Buller Conservation Group

Date: 25 Jan 2008

From: Native Forest Action oral history project

By: McNamara, Patrick John, 1955-

Reference: OHInt-0966-06

Description: Interview with Pat (Patrick) McNamara, born in Whangarei in 1955. Talks about growing up in Whangarei in a poor but happy Catholic family where he gained a sense of social justice. Discusses leaving catholicism, travelling overseas and finding he did not fit in any more with his friends when he returned. Comments on his connection with forest and land, his shock at finding forest cleared for farms, and gradually becoming an activist. Refers to the demonstration in Whangarei during the 1981 Springbok tour. Discusses searching for an alternative lifestyle and his transient life, moving to Buller and settling in Denniston. Describes the formation of the Buller Conservation Group (BCG) and the dependence of the West Coast on extractive industries. Mentions the main aims of the Group were creation of Paparoa National Park and stopping native logging on crown land. Talks about forest devastation by the Forest Service and the local attitude to logging. Discusses the need for public education, raising debate in the newspaper, and persuading many Buller residents to support Paparoa National Park. Describes how Guy Salmon from the Native Forest Action Council (NFAC) and Forest and Bird ended up creating the West Coast Accord with local mayors and government, a move that was considered "a sellout" by other environmental activists. Discusses how the forest campaign was restarted in 1996 with planning for the Charleston occupation by Nicky Hager and others, visiting the forest with Terry Sumner and later with a Native Forest Action (NFA) group. Talks about the start of the occupation in February 1997, setting up camps at night, logistics, and communications using radio. Refers to tree climbing, building platforms in trees, but only using them when visitors were coming. Describes day to day life of the occupation, visits by politicians, the enthusiasm of younger protesters, and the experienced older campaigners. Refers to activists being arrested, Timberlands stating it would stop logging "until the government sorted it out", but just moving their operations up the gorge. Mentions activists being arrested when they went to check out the new logging area. Discusses incidents with helicopters, hostile actions by Westport police, and the media interest whenever protesters were arrested. Comments that he was able to participate because his wife worked, but reflects on the difficulty of being part of the Westport community and a protester. Mentions the NFA celebration in Charleston in 2002, and the hostile actions of locals who tried to disrupt it. Reflects on how he had trouble finding work in Westport for a time because of his environmental activism. Interviewer(s) - Mary-Lou Harris Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-001046 Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 1 Electronic document(s) (abstract). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 digital photograph(s). 1 interview(s). 2.04 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001047, OHA-7265. Search dates: 1955 - 2008

Date: 29 Jan 2008

From: Native Forest Action oral history project

By: Sumner, Terence George, 1946-

Reference: OHInt-0966-09

Description: Interview with Terry (Terence) Sumner, born in Colne, Lancashire in 1946. Talks about growing up in England, studying English literature at Newcastle University, training as a teacher, and emigrating to New Zealand in 1972. Compares teaching in England and New Zealand, and comments on the size of New Zealand children. Talks about moving to Denniston in 1979 which he compares to the Yorkshire moors in its "working class ambience". Discusses the formation of the Buller Conservation Group (BCG) with the primary goal to end logging on the West Coast. Refers to it splitting from the Native Forest Action Council (NFAC) and compares NFAC with Native Forest Action (NFA). Comments that he was very impressed by the NFA culture of democracy and consensus. Mentions the first meeting of NFA members at Pat McNamara's house in spring 1996. Discusses the Charleston occupation, a media day, tree sitting, and police actions. Comments that he was not involved with the occupation at the start because of childcare commitments. Mentions that many NFA members were not experienced in the bush, and there was a disagreement over killing possums. Talks about the campsites, food and water. Refers to a helicopter flare incident in the Heaphy mine area, and a message from Wellington NFA to not do it again. Talks about an NFA direct action at the logging helicopter landing site, and describes fleeing thrugh the bush to avoid arrest. Refers to not being very involved with NFA after the Charleston occupation. Comments on the Easter celebration at Charleston [in 2002] and the hostile reaction of one local. Reflects that "greenies" who lived on the West Coast were tolerated by "coasters" if they were honest and involved in the local community. Interviewer(s) - Mary-Lou Harris Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-001052 Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 2 Electronic document(s) (abstract, form). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 digital photograph(s). 1 interview(s). 1.02 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001053, OHA-7268. Search dates: 1946 - 2008

Date: 1980s

By: Buller Conservation Group

Reference: PAColl-6206

Description: Photographs generated by a competition held in 1983 by the Buller Conservation Group to document the burnoff of native forest in the Buller by the New Zealand Forest Service, to clear land for commercial plantations. Quantity: 8 b&w original photographic print(s). 11 colour original photographic print(s) colour original photographic print(s).

Date: November 1999

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

Reference: 35mm-123414

Description: Photographs documenting demonstrations held during the opening of the Otira Valley Viaduct taken by Peter Lusk in November 1999. Title supplied by Library. Frame numbers: 1 Arrangement: Originally in a plastic sleeve. Quantity: 1 colour original negative(s). Transfers: Prints delivered at the same time are held at PAColl-10872.. Processing information: Negative originally enclosed in a plastic sleeve was rehoused in acid-free archival enclosure. Photographer information updated following information from staff member, May 2024.

Date: November 1999

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

Reference: 35mm-123415

Description: Photographs documenting demonstrations held during the opening of the Otira Valley Viaduct taken by Peter Lusk in November 1999. Title supplied by Library. Frame numbers: 2-5 Arrangement: Originally in a plastic sleeve. Quantity: 1 colour original negative(s). Transfers: Prints delivered at the same time are held at PAColl-10872.. Processing information: Negative originally enclosed in a plastic sleeve was rehoused in acid-free archival enclosure. Photographer information updated following information from staff member, May 2024.

Date: November 1999

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

Reference: 35mm-123416

Description: Photographs documenting demonstrations held during the opening of the Otira Valley Viaduct taken by Peter Lusk in November 1999. Title supplied by Library. Frame numbers: 6-9 Arrangement: Originally in a plastic sleeve. Quantity: 1 colour original negative(s). Transfers: Prints delivered at the same time are held at PAColl-10872.. Processing information: Negative originally enclosed in a plastic sleeve was rehoused in acid-free archival enclosure. Photographer information updated following information from staff member, May 2024.

Date: November 1999

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

Reference: 35mm-123417

Description: Photographs documenting demonstrations held during the opening of the Otira Valley Viaduct taken by Peter Lusk in November 1999. Title supplied by Library. Frame numbers: 10-13 Arrangement: Originally in a plastic sleeve. Quantity: 1 colour original negative(s). Transfers: Prints delivered at the same time are held at PAColl-10872.. Processing information: Negative originally enclosed in a plastic sleeve was rehoused in acid-free archival enclosure. Photographer information updated following information from staff member, May 2024.

Date: 1974-1999

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

Reference: PAColl-10872

Description: Comprises 12 photographic prints taken during the opening celebrations of the Otira Valley viaduct and counter protest that occurred on 6 November 1999, and 1 photographic print of the "Long March" protest campsite taken in Mildura, Australia in May 1974, by Peter Lusk. The donor has written captions on the reverse of the prints. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 box(es) contains 13 photographic prints. Transfers: Negatives held at 35mm-123414 to 35mm-123417.. Processing information: Photographer information updated following information from staff member, May 2024.