2010 residency location information
The residency
Successful artists can choose from one of the offered residency sites in iconic locations around New Zealand. Accommodation is offered free by the Department of Conservation for the duration of the residency. Facilities range from individual accommodation to shared lodging with DOC staff and volunteers. Please refer to Locations and facilities for details of facilities and requirements.
DOC staff will provide an orientation period at the start of the residency, and local staff will be able to provide some level of support as well as emergency assistance if necessary.
Locations and facilities
Kauaeranga Valley
Coromandel Peninsula - Kauaeranga Valley
Background
The Kauaeranga Valley is rich in history – an early and important route for iwi travelling between the east and west coasts of the Coromandel peninsular, kauri loggers and miners. It is valued today for recreation opportunities and its biodiversity. Located inside the Coromandel Forest park, this location is an ideal base for an artist to explore the Kauaeranga Valley.
Available Dates
Available year-round
Accommodation
Shared accommodation in the volunteer house; your own bedroom most of the time, depends on staff numbers. 500m to the DOC Visitor Centre and 100m to the DOC Field Depot. The Pinnacles Hut which is a 9km drive to the road-end and then a further 3hrs walk is also available. The volunteer house has heating, cooking, lighting and washing facilities.
Transport and Amenities
Own transport is strongly recommended. The closest shopping and banking services are available in Thames, 14km/20mins drive away.
Communication
Both the DOC Visitor Centre and Field Depot have phone lines. The Pinnacles Hut has radio reception and cell phone reception. But there is no landline or cell phone reception, or internet in the accommodation in the Kauaeranga Valley.
Contact
Joy Mickelson, Hauraki Area Office +64 7 867 9180
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Bay Of Plenty - Rotorua Lakes
Rotorua Lakes
Background
The 1886 eruption, which killed 153 people and raised the lake surface by 12 metres, shaped the Tarawera landscape. The lake drains eastward through the Tarawera River, over spectacular falls. This residency location provides a focus on New Zealand’s geothermal activity – Mt Tarawera, the calderas of Rotorua Lakes, bubbling mud and geysers at Te Kopia and Waiotapu Scenic Reserves, hot pools and water at Waimangu and the wonderful mountains Maungakakaramea and Ongaonga.
Available Dates
Feb/March 2010
Accommodation
A small house at Lake Tarawera. The accommodation has heating, cooking, lighting and washing facilities.
Transport and Amenities
Own transport essential. Artist will have use of a Departmental vehicle for visits to remote geothermal locations such as Waiotapu, Te Kopia and Rainbow Mountain during normal office hours. Travel to and from Area office will need own vehicle.
Full banking and shopping services are available in Rotorua.
Communication
There is a café at the bottom of the hill (1km) with a phone line and internet. There is no cellphone reception or internet connection at the location.
Contact
Nicola Douglas, Rotorua Lakes Area Office +64 7 349 8217
Other information
Artists are asked to meet and talk to Tuhourangi who are the local iwi of the Tarawera Area and also with Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa in regard to the Te Kopia Area. The local DOC staff have very good relationships with these iwi. Contact details for both iwi will be provided to Artists on arrival.
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Canterbury - O Tu Wharekai / Ashburton Lakes
O Tu Wharekai/Ashburton Lakes
Background
Within the Hakatere Conservation Area, Ashburton Lakes is an Arawai Kakariki site – part of a national wetland restoration project. The area has been described as: ‘The overall character is one of space, remoteness and grandeur in an alpine setting of snow and ice, glacier and lakes, interspersed with remnants of upland forest, tussock grassland and several major wetlands.’
Available Dates
September to May, excluding holiday periods
Accommodation
Probably a private bach at Lake Clearwater. Alternatively at a holiday park at Mt Somers 20mins away. Baches at Lake Clearwater have solar or generated power. There is access to laundry facilities at Mt Somers.
Transport and Amenities
O Tu Wharekai/Ashburton Lakes
Own transport is essential. There is a dairy and fuel at Mt Somers and full services in Ashburton which is 40 minutes away.
Communication
A DOC radio will be provided. There is no cellphone coverage on site but there is at Mt Somers
Contact
Wendy Sullivan, Raukapuka Area Office +64 3 693 1013
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Central Otago - Bannockburn
Background
Bannockburn
Creative possibilities can be explored against the backdrop of the beautiful Pisa, Old Woman and Dunstan ranges, where the landscape was harshly sculpted by miners of a bygone era. Remnants of its goldmining past are still accessible, and the land is now being shaped by the development of viticulture and changing farming practices.
Available Dates
October to April
Accommodation
Accommodation is in the historic Bannockburn Post Office. Artist would have own bedroom although may be sharing the building with other DOC staff. The Post Office building has full power, and heating, cooking, lighting and bathroom facilities.
Bannockburn
Transport and Amenities
Own transport is essential. Bannockburn has one pub/restaurant and a café. Cromwell, a larger town with full shopping and banking facilities is ten minutes drive away.
Communication
There is no landline phone connection or internet available. A DOC radio can be arranged and there is good cellphone cover.
Contact
Amanda Ware, Central Otago Area Office +64 3 440 2044
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Central Otago - Naseby
Naseby
Background
An historic gem sited at the foot of the famous Hawkdun and St Bathans Ranges – featuring historic heritage; recreation; community partnership. Step back in time to the past goldmining town of St Bathans, on the man-made Blue lake.
