Bay of Islands Maritime Park Inc

Front page of the local rag. Nice work team.

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?”