The bays and coastlines along the Hauraki Gulf are suffering for a variety of reasons - mainly over-fishing, climate change, and pollution. Beneath the draping Pōhutukawas and sapphire water is a growing environmental crisis. Dr Kelsey Miller, a research fel- low at the University of Auckland based at Leigh Marine laboratory (Goat Island), spent years studying the increase in kina populations. Kina are carpeting the seabed preventing seaweed growth. However the kina are not directly responsible for this eco- logical disaster. Due to overfishing natural predators such as snapper and cray fish, kina now overpopulate areas of the gulf. Maintaining a healthy forest floor is essential for marine life to thrive and to “limit the erosion of coastal land, produce oxygen and food, and sequester carbon” according to an article published by the University of Auckland (4 June 2024, Battle of the Barrens) detailing Dr Miller’s findings.

Along with her colleagues, Dr Miller is bringing the issue to the attention of community, industry and policy makers. Last month local resident Adrian Roberts attended a community consultation about rewilding Matheson Bay. (Rewilding generally involves restoring a natural environment, whether above or below sea level, back to its uncultivated state.) The following pages feature Adrian’s notes from the meeting (abridged and paraphrased).

Find out more to support this important initiative:www.tekohuroarewilding.org | facebook.com/tekohuroarewilding | https://tinyurl.com/tkproject

Matheson Bay Rewilding Initiative

by Adrian Roberts

Community Consultation | 25 May 2024 Leigh Hall

The day was broken into two parts:

1. Introduction & Presentation (Frances Dickinson & Dr Kelsey Miller)

2. Community Group Consultation Process

Introduction & Presentation

The Vision of the initiative is:

Te Kohuroa (Matheson Bay) is a robust and thriving marine ecosystem that contributes to the mauri (life force) of the Te Moanui-a-Toi (The Hauraki Gulf).

The Issues - The Problem

The facts presented by the Rewilding Team and marine scientist Dr. Kelsey Miller were sobering:

• The marine ecosystem in Matheson Bay is under massive ecological pressure.

• Matheson Bay is a popular recreation space for residents and visitors all year round.

• Increasing stress from over-fishing, pollution, sediment runoff and water pollution (surrounding land use and natural characteristics of the land, its hills and shape) have combined to push the marine ecosystem to a dangerous tipping point.

• This situation is exacerbated by climate change as the water temperature increases.

• Matheson Bay’s biodiversity is under imminent threat as our once prolific kelp forests succumb to the relentless destruction due to “kina barren” (The unchecked increase in the population of urchins that decimate kelp.)

• The primary cause of kina barren is overfishing of predatory species (snapper & crayfish).

The Solution & Goals

The Rewilding Initiative seeks to work in partnership with Iwi, organisations and community to build a ground up approach to healing Matheson Bay’s marine ecosystem. The goal is an inclusive tikanga model that brings guardianship/kaitiakitanga by partnering with science and conservation groups to support restoration efforts, delivering a long term, locally orchestrated community programme that delivers a healthy biodiversity back to Matheson Bay.

Community Consultation Process

The following questions were asked of each breakout group (responses are being collated):

a. Challenges: For this project in this marine space? For the community?

b. Underlying causes: From the perspective of Matheson Bay? Your perspective?

c. Possible responses/solutions?

d. Barriers as the project unfolds?

Summary

Our Bay is under assault from both land and sea, amplified by the effects of climate change. On the present trajectory, Matheson Bay will exist as a small marine desert, conveniently situated between the healthy marine reserves of Tāwharanui and Goat Island. It will come as no surprise that the real power to make an immediate impact rests with the public.

Land

• Get involved in supporting plantings and regenerative efforts.

• Sort out the health of your septic tanks and runoff.

• Encourage and support upstream management that reduces sediment runoff entering waterways and bays.

Sea

Leave snapper & crays - take only enough for a feed, target other fin-fish species instead. Snapper and crays must be left in the water to control kina populations to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Follow the rewilding initiative and if you can support them, please do so: www.tekohuroarewilding.org