Jul
29
2010
Riparian Protection Project
Planting Day
When: Sunday 1st August 2010
Where: Department of Conservation carpark,
Stone Store Basin, opposite Rewa Village
KERIKERI
Time: 10.00am
As a symbolic start to the joint BayCare and Far North District Council Riparian Protection Project to reduce the level of sediment (i.e. mud!!) and nutrients entering the waterways and to start improving the water quality of our fresh and marine waters, we would like to invite you to come along and help to plant 200 kowhai trees along the Kerikeri river bank.
The Riparian Protection project is a very long term project, but a start must be made before all our waterways are completely degraded.
The Transition Town Group will also be involved, providing ancillary community activities.
Please bring a spade, drink bottle, boots plus wet weather gear.
Sausage sizzle will be provided.
For further details, please contact:
David Clarkson
BayCare
09 4075157
davidandrobyn@xtra.co.nz
Harirewa Watene
Far North District Council
0800 920 029
hhw@fndc.govt.nz
Jul
24
2010
You are invited to view the final MPA Working Group brand identity concepts. There are three finals versions from which we want to chose one.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM!
(don’t worry, it will open in new browser window)
There is also the story of the development of the Fish Forever logo so you understand where we coming from and to show that a range of people have had input. If you want to read the background story it’s here.
We would appreciate your comments below. We would particularly like any Reo speakers to give feedback on the Maori translation. We are aware that the first i of Ipipiri should probably have a macron over it, which will be addressed.
Jul
22
2010
IN A show of total unity, local bodies, industry sectors, community groups and conservationists agreed last week to join forces for the sake of a healthy Bay of Islands marine environment. The aim of the proposed BayCare project is to reduce sediments and nutrients entering the waters of the Bay.
A meeting held at The Centre on Wednesday was addressed by representatives from the district and regional council, Vision Kerikeri, Landcare, the Conservation Department, Ngapuhi, Ngati Rehia, community groups and landowners. BayCare is a working group operating under the umbrella of the Bay of Islands Maritime Park.
Convener David Clarkson said the riparian protection project was not just about improving water quality for kai moana and reducing the level of sediment that is lowering recreational values, but about reversing the loss of mauri or life force in our environment.
“The marine environment of the inner Bay has become so degraded that if you go snorkelling today you’re lucky to see more than a few parore and spotties. The mud is choking our marine life. We humans are killing the environment around us.”
The meeting, attended by about 100 people, was presented a map dating back to 1980 showing two passages to the sea from the Kerikeri River. Sedimentation has reduced this to just one.
BayCare’s proposal is to carry out riparian fencing to keep livestock away from catchment streams, carry out planting to trap sediment, clear waterways, restore wildlife corridors and address stormwater and wastewater issues.
It’s seen as a template for other areas, including Waitangi, Kawakawa and Rawhiti, also threatened by sediment build-up.
The strength of the success of the project will be community support and participation, said guest speaker Tony Miguel of the Waitakere City Council, who shared information about the award-winning Waitakere Project Twin Streams, funded by regional government, managed by local government and delivered by contracted community organisations.
The Bay of Islands coast is under increasing pressure from competing interests, including aquaculture, fisheries, tourism, recreation and land-based human activities, according to NIWA scientists who presented sediment and water quality data for the inlet from the recently completed Oceans Survey 20/20 Bay of Islands study.
According to the NIWA results, agriculture and forestry are mainly responsible for a sediment build-up of an average 2.4mm per annum.
Far North District Council audit and finance chairwoman councillor Di Maxwell said she wished she could pass on a cheque for seed funding to help get this Kerikeri/Waipapa riparian protection project started.
“We are not quite there. However I am confident that within a week or so we will be able to do just that. Environmental issues are one of the most important issues facing our communities, in fact the whole human race today.”
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She said the problem should be approached using the quadruple bottom line – economic, environmental, social and cultural. The environment fund of the Northland Regional Council will be targeted for funding. The Conservation Department and district council offered technical and networking support while local hapu Ngati Rehia said it is already monitoring the marine environment and is keen to play a role.
“You are already ahead in that you are building partnerships. Don’t accept that there is no money.
“You have to look at the funding issue from the perspective of a cost-benefit angle. You have to look at the benefits of improving the water of the Bay of Islands to things such as property prices and tourism,” Mr Miguel said.
Regional councillor Joe Carr said available funding would not go far to fix Northland’s environmental problems:
“People say they are interested but are they prepared to pay more rates?
