New Zealand Native Orchids
 
 



THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVE ORCHID GROUP CODE OF CONDUCT:


  • Regard the orchid tuber as sacred and leave it undisturbed.
  • Take only photographs if a plant is scarce in a locality. If you need a specimen for identification, take the minimum - don't take
    the whole plant unless there are more than twenty; don't take more than 5% of any one plant; don't take flowers or fruit if there
    are few present; don't take duplicates. It is illegal to take specimens of any native plant from a Protected Natural Area without
    official permission.
  • Make sure you know whether it can be grown, and if so what its requirements are, before you take even a "common" native
    orchid for cultivation; where possible use seeds.
  • Preserve the habitat of all native plants: tread with care to minimise compaction of soil and disturbance of swamp habitat;
    "garden" minimally before taking photographs and do replace shelter if you have bent surrounding vegetation away.
  • Don't introduce any plant into wild habitat without proper authority.
  • Do tell the conservation people if you find a new site for a rare plant. Inform those who might unwittingly destroy a site with
    normal maintenance activities. Take care who you tell about the whereabouts of a rare plant, and don't take big groups to visit.
  • Tell park or property administrators when they need to protect orchid habitat by clearing scrub, maintaining tracks, spraying
    weeds or burning off.
  • Respect the rights and wishes of landowners and those of conservation people who ask you not to visit a site at certain times.
  • Make little impact on the environment; dispose of rubbish responsibly.
  • Do not try to export any orchid or part of an orchid from New Zealand. It is illegal under international agreements to do so.