April 3, 2005 at Knox the service was led by Rev. Don Feist with help from the Social Justice Group and the address given by Diane Campbell-Hunt. After 80 million years split off from the rest of the world NZ had developed a unique flora and fauna, almost like being on a different planet. Without land mammals birds like the kiwi evolved that nested at ground level in great forests. Unfortunately humans have brought in predators and destroyed forests and 30% of bird species have become extinct. To impoverish our country shows lack of respect for God and His creation.

The Anthem was "For the beauty of the Earth" by John Rutter. Flower arrangement by Phyllis Varcoe.

Abi was one of the soloists for "Morning glory, starlit sky" sung during the collection of the offering.

At 2 pm we met at Orokonui for a walk into the forest where a sanctuary is planned. It is planned to construct a predator proof fence around the whole 230 hectare forest.

Our guide, Ralph Allen, an Otago ecologist, is Chairman of the Otago Natural History Trust which is undertaking the work with community help.

The carpark and Orokonui Park are at lower left corner. The tallest tree in NZ is about where the "p" is in the lower loop track. Some of us walked that far and some did the 3.5 hour upper loop track returning along the western graded track.

This walk was very well attended!

Ralph showing where the fence will go. There must be a gap big enough to stop predators jumping from an outside tree to another inside the sanctuary.

New Zealand's tallest tree can be rightly claimed by Australia (their rights to pavlova and Russell Crowe are more suspect), as although it looks like a gum it is an Australian mountain ash 77 m (253 ft) tall.

Beyond the wheelchair friendly access track to the gums the track is less well formed.