“By paying $13.50 more per year, we could achieve $2.3 million that could contribute to the cost of initiatives such as this.
“Would you be prepared to pay $13.50 to help your environment?”
Jul
22
2010
BAYCARE group
Public Meeting to launch KK/W SPA Riparian Protection Project
The Centre, Kerikeri: 2 pm 14 July 2010
Estimated attendance: 100
1. Karakia: Robert Willoughby, Ngati Kuta.
2. Welcome: FNDC Councillor Di Maxwell.
3. Kerikeri/Waipapa Structure Plan Area (KK/W SPA) Riparian Protection Project. A powerpoint presentation (attached) by David Clarkson. Here is the chance for the Bay of Islands community to back a tractable project to reduce the inflow of sediments and nutrients, primarily by riparian planting. Loss of ‘middle channel’ in Kerikeri Inlet illustrated the level of siltation that has been taking place.
4. Sedimentation of Kerikeri Inlet—OS 20/20 Bay of Islands Project NIWA scientists
Introduced by Mark Morrison. A massive database that will shortly be publicly available—and which can be drilled down into by anyone who wants to. Little analysis or synthesis so far and these are interim results only.
Andrew Swales addressed sediment deposit rates. The evidence from cores and other sampling is that rates of sedimentation in the Kerikeri Inlet in particular, and the Bay of Islands in general, have been high since forest removals began about 600 years ago. In the past 100 years, overall sediment inflow for the Bay of Islands as a whole has been on the order of 500 kt per year, in contrast to 23 kt before human occupation.
Max Gibbs dealt with sediment re-suspension—the manner in which sediment is transported once it has entered the inlets and estuaries of the Bay of Islands. Re-suspension rates are high in the Kawakawa, moderate in the Kerikeri and Te Puna, and generally low elsewhere. The Kerikeri Inlet contributes about 3% on average of the entire silt load into the Bay of Islands each year. Most of the Bay of Islands sediment is from pasture and pine forest harvesting.
Els Maas addressed Kerikeri Inlet water quality and heavy metals. Summer sampling. Nitrates, total dissolved N and total dissolved P are all greater than the standard for protection of marine environments. Faecal coliforms are high enough in the Waipapa River and in the Stone Store basin to make eating shellfish hazardous. (Possibly mostly from water fowl.) Enterococci were low enough for safe swimming throughout. Copper and zinc levels high in the Kerikeri Inlet, but not dangerously so. Arsenic levels are high throughout the Bay of Islands and shelf waters—probably from the volcanic soils.
5. Stakeholder support
Jeanette Ibrahim, for FNDC, very supportive of KK/W SPA Riparian Protection Project (but FNDC cannot be involved on private lands). Can probably contribute some level of funding and can certainly help with mail-outs etc.
Ruth Marsh, for Vision Kerikeri, Aroha Island Trust and Transition Towns. Vision Kerikeri was instrumental in establishing the KK/W SPA, and river health is an important part of it. Very keen to work together in riparian planting etc.
Rolien Elliott, DoC. DoC strongly supports the Project: a practical community approach that will assist stream and riverbank biodiversity and in turn improve the biological health of the estuary. Further, DoC has responsibility for much public land. Will assist with technical advice, networks, will provide seeding funding to scope potential high risk areas and areas for riparian planting, and will assist wherever possible in the work.
Dean Evans, Land manager NRC. NRC can assist by providing advice through land management advisors; funding via the Environment Fund with its new focus on soil conservation; data collection; and general support. Keen to be involved!
George Riley, Ngapuhi Runanga. The Runanga sees the project as opportunity to take up stewardship role and so is keen to be involved. Hapu management plans include stream health and so work in the KK/W SPA will be highly relevant to similar initiatives in other parts of the Bay.
Helen Moodie, Landcare. She has previously expressed her interest in helping this initiative, but must apologise for her absence today.)
Owen Baxter, representing farmers. Tongue in cheek: If sediment primarily from pasture, he is happy to sell up at the right price, however more seriously, concerned that he may soon be unable to get his boat down the Inlet to go fishing
Nora Rameka, Ngati Rehia. As kaitiaki for the area, welcomed the visitors. Explained how they were already doing work of the sort that NIWA spoke of, at Te Tii.
6. Project Twin Streams (PTS) of Waitakere City Council.
Tony Miguel, Director, Waitakere City Council praised the grass-roots-up approach being taken by KK/W SPA Riparian Protection Project. But warned that it will take a long time (and there is no real hurry)—like Gaudi’s Cathedral. It’s a 100-year project. Observe and record.
