Liaison with some local hapu and iwi to establish an open partnership relationship early on. Some meetings with Te Runanga o Iwi o Ngati Kahu, Waimanoni Marae with Rangaunu Harbour group, Kenana Marae with Matarahurahu hapu and Parapara Marae, also attended monthly Runanga meeting at Oturu Marae to introduce ourselves. Joint trip to Gisborne in 2006 to see Marine Reserve.
We acknowledge the instruction we had at our meetings in the early days from Uncle Taki (John Matthews) and Paki Tukariri from Kenana, and Dave Panckhurst from Coopers Beach for marine protection in Tokarau. They are no longer with us, and we hope our community can fulfil their wishes in future.
Contact with local groups eg Sportsfishing Club, Business Association etc.
We have endeavoured to work together with hapu, iwi and Te Runanga A Iwi o Ngati Kahu to see successful marine protection established in Doubtless Bay. We promote community management of the local marine environment for enhancement and protection, while recognising Kaitiakitanga, and their Mana moana and Mana whenua. Our group endeavours to remain open and transparent and welcoming to all.
Regular monthly meetings 2003 – 2011 with a wide range of people from the community including members from the local Recreational Fishing Group, divers, local hapu and iwi, schools, conservationists, Doubtless Bay Sports fishing Club, commercial fishing industry, and the education sector.
Flyer 2004 produced about our group covering objectives and long-term goals, local recognised marine problems in our Bay, and some of the marine protection options we are looking into.
Discussion Document towards a Community Marine Management Plan for Doubtless Bay 2005 researched and produced by Marine Biologist Leane Makey. Our group liased with her during her one year contract and held several public meetings and hui to ensure the issues and information were relevant to our community. This 117 page document was completed in August 2005 and this was used as the basis for our Discussion Document 2007.
Doubtless Bay Habitat Mapping Project 2005 done by Vince Kerr and Roger Grace. Our group liased with DoC in getting this comprehensive underwater study collected thorough baseline data of the underwater environment in our Bay to enable scientific comparisons over time. This was presented publicly by Vince Kerr in February 2006 and is a fantastic resource now and into the future.
“Protecting Tangaroa: Community Management of the Marine Area” weekend hui in March 2007. Helped facilitate together with Parapara Marae, Ngati Kahu and Dept of Conservation Presentations, information sharing and practical demonstrations from kaumatua, marine biologists, guest speakers and locals. Hone Taumanu, Ngati Konohi came up from Whangara to share their Marine Reserve background, implementation and monitoring.
Marine Contacts List of people interested in our local marine environment. Marine conservation management plans throughout NZ gathering info on projects mplemented by local people in other areas eg Kaipara Harbour, Whangara, Friends of Fiordland, Hokianga Accord, White Island.
Group visit to Omaha/ Goat Island Marine Reserve at Leigh 2003 guided snorkel experience and overnight Marae stay. We experienced the pride of the local people in their reserve.
Group visit to Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve at Whangara, north of Gisborne 2006. Four day trip to see the joint partnership between Ngati Konohi and DoC and largely managed by local hapu. This gave valuable insight into their motivations and what results they are now seeing.
Public meetings and presentations
- Seaweek public presentations by Vince Kerr, Samara Sutherland and Carolyn Smith.
- Caged Fish Farming awarenss by Don Staniford with his public presentation on the environmental effects of this.
- Bill Ballantine, Marine Biologist from Goat Island Marine Reserve on the benefits and effects of Marine Reserves on the local marine environment.
- Hone Taumaunu from Whangara talking about their Marine Reserve near Gisborne.
- “A Kaipara Affair” documentary by Barry Barclay about Kaipara Harbour Guardians.
- Whaingaroa Harbour Care project, Raglan Fred Lichwark outlined their results in reversing fish decline and sedimentation through community planting and fencing of waterways over the past 20 years.
- Marine Panui Newsletters published reporting on our progress with current events etc.
- Radio interviews on Te Hiku o Te Ika and Doubtless Bay Community Radio.
- Newspaper articles regularly published in local papers over the years.
Beach Clean-ups supported at Maitai Bay, Aurere including some underwater diving and removal of sea floor rubbish such as lead sinkers and old fishing line.
“Proposed Aquaculture Management Areas” in 2003 – submission put to NRC.
Marine Education
- “Experiencing Marine Reserves” programme supported in local schools with Mountains to the Sea Trust
- Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Marine Biology Courses working with students in Doubtless Bay supported by us.
- Whitebait Connection programme supported in local schools, experiencing fresh water ecosystems and measuring water quality indicators.
