Conference 2013
"Deep South – Dramatic and Diverse"

Pre-conference tour 4–5 April 2013
Included an overnight stay in Invercargill visiting a selection of outstanding Southland gardens:

• Gore Public Gardens (NZGT Registered Garden) and Bannerman Park (NZGT Garden of Significance) Tudor Park Gardens,
• Queens Park (NZGT Garden of National Significance), Marshwood Gardens (Invercargill),Southland Threatened Plants Garden (Otatara), Maple Glen (Wyndham).

Conference in Dunedin 6–7 April 2013
Garden visits to:

• Dunedin Chinese Garden (NZGT Garden of National Significance)
• Glenfalloch Woodland Garden (NZGT Garden of National Significance)
• Hereweka Garden (NZGT Garden of Significance)
• Larnach Castle Garden (NZGT Garden of International Significance)
• Dunedin Northern Cemetery Heritage Rose Collection
• Dunedin Botanic Garden (NZGT Garden of International Significance)
• Wylde Willow Garden (NZGT Garden of National Significance).

There was a variety of experts speaking on a wide range of topics. Speakers included:

• Denis Hughes, well-known plant breeder and owner of Blue Mountain Nurseries in Tapanui
• Yolanda van Heezik, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago: “biodiversity in the garden”
• Hamish Saxton, CEO Dunedin Tourism: “tourism industry trends – eco tourism”
• Fiona Eadie, Head Gardener, Larnach Castle: “The often forgotten and/or neglected parts of plants”
• Fiona Hyland, Editor of Heritage Roses NZ journal: “Dunedin Northern Cemetery volunteer project – snowball effect”
• Dylan Norfield, Collection Curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden and Ellerslie Flower Show judge: “What makes a garden stand out”
• Brian Rance, DOC: “Southland threatened plants garden/subantarctic plants
• Dinner speaker: Phil Bishop, Associate Professor, University of Otago Zoology Department.

Dunedin and the deep south, dramatic and diverse in plants, gardens and landscape.

RNZIH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 2013 Annual General Meeting was held at the NZGT conference venue. The 2013 RNZIH Awards were presented following the AGM.

Venue: St Margaret’s College, 333 Leith Street, Dunedin.
Date: Friday 5 April 2013.
Time: 6.00 pm.

Agenda:

1. Present
2. Apologies
3. In Memoriam
4. Minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting
5. President’s Report
6. Financial Report (Statement of Accounts 2012 and Budget for 2013)
7. Election of Officers
8. General Business
   8.1 Subscriptions
   8.2 Notable Trees
   8.3 Publications
   8.4 RNZIH NZ Gardens Trust
   – Chairman’s report
   – Nomination of Trustee(s)
   – Other business
   8.5 BGANZ-NZ Region
   8.6 RNZIH NZ Education Trust
   8.7 Branch Reports (Auckland, Canterbury Branches)
9. Awards
   9.1 Plant Raisers’ Award
   9.2 Associate of Honour.
   

BANKS MEMORIAL LECTURE (a free public lecture)
150 years of Botanic Gardens in New Zealand

By Alan Matchett

The Banks Memorial Lecture is a free lecture open to the public. It commemorates Sir Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook's first voyage to New Zealand. During a later distinguished scientific career, he was Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London.

Venue: St Margaret’s College, 333 Leith Street, Dunedin.
Date: Friday 5 April 2013.
Time: 6.45 pm.
Cost: Free.

Abstract:
Until New Zealand’s settlements were established and managed, ‘botanical reserves’ were really only the well intentioned consideration of ‘Settlement Boards’ – town planners otherwise employed by the new colony’s sponsors. Fortunately though most clearly identified botanical reserves and domains were on their proposed settlement plans. Some plans were drawn up under the direction of Settlement Boards in London and Edinburgh where they were drafted with little knowledge of the topography or understanding of the site. Others plans drafted in New Zealand at that time had only little more consideration of their siting. Most reserves and domains were drawn sited at the edge of the settlements to provide a green boundary or belt of reserve land delineating town and country. However, as we know, many of these have now been engulfed by urbanisation and expansion of our cities.

This presentation traced some of history around the early establishment of New Zealand botanic gardens, through to the 150th anniversaries of Christchurch and Dunedin Botanic Gardens this year, and highlighted challenges and significant periods of change and development.

Biography:
Alan is Team Leader – Curator of Dunedin Botanic Garden. He is also New Zealand Vice President of BGANZ-NZ (Botanic Gardens Australia & New Zealand) and has:

• Been employed at the Dunedin City Council since February 1980
• Held various management positions
• Completed an Apprenticeship with Trades Certificate
• Gained a RNZIH National Certificate of Horticulture
• Been Regional Chairman of Botanic Garden Australia & New Zealand (BGANZ-NZ) network.

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