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Chairman's Comments (November 1999)
We can only say sorry to those who were unable to register for the Wellington Conference 'New Zealand Plants and Their Story' October 1999. The conference was sold out 2 weeks prior to opening.

Mike Oates and his Wellington Branch team presented a stunning array of topics based on NZ plants. The speakers were drawn from a cross section of NZ specialists from plant raising through to the designer use of native plants. The most notable speakers were those whose enthusiasm for their subject riveted the attention of capacity audiences for each session. Most outstanding of these enthusiasts was Rob Lucas of the Open Polytechnic whose knowledge and photography of NZ plants provided one of the most stimulating Banks Memorial Lectures. This Banks Memorial Lecture is given in honour of Sir Joseph Banks the world famous plant collector and is the centrepiece of the RNZIH Conference each year.

Wellington is a superb venue for horticultural conferences. The Wellington Botanic Gardens and the Otari-Wilton Bush Plant Reserve have facilities and landscape features that provide memorable visits and retain lasting interest for visitors. This years conference coincided with 'Tulip Sunday' and the opening of the new Otari-Wilton Bush Interpretive Centre. The centre is a great example of architectural sensitivity to the bush clad surroundings. It is very sheltered and accessible to all. Another feature of the conference weekend was the superb weather which enhanced Wellington as a wonderful city prepared to take all event opportunities.

The business side of the conference was the 77th Annual General Meeting. This was a lively affair with the usual persistent question of 'Where are WE going ?' It is a commonly asked question at other environmental profession's AGMs throughout the country. Our Newsletter has regularly reported on progress this year based on the paper 'Towards 2000'. That paper was adopted by the Auckland Conference AGM 1998, was circulated in the AGM Minutes of 1998 and was published in the Newsletter. It spelt out the range of affordable opportunities for the RNZIH. Ask any economist for a long term plan. You are very unlikely to get one. The world in 2000 is going to be an uncertain place. However it will have great appeal for the alert to grasp the many opportunities.

To take advantage of those opportunities there does have to be a financial base from which to operate. We now have that. The 'WE' Factor should come from full membership support and involvement. Those members who feel WE should do more should really look at what 'I' can do as a member to promote the RNZIH and horticulture in NZ. There is no paid Chief Executive Officer any more, therefore such support would uplift the spirits and encourage the few who do the work.

The question for the RNZIH in 2000 should be — are we open-minded and receptive enough to take those opportunities as they emerge?
    
Progress during 1999:

1. Financial stability was achieved in 1999.
   
   
2. Our Lincoln Office now has up to date technology in place. The Lincoln office email is office@rnzih.org.nz. Feel free to contact the Institute this way.
   
   
3. Our office has archived important documents and has cleared 77 years of accumulated unnecessary papers. David Shillito and Enid Reeves spent many days of their time doing this work.
   
   
4. Enid Reeves took an opportunity offered to print the Alpine Society Journal regularly. This is now in its second year and is paid work.
   
   
5. The Hebe Checklist has been edited by Enid Reeves firstly to make it into an acceptable format suited to modern publishing techniques. This was a mammoth task. Ask anyone knowing the technological formatting process. The second editing by Peter Heenan has been completed and now Lawrie Metcalf is completing the final edit. Mike Oates has kindly offered to assemble the work for publishing. There are orders waiting to be filled.
   
   
6. Progress has been made towards the revival of a modest journal. An announcement will be made early in the New Year.
   
   
7. A Garden Registration Scheme was approved by the Executive and endorsed by the AGM. This is being piloted by a team including Jayson Kelly who has been co-opted on to the National Executive specifically for this purpose as well as to assist with general business. Jayson is a very skilled horticulturist proven by his awards such as the NDH(Hons) 1995, David Tannock Memorial Prize 1992, DD Baker Award 1993, Margaret Watling Scholarship 1993, Cockayne Medal 1995. Jayson is a young man with initiative who has seen the benefits and opportunities of being a member of the RNZIH. See Plant and Garden News page for an article written by Jayson on the proposed Garden Registration Scheme.
   
   We are grasping opportunities without rhetoric and are moving forward. This is the spirit needed for the new millennium.
   
   Please accept best wishes for a Happy Xmas and a fruitful New Year.
   
   Ron Flook
   Chairman.