Marine Oral History Project Outlined the importance of gathering this knowledge now in our community, as there is little scientific info from the past in our Bay. Started to assemble evidence and information on what our local marine environment was like in the past, so that we know what we can aim for with marine restoration. Basic costing done for this project.
Fishing History in our Bay Oral History Project “Our stories: recollections by locals about what the fishing was like in Doubtless Bay / Tokerau” compiled by Mary Ralph. We overviewed Marys Royal Society Fellowship.
Radio interviews of fishing history interviews and group members
Incorporated Charitable Society with Charitable status formed in 2007, so our group can receive funding and become independent of Far North Environment Centre.
Range of Marine Management options, information gathered principally on Mataitai, Taiapure, Marine Reserves, Marine Parks, Section 186 Rahui closures.
Kaitiakitanga Hui concepts clarifying what this means for our group and our local community.
Funding outlined for future Marine Projects: Co-ordinator, Signage & Display info, Marine Watch, Community consultation of Discussion Document, Events, guest speakers & Hall hire, Data analysis, Oral History project. Put basic costings to these projects.
Rahui on Mangonui Harbour by Matarahurahu hapu supported banning set netting for 3 years from 2004 – 2007.
Proposal to re-open upper Mangonui Harbour with a bridge replacing the small culvert supported by us, to help tidal flow and reduce sedimentation.
Discussion Document Towards a Community Marine Management Plan for the wider Doubtless Bay/ Tokerau area 2007 / 2008 publicly released and distributed widely with a questionnaire attached to gather usable data and opinion from our community and users of the marine environment as to what they want to see happen.
Questionaire data results from the Community Discussion Document publicised 2009: 95% people concerned about local marine environment, 90% felt Maori and Pakeha should work better together on these issues, 91% supporting a Marine Management Plan for our Bay, and 84% felt the fishery would be enhanced with some reserve areas.
Liasing with Bay of Islands Marine Management Group to share information and resources. Attended several of their meetings in 2006 – 2007.
Northland Marine Sustainability Pilot Workshop 2007 attended in Whangarei hosted by DoC and NRC.
Voluntary Fishing Code 2010 Drafted for our Bay with local fisher Peter.
Towards a Community Marine Management Plan for our Bay 2011 Following on from our questionnaire results we networked locally for a Marine Plan to include a voluntary code of fishing practice, supporting maori customary fishing practices and management tools eg Rahui, Mataitai, clean waterways from the hills to the sea, a network of small marine reserves up to 10% of the marine area of the Bay; to give children and adults genuine natural experiences and to give baseline data to help local management of the remaining 90% of the Bay.
Kaimoana changes in our Bay - what we have lost 2011 summary of al the anecdotal evidence we have collected about the species changes in our Bay. Statement of Intent for a Living Sea Marine Plan in Doubtless Bay / Tokarau 2011 Our summary of where to from here, after 8 years of community work towards improving our local marine environment. See our documents.
Jet Ski issues around Hihi and Mangonui Harbour: We supported hapu concerns about noise, speed and safety issues with jet ski users.
Sewage plant problems in our area - Taipa plant consent expired in 2008, Hihi plant overflow concerns, special Aurere environment receiving the East Coast sewage plant outflow.
Supported Petition calling for ban of commercial fising in Doubtless Bay 2015. Glen Mitchell organised with public meetings at Karikari.
Waiora NRC Doubtless Bay Catchment Group 2012 - 2018 We have been part of this group. Following the communitys concerns about our fresh water quality, NRC chose Doubtless Bay as one of its 5 focus catchments in our region. Collaborative group with range of stakeholders; Runanga, hapu, farmer groups; sheep and beef, dairy, forestry, environmental suc as ours, sailing clubs etc. Focus on improving water quality monitoring, more clearly identifying our local water quality problem sources, gathering more fresh water ecosystem info for our catchment, sewage treatment issues, sedimentation issues. Specifc catchment rules formed for NRC Regional Plan.
Our Marine Management Plan concepts and mapping remain available as a future resource We continue to support that a wholistic Tokarau Marine Plan be collaborated and actioned on by our whole local community in the near future. We note a recent Rahui at Maitai Bay fishing grounds, which we feel is extremely positive. We note and support that Taipa pipi beds and the new bridge effects are being advocated for by Parapara Marae. Central government has not yet upgraded their legislation to enable communities such as ours to have an easier path to action. We are holding our resources and funds for future use when some more people come forward to action our Living Sea aims as per our Constitution.