Purpose, People, Promotion, Planning, Progress.
Drivers: build partnerships, characterise the catchment, finalise goals and identify solutions, design an implementation programme, implement catchment plan, measure progress and make necessary adjustments. Above all else, record!
Waitakere PTS involves 10,000 ha. Since 2002, has planted 500,000 plants. Community engagement essential. Artworks and community things like cycleway enliven such projects. Focus also on sustainable households. Tony stressed the value of USEPA (US Environment Protection Agency) web site. Photograph, record, and map. Maps often better tell the story than great loads of text. Eventually need to demonstrate cost/benefit.
See attached PTS Key facts and Figures.
7. Discussion Focus has been on KK/W SPA—a tractable system with achievable goals. Progress here can be transported elsewhere.
Jeremy Gibb suggests an average of 20-30 mm per year in Kerikeri Inlet. In answer NIWA says that the results of the 2007 flood would have gone through the system quite quickly. Would have been some build-up on banks, but most in the channels will have gone out into bay quite quickly.
However sedimentation rates higher in the estuary the closer to the river mouth.
Robert Willoughby emphasised the need for integration of bite-sized ‘bits’, all around the bay.
Joe Carr NRC.Pointed out that only $500,000 for the entire NRC Environment Fund. If got $13:50 more in rates from each household each year, this would give $2.3 million more for the environment.
Soozee McIntyre Far North Environment Centre – Developing a catchment plan for Doubtless Bay and stressed the need to focus not just on riparian planting but also on land management of slopes.
Dean Evans—erodable soils are the focus of NRC.
Others posed more local questions/comments re storm water and sedimentation Kapiro Rd and Taumarere River.
Max Gibbs: NIWA, pointed out that cleaning out and straightening of streams is a problem; catchment planning can allow for meanders.
Tony Miguel, PTS emphasised the need for an integrated plan that may take in all manner of solutions to perceived problems. Don’t rush—or else could end up having to dig up yesterday’s plantings.
Ken Ross: overstocking of farms and taking shortcuts are implicated in the silt and nutrient levels observed.
George Riley: application of principles transferable to other parts of the bay and to other parts of FNDC rohe.
Reports were given from companion bodies WaiOra Hokianga, Doubtless Bay and Whangaroa.
John Cullen pointed to lack of Council leadership in preventing runoff from house sites and developments.
Despite the questions still flowing, time forced the meeting to close, particularly as the NIWA scientists had another meeting stating at 7pm in Paihia.
8. In closing, George Riley asked for a show of hands of who supported the KK/W SPA Riparian Protection Project. The support was unanimous.
Meeting closed about 4.50 pm
Attachments – PPT KK/W SPA.
- PTS Key facts.
Jul
9
2010
If you want to help save the Kerikeri Inlet, then come along and get involved. That’s the message from Baycare and Far North District Council (FNDC) for their public meeting at 2pm on Wednesday 14 July at The Centre, Cobham Rd, Kerikeri.
Figures indicate that there has been a 1-1.5 metre build up of sediment in the Kerekeri Inlet over the last 50 years. If left unchecked, the Inlet could reduce to a salt marsh over the next 50 years.
The Riparian Protection Project for Kerikeri/Waipapa Structure Plan Area, which aims to reduce this sediment and improve water quality, will be launched at the meeting.
After a karakia and welcome, David Clarkson will give an outline of the project before NIWA present their sedimentation and water quality data for the Kerikeri Inlet. The up-to-date data will be sourced from the multi-million dollar ‘Oceans 20/20 BOI Project’ recently completed.
Following this, there will be a series of short talks from leading community groups and governmental bodies outlining their support of the project, before afternoon tea and a chance to ask questions.
Tony Miguel, Acting Director, Waitakere Council will then present the strategies and success behind the Council’s ‘Project Twin Streams’. Working together for healthy streams and strong communities: creating a sustainable
future is the vision statement for ‘Project Twin Streams’. This project aims to restore 56kms of streambanks using an integrated community development approach and a quadruple bottom line approach. The project has, since 2003, planted over 730,000 trees and shrubs and won a number of national and international awards, including the coveted Green Ribbon Award from MfE.
The day will finish at 4.30pm, after a panel discussion and question time involving all the speakers.
The project’s first planting day will be held above Rainbow Falls on Sunday 1 August.
For further information please contact
David Clarkson
Coordinator, BayCare group,
BOIMP Inc
Ph 407 5157