Solutions to Combat Effects of Climate Change and Sea rising seen In Tonga

The sea has invaded what was once low lying land where pigs fed in Tonga 

 Some Solutions to Combat Effects of climate change & sea rising  seen In Tonga 

Tonga is a group of islands ( an archipelago) spread out in the South Pacific Ocean. As we are in New Zealand, Tonga who could be said to be a neighbour of ours in the great Te Moana nui a Kiwa ( Pacific Ocean) Tonga lies directly South of Samoa and two thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

iN 2015 we visited Tonga firstly ,to see the place where the humpback whales who had migrated up our New Zealand coastline, from Antarctic waters to have their calves in Tongan waters. A fantastic experience to see these gentle giants of Te Moana nui a kiwa who are said to travel a distance of more than 2,000 km to the Tongan trench. However these humpback whale migrations are being impacted on by climate change.

Humpback Whales Tonga August 2015 Photo Chris Ball

The year we visited, a new volcano and island had just been formed -Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai- after the eruption of an under water volcano. This was the topic of conversation amongst many of " the locals" for part of what is known as the Tonga- Kermadec volcanic arc and and the Pacific " ring of fire " - close to the main island of Tongatapu.

Pigs still feeding even though sea rise and sea invasion Tonga 2015 Photo Chris Ball

Back in 2015  We visited a coastal area on Tongatapu Island, Tonga where effects of climate change and sea rise  had  impacted on this low lying area. We were fortunate to be shown this by Paul - the impacts which were affecting the economy of this area.

Photo 1 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

Unlike the sand trap fences , rock walls, wooden groynes, sand push up work and the natural measures of dune planting seen over the last 45 years on  Coromandel’s Eastern Seaboard, we were introduced to a new thinking and possible solutions  which appear to be having success - the pushing away of the sea  gently from the shore.

Photo 2 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the holes in the concrete groynes into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

My great grandfather James Stewart, a civil engineer,  used to say “ Work with Nature and it will work with you. Work against nature and it will work against you. “Back in 1873 the effects of sand erosion and the sea caused Civil Engineers such as my Great Grandfather, Scientists and others, even  then to write about their concerns and present these to the NZ Institute. Seems the problems are still with us today. More so with land development, nutrient run off and plastics in our rivers and oceans.

Photo 3 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

The following photos show some alternatives seen on Tongatapu, to the solid rock walls that we have seen at Auckland, Whitianga and Waihi Beach. Here on the Eastern Seaboard of  Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel Peninsula ) Different directions into the sea. The use of gaps in groins to help push sea away from the shoreline. Tonga too has push ups and shoreline planting to help retain the shoreline. 

Photo 4 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

Photo 5 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the gaps in the groins  out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

We are not engineers. Chris over the years has taken many photos on the Eastern Seaboard of beach erosion, shoreline planting, impacts of solid rock walls. We have had long experience of living on the coast and have been  involved in dune planting projects and beachcare.

To us and the people who took us around the areas,  it seemed as though the above solutions were  working. The community were also involved in the solutions with advice from coastal scientists and the public sector of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Climate change and sea rising  is an issue for Tonga which is largely flat.
It is also up to all of us to practice other measures for reducing greenhouse effects and thereby reducing risks of Global Warming to coastal communities, including those also in New Zealand and our Paciic Island neighbours. 

 Coastal erosion has been and is a problem on Coromandel Coasts and dune planting  is another method that has helped reduce the impact of wind and water and helped with  dune restoration.

Last week (beginning 07th September 2015) saw a Pacific Global Warming Conference which was attended by our then  Prime Minister Mr. John Keys. Other answers may have come from that conerence back then for New Zealand coasts also. 

