Steve Chadwick

Conference Opening

“Stimulating – enjoyable – progressive – reflective”

We were honoured to have the conference opened with a traditional powhiri as a ceremony of welcome conducted by the Te Puru o Tamaki Culture Group.  It provided insight into the Maori culture for the many delegates from outside of New Zealand.  

A number of comments were received through the feedback process commenting on the use of the Maori language and length of the ceremony.  In response to these comments, and for those wishing to know more about the powhiri and significance of using the Maori language, Rob Small, a Trustee of Parks Forum, has provided a written piece about this, which you can read through following this link. 

Woven into the powhiri and welcome ceremony was:

• a welcome by Cr Mike Lee (Auckland Regional Council),
• a tribute by Hugh Logan (Parks Forum Trustee) to our patron Sir Edmund Hillary, and
• a launch of the Value of Parks publication by the Minister of Conservation, Hon. Steve Chadwick (read speech here). 

Furthermore, Lance Vervoort, Chair of the Networking & Conferencing Standing Committee (General Manager Parks, Auckland Regional Council) introduced the message stick into the proceedings.  The message stick is a legacy from the 2007 Parks and Protected Areas Forum and was originally gifted by Richard Wilkes, an elder of the Noongar people of Fremantle, Western Australia. It carries the words and story of each of the conference presenters from the PPA Forum, and again, was passed through the hands of speakers at the A World without Parks? conference.

Delegates

David Wratt

Al Morrison

Our Changing World

“Excellent, stimulating, relevant”

“I appreciated the diversity of speakers”

Kelvyn Eglinton (previous Strategy Director at ARPASS) facilitated the conference proceedings. The first theme covered was Our Changing World – providing insight into a number of issues emerging in our rapidly changing world – what is changing and how we can respond.  Addressing this theme was:

• Carol Sheedy (Director General, External Relations and Visitor Experience, Parks Canada), providing a case study of Parks Canada and what they have learnt about engaging the hearts and minds of Canadians in a changing demographic landscape;

• Dr David Wratt (Principal Scientist, NZ National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research), reminding us of the existing and projected changes in climate, the potential impacts to parks and the implications, opportunities and responsibilities for park managers; and

• Al Morrison (Director General, Department of Conservation NZ), exploring challenges and opportunities in selling long-term environmental, social and economic strategies in a short-term political world.

Jennifer Marohasy

Steve Coleman

Irrelevant, nice to have, or the key to the world's future?

Most beneficial aspect? “The challenges presented by speakers who do not conform to the parks mindset but challenged their relevance in today’s environment and today’s communities”

The next conference session had a range of speakers with different backgrounds and outlooks who responded to the question: ‘Are parks irrelevant, nice to have, or the key to the world’s future?’.  

The presentations explored a number of areas:

• Parks versus food and fibre production (by Jennifer Marohasy, Senior Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs);
• Urban parks: key to the world’s future (a presentation by Steve Coleman, Executive Director, Washington Parks and People);
• Park values – how well are they understood (by Dr David Cochrane, Partner Economic Advisory Group, Ernst & Young; and
• A world without parks? It makes you sick to think about it (by Assoc Prof Mardie Townsend, Associate Head of School, Health and Social Development at Deakin University).
  

In the afternoon tea that followed, delegates had the opportunity to grab a piece of fruit and take a wander around the harbour and viaduct area for a Healthy Parks Healthy People break.  Brendon Ward of NZRA led the walk and provided a bit of a tour along the way.

Sorrell Wilby

Mark Stone

The panel

2033 - A Park Odyssey: Hypothetical

“The hypothetical was a very good idea – the highlight for me”

Imaginations ran wild in the final session for the day ‘2033 – A Park Odyssey’, where a number of hypothetical situations were put forward – then explored – focussing on future scenarios for our society and the impact on parks. 

Facilitated by Sorrell Wilby, an adventurer, author, television presenter and Chair of The Australian Geographic Society, this interactive session offered a humorous take on some serious issues, leaving delegates with a sense of the real challenges that lie ahead, and some potential solutions to the ethical and environmental dilemmas those challenges may bring.

