Sally and her husband Tim have an 89ha block of flat and rolling hills on Bay Paddock Road, Kaikoura. The block contains many nooks and crannies of natives which the Blunts protect, care for and maintain with pride and through many hours of hard work. The property contains 6 QEII covenant areas, approved in November 2006 and currently being progressed to full registration (9.9ha in total).

As noted in an application form for funding (to Kaikoura District Councils (KDC) Biodiversity Contestable Fund on behalf of the Blunts, by the QEII rep) –

The pest and weed control will be ongoing and will be undertaken primarily by the landowners at their own expense. Sally and Tim have already put considerable time and effort into weed control over the entire property.’

‘Ecologically threatening weeds include Old Mans Beard, wandering Willie, barberry, hawthorn, blackberry and gorse (though gorse will be retained to act as a nurse in some cases). QEII has allocated funds to purchase herbicides – these will be used by the owners primarily to deal with Old Mans Beard, barberry, wandering Willie and hawthorn.’

‘Whilst predominantly secondary forest, the 6 blocks each contain a distinctive suite of species, including 4 podocarps and several species of special interest. Such is the high level of development in Kaikoura plains, these remnants are now among the best and most representative of their type remaining in the Kowhai Ecological District’.

Although the covenanting and managing their blocks is a team effort for the Blunts on this property, Sally is the ‘Weedbuster’ of the pair. She has been busting weeds from the first day they brought the property 9 years ago and is hugely passionate about destroying ‘the little blighters’ and retaining the ecological vista that is their home.

As Biodiversity Officer for KDC, I went on a walk with the Blunts and the QEII rep over the then potential covenant sites a while ago now – its was plainly obvious that Sally has a huge amount of drive and passion along with an ‘encyclopaedia like’ knowledge of her flora, her surrounding environment and of the nasties that threaten their piece of paradise. Listening to her, it became evident that she spends hour upon hour, particularly in the creek areas, dealing to wandering willie, woolly clematis and other bits and pieces that have made their way into the system from further above. I was very impressed with her determination and energy to keep them all at bay. It is obvious that her goals are very much in line with what is expected of a QEII Covenanter; to keep special areas as weed and pest free as possible in order to allow the native to thrive in its natural state.

I have included an insert from an email from Sally to give you an idea of her determination and drive -

"Discovered another bloody clematis today down in the fenced off area which am attacking with vigilant! My weeding prowess has been slightly limited by a strained muscle in the hip area but as soon as that is O.K. again I plan to do the last bits of wandering willie up the creek. I go right up to the road and last year there was a monstrous bit just above the main culvert dropping its bits merrily down our creek. Gave it a good pawing and hope that will improve things down the creek!"

With regards to relationships and partnerships that assist the project -

Sally & Tim have obviously formed very meaningful relationships’ with both QEII Trust and the KDC and they are a pleasure to deal with – they have a quietly infectious enthusiasm and are very gracious to any assistance that may come their way. Their QEII rep has made two successful funding applications on their behalf to both the Condition Fund and the KDC Biodiversity Contestable Fund; enabling them to undertake fencing of the 6 covenant areas over a staged timeframe and weed control within those areas.

In conclusion, Kaikoura District Council feel Sally is a very worthy nominee for the 2008 Weedbuster awards as we hope you will agree from the material before you.

Nominated by: Jodie Denton, Kaikoura District Council