Do that now in 2021 we are still talking - action is needed and the need for us to work together before the climate change clock runs out 

article by ASB September 2015 updated December 2021

Tongatapu on the other side of the islands - the action of the relentless sea - photo 2015 Chris Ball 

Reference:

• In Transactions and Proceedings NZ Institute Art. VIII.—On the Reclamation of Sand Wastes on the Coast, and the Prevention of their Inland Advance By James Stewart, C.E. [Read before the Auckland Institute, 4th September, 1873.]
• Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga accessed 01/12/2021
• Ecowatch https://www.ecowatch.com/humpback-whale-migration-  accessed 01/12/2021
• PACIFIC ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE  KINGDOM OF TONGA https://www.sprep.org/attachments/Climate_Change/PACC_Report_of_icountry_consultations_Tonga.pdf accessed 01/12/2021 

Waka voyaging with a message

Waka moored at Hobson Wharf, National Maritime Museum NZ - photo courtesy Chris Ball 

Kia kotahi te hoe

Paddling in unison

Our first encounter with one of  these voyaging waka (AKA vaka) when visiting the National Maritime Museum NZ

The waka Haunui is moored at the National Maritime Museum  down at the Hobson Wharf, Auckland. Haunui was one of seven waka (aka vaka) built by Salthouse boatbuilders for  the Pacific Voyagers Project. 

Projects aim :- to develop the awareness and preservation of the ocean environment and marine life.

Waka moored at Hobson Wharf, National Maritime Museum NZ - photo courtesy Chris Ball 

This by recapturing  the Polynesian traditions of ocean voyaging between the islands - American Samoa, Western Samoa  the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga. In 2011 Te Mana O Te Moana voyage ((The Spirit of the Ocean) began in April 2011 facilitated by the Okeanos Foundation. This was to Hawaii

Following on from the 2011 voyage these waka in 2012 began a voyage to San Francisco. 

This to raise  global awareness for the marine environment, guardianship for the ocean, climate change  and knowledge of waka and navigation as the ancient polynesian used. 

These waka aka vaka traversed more than 200,000 nautical miles of ocean. The seven waka were Fa’afaite, Gaualofa, Haunui, Hinemoana, Marumatu Atua,  Te Matau A Maui and Uto Ni Yalo.

Vaka anchored near shore Rarotonga - photo Chris Ball

The second encounter with one of these voyaging vaka (waka) was on a visit  to  Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Seeing , the location attributed as being the embarking  place, of seven vaka from the Bay of Ngatangiia by ancestors of long ago. The vaka were Takitumu, Te Arawa, Mataatua, Aotea, Kurahaupo, Tokomaru and Tainui. The stories of their journey and whakapapa of those ancestors passed down.

Made in the tradition   of those polynesian ancestors, Hekenukumai Busby was attributed, in 2012 , with over  thirty such voyaging vessels. Retired bridge building contractor , Hekenukumai aka Hek Busby, who died in 2019 was also credited with reviving the ancient art of celestial navigation in Polynesia. Using  the stars, moon, sun, ocean currents, birds and marine to guide, the ancient  navigators and voyagers  traversed the oceans. Hek headed to Raiatea, Tahiti to learn the navigation skills of those polynesian ancestors - that was prior to the first canoe Hek built from a kauri felled for the purpose.

waka moored at Tairua - photo Chris Ball 

The third encounter with waka was at Tairua in January 2017. The waka Hinemoana  had found its way to Tairua Harbour –avoiding a pending violent storm – moored up for several days. 

The arrival of Hinemoana bought to mind:-

•  The finding of the pearl fishing lure of ancestors long ago at Tairua in 1964 by professor Green. evidence of fishing on Tairua shores 1300 - 1300' AD 
• The arrival to the coast of the Eastern Seaboard and eventual final resting place at Maketu. the waka Arawa. 
• Tamatekapua captain of the Waka Arawa who is said to have sighted the mountain Moehau, later settled there and when died was buried on the summit of Moehau.
• The stories and legends of the ocean life, shore ocean life of this great ocean,  waka and early  navigators - such as Tupaia of Raiatea.  

These waka have now been voyaging across Te moana nui a kiwi ( Pacific Ocean) and to other places in other oceans for more than ten years, spreading their message :-

 Protection and guardianship of our ocean life, being aware of the effects of climate change, use of fossil fuels and over fishing.

