Saturday 28 August 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 
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Wednesday 11 August 2021

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: 





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Sunday 1 August 2021

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 )

Reference Source: 

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

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