Bay of Islands Maritime Park Inc

Minutes: BayCare public meeting 14 July 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.