More than ever now, including our stretch of the coast, we face:- over fishing of scallops, mau mau, crabs, paua and other species essential to ocean life, not to mention climate change and use of fossil fuels.

As our ancestors of those waka left for us long ago, we need to heed their message and 

practice different methods together of protection and conservation that will see the ocean and ocean life still there for future generations. 

Like the Rahui put on recently and supported by many organisations on our stretch of coast to help stop scallop being depleted totally. 

He waka eke noa

we’re all in this boat together

waka at Tairua - photo Chris Ball 

Reference Source:

• Science Leaarning Hub NZ Welcome! — Science Learning Hub
• 0keanos   https://okeanos-foundation.org/
• Haunui Haunui - Land of Voyagers (thevoyage.co.nz)
• Hek Busby Hek Busby — Voyages of Rediscovery - E-Tangata
• Hinemoana 

Balancing ocean conservation in rock pools Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard

rocky seashore Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard - photo February 2012 Chris Ball 

The Eastern seaboard of Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( the Coromandel Peninsula) - this stretch of the coastline is rugged, born out of volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Rugged cliffs and rocks interspersed with sandy beaches line this stretch of coastline,  washed by Te Moana nui a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean ).

Rock pools at the base of the rugged cliffs provide shell fish, fish, crabs and ocean plant life. These are an exciting place for they provide the very life of the ocean - they are part of the " food web" - marine ecosystem in this area, reliant on each other for survival –  sea urchin, kina, paua, crabs, ika (fish), along with the plankton and kelp of the rock pools. Rock pools in this stretch of the coast are often nurseries for juvenile fish.        

         Ocean Rock Pools " Food web" 
        various from stock images  

All the ocean life in these rock pools are interdependent on each other. From tiny plankton and phytoplankton to the birds in the area and the dolphin, orca and shark passing through.  Once on this coast, there were paua in plenty- one place carried the name of this shell fish - now GONE!!!! There are anecdotal and local stories of rock pool shellfish including , crabs, fish and birds down in population numbers - impacting on  the very mauri ( life force/ essence) of the ocean life of  Te moana nui a Kiwi ( Pacific Ocean ). 

It is known that pollution of ocean , climate change over-harvesting, over fishing and poaching are impacting. Plastics find their way to rock pools and even erosion from storms and flood brings sedimentation. Pollution brings algae blooms, sea lettuce and toxins which impacts. 

Rock Pools Pauanui - photo August 2012 courtesy Chris Ball 

 Microscopic  plankton and phytoplankton  are the foundation of   rock pools and  ocean food in the " food web. "

Eastern Seaboard ocean rock pools provide a fascinating world to visit with family or school group. The ocean " food web" is a complex system where small organisms are eaten by larger ones. At the foundation base of the "food web" are microscopic plants and at the other end  are well-known predators like sharks and seabirds. Depending on their size and place within the "food web" , fish serve a variety of purposes and help to balance the ecosystem in many ways. 

In fact all from plants to sea creatures and from small to large, help balance the ecosytem. 

Eastern Seaboard on Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel Peninsula )  rock pools are fascinating places for families and school groups to visit at low tide. They open a window to an exciting world of diverse sea life. They are places where we can "do our thing" to :

Help restore the balance and preserve the diverse ocean life 

Exploring rock pools South Beach Pauanui - photo courtesy Chris Ball July 2012 

                 On our visits 

 Low tide is the best tide! This makes viewing ocean life –  sea creatures and plant life  -  safe and easy

• Bring a small bag with you to pick up any waste found on the coast eg plastics
• Photographs and leave Footsteps only
• Find footholds on bare rocks, which are less slippery than those covered with algae and other sensitive sea life.
• Observe, not disturb. If you overturn a rock, place  back how was found and always leave plants and sea creatures  alone.
• Leave all shells, rocks, and seaweed behind. They are needed by life in the pools.

Then maybe those things will help our ocean restore.