A selected panel of eight were issued with characters before responding to the scenarios.  The panel included:

• Mark Stone, playing the role of Australia’s Parks Leader;
• Al Morrison, policy maker for NZ Parks;
• Mark Camley, the head of UK Parks;
• David Cochrane, representing the commercial interests of the day;
• Mardie Townsend, representing the Health Industry;
• Kelvyn Eglinton, representing the Recreation Sector;
• Penny Figgis, an ardent conservationist; and
• Jennifer Marohasy, offering some alternative views.

Welcome Function (above x2)

Welcome Function

“Highlight? Networking with a wide range of people involved in land management and conservation”

This first day of the conference concluded with a welcome reception hosted by Auckland City Council, where Councillor Moyle launched the open space framework for Auckland “Our Collective Taonga: Places for People, Places for Nature”.  

The welcome reception gave delegates, speakers and Young Leader participants an opportunity to network and socialise outside of the conference environment.

Tawharanui Open Sanctuary (ARC)

Motutapu (DoC)

Otuataua (Volcanic Cones Trip - Manukau & Auckland City Councils, Cornwall Parks)

Young Leaders Forum (above x4)

Young Leaders Forum

“Great to be with a group of likeminded people. Good to interact with park leaders, great to think some people (higher up the food chain!) are listening!”

A Young Leaders Forum was held concurrently to the field trips. Co-hosted by Parks Forum and NZRA, & supported by IUCN WCPA, Hudson, Department of Conservation and Auckland Regional Council, this well-attended Forum brought together aspiring young professionals in the parks, recreation & protected area sector, building leadership capacity for future parks management and leadership.

After a presentation by Steve Coleman, the Young Leaders discussed a range of park management issues, following a ‘World Cafe’ format which was facilitated by Michael Berger, DoC. Conversations were based around questions such as: How do we get the right balance between parks usage and conservation?; How do you get people to care more about parks and be more engaged with conservation in an ever increasingly urbanised and media-centric world?; How do you collaborate with multiple agencies – potentially across different functions – to get things done?

A number of established leaders in the parks industry joined in for the afternoon session, becoming engaged in the process.   

Five representatives from the group presented a summary of the discussions to the wider conference audience on Thursday 22 May.  The presentation can be viewed here.

The following day, a field trip was arranged for the Young Leaders, to get out and take part in learning about the environmental education programs at Auckland Regional Council’s Arataki Visitor Centre, using the Bush Camp – 1883 program as a case-study.

Conference dinner (above x2)

Conference Dinner

“Excellent conference dinner”

The conference venue was transformed to a plant-filled haven for the formal dinner on Wednesday 21 May, celebrating a world with parks. 

In this lush green setting, conference delegates had a chance to socialise and network with their newly met colleagues from around the world. 

Sorrell Wilby kept delegates entertained in her after-dinner speech on some of her life experiences, under the banner of “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

Michael Looker

Peter Lee

Russell Watkinson

Dermot Smyth, Denis Rose, Chrissy Grant, Bruce Rose, Chels Marshall (L to R)

Emerging models of parks management

Most beneficial aspect? “Practical solutions I can implement on my return to work. 'Quick wins'”

The third and final day of the formal conference proceedings started out with a look into various emerging models of parks management, what is out there, why these alternative models are coming forward, and what they can achieve. 

Under this banner, Dr Michael Looker (Director – Australia Program, the Nature Conservancy) spoke about working across boundaries, focussing on achieving tangible and lasting conservation outcomes through partnerships. 

Peter Lee (Chair of Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi) provided inspiration about what can be achieved in community-driven conservation and the benefits that can be derived for the public/government communities. 

Russell Watkinson (Director, ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services) encouraged delegates to move beyond a traditional view of segregating urban parks and “natural parks” to instead view them as part of an integrated parks system, with holistic management, which will assist in dealing with the emerging challenges and pressures facing parks to ensure their sustainability. 