Available Dates
October to April
Accommodation
Accommodation is in the historic Naseby Post Office. Artist would have own bedroom although may be sharing the building with DOC staff (this is a large building with four bedrooms). The Post Office building has full power, and heating, cooking, lighting and bathroom facilities.
Transport and Amenities
Naseby
Own transport is essential. Naseby has a café and pub/restaurant. Ranfurly, a small town with banking and shopping facilities is 15 minutes drive away.
Communication
There is no landline phone connection or internet access. Cellphone reception is weak; however, there is a payphone outside the Post Office. A DOC radio can be arranged.
Contact
Amanda Ware, Central Otago Area Office +64 3 440 2044
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Central Otago - Kingston
Kingston
Background
The Area has important biodiversity values and numerous heritage sites including early Maori occupation - and the gold mining era from the 1860’s. These, together with the mountain, lake and indigenous grassland and forest landscape, provide settings for a nationally important tourism industry and a full range of recreation opportunities.
Historic and cultural perspectives include early pioneering in very isolated areas, the goldrush era, and pounamu. Maori regarded the greenstone collected from the rugged country at the head of Lake Wakatipu as their most treasured variety. Contemporary uses include vineyards, orchards, tourism and various recreation opportunities including walking the Routeburn track, Rees/Dart tracks and Greenstone/Caples tracks.
Available Dates
October to April but please note that over the Christmas period there would be very limited staff available to assist the successful candidate.
Accommodation
There is a basic one room cottage available in Kingston 35 minutes drive from Queenstown at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. The cottage is located one block back from the lake with a garage and large grassy area. Short-term accommodation is also available on a share basis in the hut warden’s quarters on the above-mentioned tracks. Facilities at the cottage include; living area with table & chairs, armchairs, heaters and several bunks, fridge, stove and separate bathroom with shower.
Kingston
Transport and Amenities
Own transport is essential. Kingston has a petrol station, shop and two hotels and is home to the famous ‘Kingston Flyer’ steam train. The nearest banking facilities are at Queenstown but EFTPOS is available within the town. Coin operated washing and drying facilities are available at the Kingston Stream Holiday Park.
Communication
Cellphone reception is available approximately 1km away near the shop and garage.
Contact
Mary-Anne Cameron, Wakatipu Area Office +64 3 422 9178
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West Coast - South Westland
South Westland
Background
With mountains and glaciers, lush rainforest and rugged coastlines, South Westland is one of New Zealand’s most unspoiled natural environments. Wetlands and lakes spread along coastal plains which wind back up river valleys. Glaciers are a feature of the southern part of the conservancy - the most notable being the Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe and the Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere.
Available Dates
Year round
Accommodation
South Westland
Fox Glacier: Accommodation would be in a shared house, two available bedrooms – one with a double bed, the other two singles. Artist would have own bedroom.
Haast: A similar arrangement is available in Haast. The artist would need to provide own bedding etc. The house is fully furnished, with cooking / washing facilities, and heating.
Transport and Amenities
Own transport is recommended, but a DOC vehicle may be made available for field work. Limited opportunities exist for purchasing groceries in either location, however full supermarket and supporting services are available in Wanaka and Hokitika / Greymouth.
Communication
South Westland Area Office (Fox Glacier) is fully serviced with communication channels, broadband etc, and a SW radio would be made available to the successful candidate for field work if necessary. The Haast Field Centre has a slower internet connection.
Cellphone reception is strong in Fox, however limited to non existent in most locations South of Fox.
Contact
Michael Davies, South Westland Weheka Area Office +64 3 7510 180
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Rakiura/Stewart Island - Mason Bay
Mason Bay
Background
Mason Bay, on the west coast of Stewart Island, contains one of the most extensive inland dune systems in the Southern Hemisphere with dunes extending inland for nearly 3kn and reaching over 200m in height. It also has a long history of human habitation, from Maori in transit to the Titi Islands, to 19th century farming.
Available Dates
Year-round
Accommodation
Mason Bay
Accommodation would be in the Island Hill Homestead - this is one of the oldest buildings managed by Southland Conservancy. Own bedroom available (there are three in the homestead, but you may be required to share the remainder of the house with DOC staff, depending on the time of year and work programmes scheduled in the area. Solar lighting but no electricity. Cooking and heating is from the coal range and a gas hob and grill is also provided for additional cooking. Hot water and a bath – but just a long-drop toilet. Food would need to be ordered in advance and flown in (once a week or fortnightly) - This is generally not too much of a problem as fixed wing aircraft land on the beach at Mason Bay at low tide on almost a daily basis over the summer months - but it is approximately a half-hour walk up from the beach to the Homestead. There is no refrigeration in the homestead.
Transport and Amenities
Options for travelling into Mason Bay are either fixed wing from Invercargill or Ryan's Creek airstrip in Oban, Stewart Island, landing on Mason Bay beach then walking up a flat track to the Homestead. Alternatively it is approximately a 45-minute water taxi ride from Golden Bay up Paterson Inlet and into the Freshwater River through to the Freshwater Landing Hut, followed by a 3 - 4 hour easy tramp across to Mason Bay and Island Hill Homestead. Alternatively there may be times when the Department is using a helicopter for management purposes in the area - that may mean landing right outside the homestead.
Communication
There is no cellphone coverage at Mason Bay - but the Department would provide a VHF radio.
Contact
Sharon Pasco, Stewart Island Field Centre +64 3 219 0004
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