From stock images 

Reference Source: 

• Niwa   https://niwa.co.nz/static/extraordinary_echinoderms.pdf
• Intertidal Zone - Rockpool Life NZ , Naturalist NZ https://inaturalist.nz/guides/2468
• Plankton, National Geographic  https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/plankton/
• Living World – The rocky shore  Science Learning Hub https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2254-living-world-the-rocky-shore
• Coastal Wiki http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Te Ara Coastal Shoreline  https://teara.govt.nz/en/coastal-shoreline/page-4
• Rocky shore habitat Coastal Wiki http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Rocky_shore_habitat

Balancing ocean conservation on Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard

Looking up the Paciific Ocean coastline, Eastern Seaboard Coromandel  from beach - photo 2013 Chris Ball

Balancing the sustainability of our fisheries stocks and the impacts on the environment with the increased human activity and economic opportunities, they offer is an ongoing problem. The solutions on how plastics, overfishing and climate change are balanced and managed, reducing  effects on the environment  are essential. The ocean life - plants and ocean creatures are all part of the marine network ( including food web). Even sand like the ocean life is finite. 

Shell fish are food for crabs, crayfish or lobsters, other nursery fish and birds such as the  oyster catcher. Shells grind down in the ocean and in wave action against rocks and cliffs. Over gathering  of shell fish which in many examples,  species such as kūtai ( mussels), pipi, tuatua, kina,tio repe ( oysters) pāua  or tipa (scallops) results in a severe decline  or even complete loss of that species. The outcome less shells, shell line and sand for the future. 

No less so in Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel's ) , Eastern Seaboard, a stretch of coastline washed by Te moana nui a Kiwa ( Pacific Ocean).

Eroded cliffs Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard - photo May 2015 Chris Ball

Ngāti Hei Trust, have requested a temporary closure to tipa (scallop) fishery in the Eastern Coromandel area for two years to allow time for stocks in the area to replenish and regenerate. Their request to the Minister Fisheries and New Zealand Fisheries has been supported also, by a number of Coromandel Peninsula organisations. This request has followed a voluntary rahui by Ngati Hei at Opito Bay December 2020, an outcome of depleted tipa ( scallop) numbers. As of 16 July 2021 all are still awaiting a decision from the Minister Fisheries.( Stuff News 16/07//2021 )

tipa ( scallops )

Image from Open Library Clip Art 

Anecdotal and oral stories abound on the Eastern Seaboard. Stories of shell fish and shell fish gathering once very plentiful and now depleted or shell fish beds no longer there - even the pipi and huangi ( cockle) beds. Growing up in this area, learned times for gathering shell fish from the sea and conservation practices so that the shell fish remained in the ocean food web and for future generations.

shell fish gathering 1960's 

There are also a number of other factors contributing to depletion or loss of the shell fish besides shell fish gathering. These as an outcome of change of land use in the environment, the shoreline and the ocean - sedimentation through subdivision and forestry practices, pollution from heavy metals, chemicals oil spillages and plastics, nutrients from pipes, drains, sewerage, invasion from introduced other plants eg sea lettuce, giant kelp ( "the gorse of our seas") and algae bloom.

Factors which may lead to the death or deformity of shell fish. eg kina ( sea egg) may be, when opened, looking totally black inside and nearly empty.

To restore Ocean conservation and balance sustainabilty join together :

with community groups working to restore shellfish and shellfish beds to harbours and estuaries. Scientists from DOC, NIWA and WRC are providing a wealth of information for groups working on restoration and restoring balance  projects.

                                     

                                                           

tungangi ( Cockles)  and harihari (Clams )

          Open Library Clip Art 

Reference Source: 

For busy teachers and voluntary environmental organisations check out Green Grubs Garden Club About (greengrubsgardenclub.com)   Great  New Zealand resources 

Other Reference Source for this URL : 

• Maori Dictionary Māori Dictionary (maoridictionary.co.nz)
• Mere Whaanga, 'Mātaitai – shellfish gathering - Customary harvest and conservation today', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/mataitai-shellfish-gathering/page-3 (accessed 2 August 2021)
• Smithsonian Ocean Smithsonian Ocean | Smithsonian Ocean (si.edu)
• NIWA restoring_shellfish_beds_final.pdf (niwa.co.nz)

Te Moana nui a kiwa

Storm Te Moana nui a kiwa - photo courtesy Chris Ball 

Te moana nui a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean ) is said to cover one third of our earth's surface. Estimated to cover an incredible 169,479,000sqkm/65,436,200sqmiles. 