Millennium Projects
President John Taylor has been chairing a committee for establishing a Sister Cities Garden Park in Halswell, Christchurch. The site at Halswell is approximately twice the size of the present Christchurch Botanic Garden. The project has has the full support of six Sister Cities and Christchurch City Council. The initial funding of $NZ250,000 has come from the Millennium Grants Board. This is an exciting project for the status of horticulture in New Zealand and a major event for the Millennium Celebrations in Christchurch.


Information
We would welcome any news items or even perhaps starting a plant and ideas swap section to which Branch Committees and members may feel they would like to contribute. All horticulturists have views and ideas drawn from experience. They would make interesting reading. These can be relayed to:

Right of refusing entry to gardens open to the public
The following is an extract from a letter received from the Human Rights Commissioner regarding the right of refusing children entry to gardens open to the public:

As one of its functions the Commission can form opinions on whether complaints made to it constitute unlawful discrimination under the Act. However, it cannot express opinions on hypothetical situations or give advance opinions. The reason for this is the Commission must undertake an investigation impartially and with an open mind. Having said that, I can, however, direct you to the provisions of the Act that appear particularly relevant to your inquiry and make a comment on them.

The Human Rights Act 1993 makes it unlawful to discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against a person on the grounds of their in the provision of goods and services to the public. Protection against discrimination begins at age 16 with no upper age limit. It should also be noted that it is unlawful to discriminate on the ground of family status.
Section 21(1)(1) defines family status as follows:

(i) Having the responsibility for part-time care or full-time care of children or other dependants, or

(ii) Having no responsibility for the care of children or other dependants: or

(iii) Being married to, or being in a relationship in the nature of a marriage with, a particular person; or

(iv) Being a relative of a particular person:

Therefore, it would be a prima facie breach of the Act if a parent who has the part-time or full-time care of children is refused entry to the garden because they are accompanied by their children. Responsibility, however, does not just mean allowing them in but that the parent has oversight of their children's behaviour. The parents may be responsible for any damage incurred therein. We have sympathy with the position of people who open their gardens to the public. A distinction can be made between accompanied and unaccompanied children. It may be possible to refuse entry to an unaccompanied child under the age of 16 years as they are not protected from the age discrimination provisions".

Historic Heritage Management Review
An extract from letter sent to D.O.C. by RNZIH
'We would like to emphasise the following three issues:

1. Agency Links
We firmly believe in the principles, aims and objectives of the RMA 1991. The RMA provides the statutory framework but the agency parts are loose and they rattle. Linking these agencies is in our view essential.

2. Vegetative Cover
The omission of any reference to vegetation we regard as serious. Vegetative cover, whether in scale from trees to grass, is a fundamental attribute of any New Zealand historic and cultural heritage. This is the case in New Zealand, not so in Europe. Trees of stature (usually bigger than most monuments) or with historic or cultural associations are of importance. The RNZIH Notable Trees NZ has a published register or over 2500 notable trees. Tree and vegetative cover in association with natural systems, human use and landscape are of particular importance to all New Zealanders. We ask that trees and vegetation are specified for inclusion, with matters of natural, historic and cultural heritage in the issues under review.

3. Putting the Case
It has been our experience that the RMA has one major flaw. Local communities are unable to grasp the principle of their rights or able to fund their objections. The RMA should enable communities to make decisions about their own environment. Developers hire expert witnesses and can present a barrage of expensive opinion in public at a planning hearing.

We suggest
a) That seminar type educational programmes be implemented particularly in provincial towns and in rural communities which are most vulnerable.

b) That proposers and objectors exchange evidence prior to a planning hearing. Often this becomes a form self-organising mediation.

c) That failing this form of mediation then local communities can enlist funding similar to legal aid but with particular conditions. This would filter out frivolous objections and provide parity for objectors with proposers.

Early Childhood Education
A request was made by the RNZIH for a list of poisonous plants as applicable to the Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1990, Clause 26 (q) Safety and hygiene. This list is on Poisonous Plants.

Note: we do need speed to make submissions in time. We therefore ask you to keep us informed or contact any of the Institute's Executive or Branches. It may help if we could volunteers to offer themselves as contacts for quick consultations. Please feel free to refer to the Chairperson, Ron Flook at any time. It is important we take part where it affects horticulture in any way.

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