 Hokianga
Harbourcare
Will Stensness of Whirinaki (in Hokianga) is angry because the Hokianga Harbour
and its tributaries, which have fed his tupuna (ancestors) for 29 generations,
are in a bad way. Fish numbers are so low it takes Will up to three hours to
catch a flounder and he has had difficulties getting a kayaking business off
the ground because of rubbish in the Whirinaki River.
Earlier this month, Northland Health warned against eating shellfish from the
harbour, because of the high levels of microcystin toxins they contained. Last
July, Northland's medical officer of health Dr Jonathan Jarman warned about
the "extreme risk" posed by some houses at Horeke that were discharging
sewage into the harbour.
But Will, his son Randal, and others, are forming a harbour care group to tackle
some of these problems. "That's our cupboard out there. It has to be looked
after," Will said.He said that livestock and sediment runoff was partly
responsible for the harbour's deteriorating water quality and reducing this
would be the Hokianga Harbour Care Collective's main aim. The collective plans
to revegetate stream and harbour edges with native plants to create a more favourable
habitat for fish and provide a buffer between land and water. It will also encourage
farmers, with livestock, to fence waterways and will, itself, begin fencing
off and planting out riparian strips on a farm near Whirinaki shortly.
Will said the community had got right behind the idea, with 150 people attending
a public meeting in January and 32 marae in the Hokianga area responding positively
to his requests for support. Will and the collective will not be venturing into
entirely unfamiliar territory. In the mid-nineties, Fred Lichtwark founded a
harbour care group to address similar problems in Raglan's Whaingaroa Harbour.
Since then, the group has planted half a million trees and persuaded 80 percent
of local farmers to fence off 350-400 km of stream and harbour edge. Last week,
Mr Lichtwark said the harbour was no longer under threat from runoff. He said
that fish had begun returning to the harbour, as water quality had improved,
and there were now eight commercial fishing operators working the harbour instead
of four operators eight years ago.
Mr Lichtwark said dairy farmers had reported improved stock health, and a 20
percent increase in milk production, as fewer cows were able to drink from polluted
waterways.
For information contact Will or Stensness at (09) 405 8415
No website is yet available for this project, so we include some information
prepared for an article included in the Northland Times on 25th Feb 2004.
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Our gift to you - download Free Whirinaki Matariki Wall Calendar
What Andree a sustainability writer discovered about Kaitiakitanga
Coming Easter 2010 Biomimicry Exploration - Norbert Hoeller, Auckland
David Bellamy - Moa's Ark revisited tour Whirinaki 25 4-10 Oct 09
The Maori Youth Hikoi to Bioneers Conference, San Francisco 16 Oct 08
VIDEO "Redesigning our Future" - Youth Forum with Michael Braungart
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Whirinaki Ecological Technology (We-tech) Our pest control innovation
Check out our school's Energy Monitoring / Weatherstation project
Our drama production, kapakaka and other creative initiatives
Ngati Whare Iwi Treaty Settlement signed, incl partnership with DOC
WEMZ - The Whirinaki Ecological Restoration Zone - a project with DOC
DOC partnerships information kiosk, Mangamate, Sanctuary(proposed)
Take a photo tour through our valley see restoration work needed
Ready to start - our Whirinaki Centre, Nursery and Recycling Projects
Our project to upgrade our water supply in Minginui Mar 07
Thanks TPK for facilitating Govt support for Minginui initiatives
Our network's submission to govt on Rural Community Opportunities
Toxin Bioremediation Project started in Whakatane May 09
Celebrate what our friends at Hokianga Harbourcare are doing
Our Network's Mycorestoration Research Project - Fungi and mushroom
Our Lopez friends help Raglan with an affordable housing project
Thanks MfE for a big toxin cleanup on our millsites - July 07
Blocked - our Community Digital Strategy - Whirinaki Interactive 12/06
Prince Andrew adopts our Kiwi, Princess Beatrice on Mokoia Is Mar 07
Our network on the Kiwi Youth Voice learning journey to US. Mar 07
Our network at Youth Voice Digital Earth Summit on Sustainbility Aug 06
We welcomed Hunter Lovins 7-9 July 06, VIDEO view NZ tour resources
Thanks Waikato University for help with broadband 05
Thanks Housing Corp, house painting and marae restoration teams
Go Tramping in Whirinaki. See Kaka, Kiwi, Weka, Robin, Blueduck
Report Living Organisation workshops. Tipu Ake presented worldwide 05
Report Hikoi to Indigenous Knowledges Conf , Well, NZ. June 05
Thanks to UNITEC Architecture Students for help with town plans 04
Report on Sustainable Resources Conf, Colorado 04
Report on PMI Global Forum, Los Angeles Tipu Ake paper 04
Report on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conf, Wisconsin, June 04
Int and local visitors attend Tipu Ake Retreat March 04 See report
MPs Horomia and Mallard open our new merged area school Jan 04
Trip to Whaingaroa Env Gp Raglan, Jan04 learnings, VIDEO view |
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