Ngā mihi nui to MCC original Kate Radloff
Kate Radloff will jokingly tell you that she was emotionally blackmailed into being a part of the Motueka Catchment Collective when it was no more than a group of likeminded people, mostly farmers, from the Upper Catchment of the Motueka river, however her commitment to its kaupapa & her mahi on the ground over the last 3 years suggests otherwise.
In the UK, Kate had taught Communication Studies, Media & Socio Linguistics & back in NZ was volunteering with her focus on Biodiversity & local propagation groups supplying local plantings. She had written her undergraduate dissertation on the reasons people volunteer for environmental groups and so was an excellent addition to the interim Steering Group for the newly born Collective.
At the same time as the Collective was in its infancy, the Tasman Bay Guardians’ Wai Connection programme was starting and soon enough Kate was teaching the Freshwater program as part of the Whitebait Connection & involved in the start of the Nurseries in Schools program.
In those early days of the Catchment Group, there was lots of discussion as to whether to apply for funding & grow or whether a low-key sub catchment approach might be more sustainable. Then, as now, there were wide ranging opinions & ideas yet slowly, with some facilitation, a structure was developed which attracted significant funding from MPI. Kate felt excited to see the Collective grow whilst remembering the roots on which it was developing.
As well as her role on the Steering Group, Kate was the Chair of the Biodiversity & Restoration Group which had formed from the growing alliance between Kate & Annette Litherland from Landcare NZ whilst facilitating the Jubilee Planting Project. She was also a member of the Access & Recreation & the Freshwater Monitoring Groups.
Kate felt that the ‘capacity building’ specified in the funding agreement with MPI was about setting up processes & structures within the community which could sustainably continue into the future & that is exactly how she feels about her decision to leave the group now. She has given her knowledge & expertise, set up & mentored Freshwater Monitoring Groups, contributed to the knowledge & understanding of the Catchment & done her part to determine the direction of the Collective & now it is time for others to step up and offer their skills & viewpoints.
For the 3 years of the MPI funding, Kate juggled her paid work for Tasman Bay Guardians with her voluntary roles within Motueka Catchment Collective – no mean a feat with so much overlap and she would often start sentences by noting which ‘hat’ she was wearing! Now she feels confident that the Groups & wider Collective will continue & hopes that the relationships started by MCC in these first 3 years will strengthen.
Kate has a huge sense of achievement for all that has been accomplished, from the Propagation Group who now all have successful home nurseries, are confident growers sharing their knowledge as teachers & educators, to the Sub Catchment Freshwater Monitoring structure that now exists across the Catchment & involves 30+ monitors & their supporters. Lastly, she is grateful to & proud of the many people of the MCC who have fulfilled goals by working collaboratively with community & stakeholders & given up their own time to do so.
Kate hopes to see sub catchment groups continuing to work together & making new links within the community & this is something that Kate has been invaluable for. As Jude Heath from Tasman Bay Guardians says, ‘Kate excels at weaving! Weaving schools into community & landowners to their catchments. She is an excellent teacher who makes people feel comfortable, whoever & wherever they might be’.
Kate’s message to the Motueka Catchment community is that there is opportunity for all to be involved. The Collective needs motivators, facilitators and educators to share knowledge as well as propagators, planters, trappers & water monitors. She shares that being pushed out of her comfort zone wasn’t something she was looking for but is very glad that she found it & has greatly enjoyed the experience. In turn, the MCC has benefitted immensely from Kate’s infectious enthusiasm, broad knowledge base & her commitment to the community; past, present & into the future.