Boundaries of Te Moana nui a kiwa are said to be the continents of North and South Americas to the East, Australia and Asia to the west, Antarctic to the South and Arctic to the North. A big mass said to cover an area, even more than all the continents together. Within Te Moana nui a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean ) are thousands of islands - some coral atols, some volcanic and some archipelegos - chain or cluster of islands sometimes volcanic in origin.  

This great ocean mass needs ocean conservation - now in 2021 - more than ever. 

This great ocean is home to many different ocean life from tiny delicate purple storm shells ( Janthina janthina) and plankton. To the giant humpback whale which travels every year from the Antarctic and Arctic to warmer waters of the islands in the Pacific where they give birth. New Zealand where I live it is " the great humpback whale trail" or  " humpback highway" each year about June/ July from the cold icy Antarctic  Both coastlines of New Zealand towards the Kermadec Islands and from there to other islands New Caledonia and the Kermadec / Tonga trench in this great ocean to Tonga, Samoa and the Cooks. 

Humpback Whale 2015 - photo Chris Ball 

 Te moana nui a kiwa is also home for many diverse and indigenous along the coastlines and on the many islands of Te Moana nui  a kiwa ( Pacific Ocean) Including New Zealand and where I live and have always known this ocean by its Maori name - stemming from the community lived in and  whanau ( family ) passing  down the need for conservation, looking after our resource for future generations and for the ocean life living in. Have gone from what was once very plentiful to what is fast becoming  great scarcity - except for plastics. 

    In 2021
  three major pressures impacting on our ocean 
   Plastics , Over Fishing, Climate Change 

Found this map on the net - "scary stuff"  -

 seems that this ocean has a large garbage dump  called the " Great Pacific Garbage Patch - full of plastics - all arrived there via people dumping, currents, and winds. Keyed in  Tairua -  near where live. People like me who may  throw a plastic bag or bottle away on roadside edge. Down drains, creeks, rivers  this piece of plastic or bottle gets washed, until it reaches the sea - Te Moana nui  a kiwa then  travel across this large ocean - maybe 71,566 km - upsetting ocean life on its way - reaching the " Great Pacific Garbage Patch"  Even more " scary stuff" - there is tons of plastic in the whole ocean and getting washed up on the shoreline.

Check out this map where you live for yourself on  

The Ocean Clean up Plastics Locator  

Back at beginning of July, not long after a big storm, some of our community got together for a beach clean up at Tairua and Te Karo. Also our community saw Des Watson of Kiwis Clean Aotearoa  spend a few days in our stretch of the coastline doing a deep clean - including a couple of road verges . " scary stuff" 

 Check out Des Watson of Kiwis Clean Aotearoa and see what stretch of the shoreline Des is in doing a deep clean and spreading the message to all of us. Today as this blog is begun Des is at Kuaotuna - another beautiful stretch of  Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( the Coromandel Peninsula )  One day Des will be back home to his own place on the Coastline of West Coast. It is up to us to continue on doing something about it - for the sake of ocean conservation and ocean life.

Shoreline of Pauanui in cyclone Pam - photo 2016 Chris Ball 

Yes plastics in the ocean are out of control 

Have learned from   Des Watson - cannot clean up Te Moana nui a kiwa ( the Pacific Ocean ) single handedly - it is a massive problem made by all of us. However know there is a movement in our patch who says,  enough is enough!!!

                                       Time for each of us to : 

• Reduce  Use of Single-Use Plastics. ...
• Recycle Properly. ...
• Participate In (or Organize) a Beach or River Cleanup. ...
• Support  plastic Bans. ...
• Avoid Products Containing Microbeads. ...
• Spread the Word. ...
• Support Organizations Addressing Plastic Pollution.

and avoid dropping that plastic or plastic bag on this stretch of coastline - Te moana nui a kiwa needs that