South Canterbury-based naturalist and researcher Hermann Frank is set to release another pictorial book, this time with a focus on the Orari Gorge.
Mr Frank previously released a book detailing the limestone landscapes in the region.
The new book, Orari Gorge Nature’s Hidden Gem, originally started off as an exhibition at the South Canterbury Museum, with the aim to help people understand the different aspects of biodiversity present in the gorge.
Mr Frank, who originally moved to New Zealand from Germany, said he had been introduced to the gorge early on.
‘‘I first visited the Orari Gorge on a Forest & Bird trip back in 1998. On that occasion we saw the last confirmed sighting of the blue duck in the Orari Gorge.’’
Mr Frank said he had always been interested in the gorge but for years focused on his other projects. However, he had always remained fascinated.
‘‘It’s a unique landscape in South Canterbury, just with the features it has. There is the river, the surrounding areas like the mountains which stand on each side, Mt Peel and the four peaks range on the other.’’
He estimated that over the past decade he had probably spent about 130 days in the gorge researching and taking photos.
‘‘From about 2008 I got to the gorge more often. Going there more you really get to see more details, like the biodiversity values,’’ Mr Frank said.
The book is being published by the Museum Development Trust and South Canterbury Museum director Philip Howe has been a big part in enabling Mr Frank’s work.
‘‘The museum works collaboratively with individuals or groups that have interests that reflect what the museum is doing.
‘‘So when Hermann approached me initially about a lizard project I thought ‘I wish I could do that; take a year off and go look at the lizards’.
‘‘The key thing both with Hermann and the museum is we are interested in helping the public understand local diversity, nature and natural history. So it was an easy thing to develop joint projects like this,’’ he said.
Mr Frank said his relationship with the museum began as part of a teacher fellowship.
‘‘I applied for the teacher fellowship and for that to happen you had to have a base, so I approached Philip as I knew he was interested in natural history.
‘‘He was happy to accommodate me in the museum.’’
From there, Mr Frank and the museum produced a lizard exhibition, a limestone exhibition and book and now an Orari Gorge exhibition and book.
Mr Howe said he believed the new book had huge importance.
‘‘The title says it all, ‘Nature’s Hidden Gem’. It contains such a diverse set of landscapes and natural values.
‘‘I would like to think the audience for this book would include people interested in their backyard to people who live directly in the area to people who are just interested in natural history and the environment.
‘‘This will be an insightful look at our part of the world, there’s lots of nature books published around the country but not too many about South Canterbury.’’
Mr Frank said for the book and exhibition he did not want to go into too much detail.
‘‘I wanted to have things that show biodiversity but also be interesting for people. It’s more to show, it’s a pictorial book.
‘‘It’s for the general public rather than a scientific publication.
‘‘Things change over time so it will be nice to have a snapshot of our time, many people in South Canterbury have never been to the Orari Gorge or even know where it is, so it will be good to make the public aware.’’
The book will go on sale on Friday and be available to purchase for $35 at the museum.
