Hamurana Springs

The Mower Man, a Legend in the Making?

Webmaster — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:55:26 +0000

(from Jerry Douglas)

Last night Cherry and I joined a small group from HSIS and friends and family to celebrate the actual 75th birthday of Bazza ( Barry Menzies) .
Bazza is the main stalwart at the springs who mows the grass in the Ynys Fraser and Travellers trees areas. To mark the occasion Cherry made up a cross stitch picture and I penned a poem to accompany it.

New History Page

Webmaster — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:04:41 +0000

From today we’re having a new page in the navigation bar.
Jerry is collecting beautiful old postcards and wants to share them with our visitors.

Trout Barrier Weir

Webmaster — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:32:53 +0000

(from Kerry)

Koaro are one of our native Galaxid freshwater fish species, often called kokopu.
They are able climbers and are one the many whitebait species. They are heavily predated by trout and were once abundant in Lake Rotorua, now only surviving in smaller tributaries away from trout.
DOC are trying to protect a small breeding population in the tributary stream by excluding trout from part of the stream, hence the trout barrier weir. Now that the weir has been installed, DOC will attempt to catch all trout upstream of the weir by “electro-fishing”. E.g. wading the stream with an electric wand and zapping the water periodically which stuns all fish temporarily, they then net the trout and move them down below the weir. Trout cant climb up over the dam, but koaro can if they need to.

The distinctive feature is the dorsal fin,
right at the back near the tail,
and the tail is small and stunted

(From Herma)
Tuesday afternoon we were walking in Hamurana Springs with our grandson and spotted what looked like a small waterfall. Since Kerry’s explanation we know it’s the trout barrier weir. Just a coincidence I had my camera with me;-)

Seats now engraved

Webmaster — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:51:40 +0000

Workday this Saturday

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:43:49 +0000

(by Cherry Douglas)

This Saturday 21^st is our next scheduled work day – 9.30am meet in carpark for normal registration and Health & Safety talk.

Tasks – continuance from last month clearing the tributary up from first foot bridge, weed spraying, weed eating and mowing Ynys Fraser Walkway – so bring your usual favourite weed busting tool, hat, gloves, etc.
Unfortunately there probably will be no fires this time until we sort out an issue with DoC unless it can be resolved before Saturday. We have no trees to plant at this time.

Lunch as usual afterwards. BYO drink and a salad and/or sweeties towards lunch is always appreciated. We thank you all for your continued support.

See you there, weather is looking good – but if in doubt as always ring John 3322767 or Cherry 3322474 by 9am

Workday 24 March 2012

Webmaster — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:29:21 +0000

(by Jerry Douglas)
Our last workday saw a big and unsightly pile of branches etc. (just over the main footbridge), burnt in a controlled burn -off.
We had on hand as a precaution a brand new Oloe-Mac fire pump ( donated to our Society), to use to douse the fire at the end of our work session.
Also the Bioswale was weeded for the first time since it was put in and although this is not in the area we normally look after we felt it needed to be done.

Lastly an area along the tributary stream was cleared and an old pool/pond type in ground area was uncovered, we will hopefully find out what it was for.

Photo Impression HERE

Coming Workday 24 March

Webmaster — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:18:57 +0000

This Saturday is our scheduled workday weather permitting of course. Mixed messages about the weather report. If in doubt, ring either John Rainbow 3322767 or Cherry Douglas 3322474 – we should have made a decision by 9am if we continue.
Meet at car park at 9.30am for Health & Safety talk.

We will hopefully be set up to start burning the piles of rubbish, 1^st up will be the pile on the concrete pad.
We have our own pump now, so we are not reliant on borrowed equipment. Jerry has met with the DoC Fire man and he is happy with what we have put in place and ready to issue permits for whenever we want them.
So!! For all you pyromaniacs we are back to what you all love doing best – hopefully the pile isn’t too wet to burn.
Spraying of blackberry & robinias under the guidance of our ticketed personnel.
Clearance of the tributary stream

That should keep us going. Lunch afterwards as always
Kind regards,
Cherry

American Tourists plant Travellers Trees

Webmaster — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 07:45:17 +0000

We had a group of American tourists at the springs this morning and they planted a Totara and a Pohutukawa in the Travellers Trees area.
Jerry

Complete Photo Series under Travellers Trees!

Request to All

Webmaster — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:02:15 +0000

from Jerry Douglas:

Has anyone got any memorabilia of or about the Hamurana Springs that could be donated to our Society?
If so please contact me at email:
jerry.douglas@xtra.co.nz

Thanks

Workday 25th February

Webmaster — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:07:43 +0000

Every morning we enjoy our walk in the Hamuarana Springs Reserve, together with our border collie Tim. Yesterday I brought my camera, as the first 2012 workday was in full swing.
And it certainly was!! HSIS volunteers everywhere… we didn’t walk all the tracks, but I took photos on ours.
You’ll find my photo selection under the Work Days tab, direct link HERE.
This morning we very much enjoyed the results of cleaning the forest track, great work!!