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Source: ONE News -
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At a time when the government is considering opening up more conservation land to mineral exploration, Rio Tinto is giving some back.
The international mining giant is backing a conservation project aimed at helping the westland petrel.
Volunteers from 23 countries have been working on the land near Punakaiki on the West Coast over the last year in a bid to ensure the survival of one of New Zealand's rare birds.
"It's just amazing to see the start of 100,000 plants being planted on this rehabilitated site," says Ryan Cavanagh from Rio Tinto.
The 80 hectares of land was once a mining site but now the company is giving it back to the community. It is an important location because when the birds come in from the sea they fly up to their burrows in the valley and the land creates an important buffer.
The extra land provides a bush corridor and safeguards their colony - the only breeding site for the westland petrel in the world.
The petrel is a rare bird, and children at Barrytown School know all about. Back in 1945 students helped establish the westland petrel as a subspecies and the school has taken an interest in the bird ever since.
It was fitting that the young enthusiasts were there when the land was formally handed over.
"It's a model partnership in a sense between corporate, government and community," says Dave Sharp from Conservation Volunteers.
Cavanagh says it has been great to see the project get some traction.
