Road Bridge.
Some of the regularly seen species included Duck spp, Large Black S**g, Hawk/Harrier, Black BackedGull, Black Billed Gull, Black Fronted Tern, Paradise Shelduck, Spur Winged Plover, Kingfisher, SIPO, Heron, Pied Stilt.

A BIG THANKS to all who took part.

05/11/2025

Orari River Bird Survey is ON.
This Saturday (8th Nov) Please meet at the 8.30am at the Orari Bridge Car Park on SH79. Please bring good walking shoes/boots, sun protection, spare clothes, weatherproofs, plus lunch. All the usual stuff.
If there is no postponement notice on this FB site on Sat morning then the day will go ahead.
Your contact is : Tony Doy 027 2820106
Thanks everyone!!!!🐦😀

30/10/2025

POSTPONED.

Bird Survey 1st Nov postponed until next Sat 8th Nov.
River too high. Apologies but safety is number one.
Please keep a look out on this FB page for updates on next Saturday's plans.
Thanks everyone

21/10/2025

A massive thanks to the Community Trust of Mid & South Canterbury for their grant of $10,000.
This will be used to enhance our noxious weeding eradication and trapping programmes.
This very much appreciated funding will allow us to continue the great work out volunteers are doing to protect and enhance the environmental integrity of the river for our local and wider communities.
Without these grants many volunteer groups would find it very difficult, if not impossible, to have the necessary effect and impact to make a difference. Thanks CTMSC !!!!!!!!!

10/10/2025

Sorry, the berm planting day (6th Nov) has been postponed again by ECan, until next April.
We will let you all know when a date is arranged,

Also, please keep an eye out for updates on this site about the Orari River Annual Bird Survey Nov 1st.

Have a great summer!!!!!!

05/10/2025

Change of date for Berm Planting (native plants) with ECan and Primary school kids and ORPG volunteers.
ECan has let us know that date set for planting (with Woodbury and Carew/Peel Forest School) was October 23rd, will now be held on Thursday 6th November, aiming for a 10am start.
If the weather is bad and they need to cancel they will probably need to postpone it to Autumn as they are already pushing it quite a bit outside of the typical planting season as it will be getting a bit too hot/stressful for plants being planted!.
Meet at junction of Silverton Rd & Lloyd Rd (car park by the river at 10am.)
Bring lunch, water, appropriate clothing and planting spade. equipment.
Hope to see you there!!!

25/09/2025

Annual Orari River Bird Survey!
Our annual Orari River Bird Survey is on November 1st.
We're meeting 8.30am at the Upper Orari Bridge car park off SH79. 1461568E 5121805N - usual place and time. If you're not familiar with the river we can pair you with people who are... hopefully.
Sections are about 7km along the riverbed/fairway It takes about 1/2 a day.
Please bring:
suitable clothing (and have a spare change in the car)
sunscreen/ sunhat/beanie
binoculars and a pen
sturdy footware
food and liquid
Many of us will be leaving our vehicles to be picked up by the following team etc. Sometimes the spare keys can be useful!

Contact Tony on 027 281 0106 [email protected] if you're thinking of joining us.
Postponement date is the following weekend, Nov 8th.

23/09/2025

Volunteers WEEDING DAY Blue Mountain Station
Saturday 27th September

Meeting at Tripp Settlement Rd/ Burdon Rd intersection to carpool at 8.30am
Driving to Andrews Stream footbridge to continue by foot into Blue Mountain Station following the Orari River upstream stopping at various hot spots to look for gorse, broom and other pest plants to control.

This is a full day walking approximately 10km return on undulating farm tracks.
Please bring along lunch, hat, jacket, water bottle, glove(s), pruning saw, secateurs, loppers, first aid kit, sturdy footwear + a PLB (if you have one)
Herbicide paste will be supplied
Any questions please call Karen 022 184 9365

14/08/2025