The session concluded with an engaging joint presentation about Indigenous Protected Areas in Australia – their development, achievements, challenges and future directions. The presentation was given by:

• Dermot Smyth, Member of the Indigenous Protected Area Advisory Group (IPAAG);
• Chrissy Grant, Chair of IPAAG;
• Denis Rose, Member of IPAAG & Executive Officer of Windamara Aboriginal Corporation;
• Chels Marshall, Gumbaynggirr Traditional Owner involved with the development of an IPA at Nambucca Heads; and
• Bruce Rose, Director, Indigenous Land Management, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Kara Puketapu

Mark Camley

Sandra Coney

Basil Sharp

Influencing & changing the agenda

“Tremendous source of up-to-date information/experience in the park industry from around the globe”

The next conference session presented a selection of speakers from both within and external to the parks sector, offering insight and advice to delegates about ‘influencing and changing the agenda.  The presentations covered a number of case studies:

• ‘Te Kohanga Reo’ – where Kara Puketapu (CEO  Te Runanganui O Taranaki Whanui Ki Te Upoko O Te Ika A Maui Inc) spoke about the many significant milestones in the journey of the Maori people since the late 70s. As one person commented in their feedback, “Kara’s talk showed what ‘people power’ and personal responsibility can achieve”;

• ‘Changing the Agenda, Winning Influence’ – where noteable lessons were passed on by Mark Camley (CEO Royal Parks)  gained through his experience in influencing significant change in the Royal Parks in England;

• ‘Democratising Parks’ – with Cr Sandra Coney (Chair, Parks and Heritage Committee) drawing on her background in social movements and public health to espouse ways to ensure our parks are valued by our diverse and rapidly changing populations; and

• ‘Influencing the Purse Holders: The Role of Economics’ – with Basil Sharp (Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department, Auckland University) outlining the suite of valuation tools and techniques available to park managers that can be utilised to assist decision makers.

The Young Leaders Forum representatives, as described earlier, also presented in this section.

Industry Agenda Workshop (below x3)

Industry Agenda Workshop 

“Stimulating, future focused on the agenda for parks!”

Having discussed ways to 'influence the agenda', delegates collaborated and applied themselves to a workshop session contributing to the creation of the first Parks Industry Agenda.  This industry agenda will provide Parks Forum - along with its industry partners and members - the knowledge and the agenda it needs to speak for and support the industry in the years to come. It will provide members with a broad industry consensus that can be used to inform direction on those issues that are particular to their own governing bodies.

The workshop, led by Dr Digby Whyte (Manager, Manukau Parks / Director, Parks Forum), saw delegates identifying and prioritising the issues, and developing strategies to address these challenges.

“Great opportunity to meet counterparts and colleagues from other park organisations, to listen to some thought-provoking presentations and engage in discussions on emerging thoughts”

Conference delegates will receive a summary of the outcomes of the Industry Agenda Workshop and Parks Forum will publish the industry agenda later this year.

Panel Discussion-Ngarimu Blair, Kelvyn Eglinton,Peter Mooney, Stuart Hughes, Carol Sheedy (LtoR)

Keith Twyford, Lance Vervoort, Neil McCarthy, Jim Sharp (LtoR)

Neil McCarthy

Conference closing session

“Very inspiring – reminded me of why we do what we do”

As the conference drew to a finish, a panel session was held with a cross-section of people to pick up on some of the key themes from the conference. 

Panel participants included: Carol Sheedy (Parks Canada), Rob Small (Parks Forum Trustee), Ngarimu Blair (Ngati Whatua o Orakei), Stuart Hughes (Young Leader Representative/ Parks Victoria), and Peter Mooney (Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service).  

Following the panel, the message stick was handed over to Keith Twyford as a representative of QLD Parks and Wildlife Service, Environment Protection Agency, to carry forth the messages to the Australian Protected Areas Congress 08 in Queensland, November 2008. It represents our industry’s commitment to ensuring continuity between these important events, keeping the key messages alive. 

Neil McCarthy (Chair, Parks Forum / General Manager Parks & Marine, Parks Victoria) closed the conference with some final words of recognition and thanks to all involved.  He left the delegates with a pertinent reminder to all:

“Now is the time to work together, like the industry has never worked together before – this is what Parks Forum is about.”

Neil McCarthy