Aug
16
2010
Port Villa, Vanuatu– An unprecedented agreement toward the cooperative stewardship of a vast swath of Pacific Ocean has been reached, and conservationists are heralding it as among the most ambitious, innovative, and collaborative marine initiatives on Earth.
Access full document on www.marinenz.org.nz website here.
Aug
10
2010
Aug
10
2010
Fiona Proffitt investigates the state of New Zealand’s freshwater resources and the solutions science can offer (taken from NIWA website)
As New Zealand tries to squeeze maximum value out of its natural resources, conflicts over water are coming to a boil. We’re fast approaching water resource limits in some parts of the country, and pollution issues are threatening our clean, green brand.
Despite a comprehensive clean-up of dirty ‘point-source’ discharges in the 1990s, water quality in many of our lakes and rivers is still declining. The cause this time is ‘diffuse-source’ pollution associated with intensive land use, particularly pastoral farming.
So how do we balance the drive to grow our economy with the need for clean water? Can our freshwater systems sustain the spread of intensive dairying?
FULL ARTICLE (opens new window)
Aug
6
2010
A devastating report shown on 60 minutes on Wednesday night revealed new evidence about the plight of our oceans. Countless whales are getting stranded and dying on New Zealand beaches.
Why?
Because the whales are starving.
We’re eating their food.
The lack of squid beaks in their stomach illustrate that they’re simply not getting enough food. Bad teeth and ulcerated stomachs are further evidence that the whales are not in good health. Ministry of Fisheries tell us that fish stocks are being well managed and New Zealand is an exception; we’re not in crisis. Marine scientists tell us we’re pushing the ocean right to the very limits with overfishing and the threats are very real.
Here is a link to the report online. Please watch it and share it among your network.
Aug
3
2010
The weather gods looked favourably on the more than 60 people that took part in BayCare’s first planting day on Sunday the 1st August. The planting of the 200 kowhai took place along the banks of the Kerikeri River upstream from the new pedestrian bridge.
This planting was a symbolic start to the joint BayCare & FNDC Riparian Protection Project, which has the aim of reducing the level of sediment (i.e mud !!!) and nutrients entering our waterways, and therefore making a start on improving the quality of our fresh and marine waters.
The reason the planting was classed as “symbolic” is the fact that the kowhais in themselves will not reduce the sediment by one particle; however they were used to draw everyone’s attention to the sediment and water quality problems that we must address.
The kaumatua, Sid Kingi, opened the ceremonial component of the day with a karakia, followed by mihi from both Ngati Rehia and Nga Hapu o Taiamai, before kuia Riwa Pere planted one of the first trees on behalf of Ngati Rehia, Nancy Pickmere, the noted historian and long time conservationist, representing “Ngati Pakeha”, the local community, planted another, then Hokimate Painting planted the final ceremonial tree on behalf of Nga Hapu o Taiamai.
Whilst this was occurring, Hone Mihaka buried pieces of greenstone representing mauri with the trees, each greenstone piece denoting one of the local hapu, including the ”Ngati Pakeha” affilitated to the area.
There was an amazing feeling of inclusiveness between the 60 odd people, which was composed almost equally of maori and pakeha, who then proceeded to plant the rest of the trees – some were even planted by some wandering minstrels in medieval costume from Transition Town, whilst wandering amongst us with one of their number playing a bright blue violin.
With the trees all successfully planted, we all adjourned to the sausage sizzle provided by DOC, and while we all enjoyed a sausage wrap and a glass of orange juice, each of the hapu were presented with a tree to take back for their marae, and then residents with a riparian boundary were presented with a tree to stimulate riparian protection along their part of the river.
Thanks to Phil Stocker from Northland Forest Managers and Global Forest Partners who donated the trees along with Kerikeri Plant Propagation for growing and storing them.
The feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive, with many feeling that this event is only the beginning, and an opportunity for us to collectively pave a new way forward for the benefit of all of us, as well as our environment.