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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Marine reserve's 25-year review: 'When things aren't fished the place changes'
Up to 3000 school kids visit the reserve every year and learn about its importance through the 'Experiencing Marine Reserves' programme. Photo: Supplied The jewel of the East Cape's coastline is under review for the first time in 25 years, with locals hoping the marine reserve will remain protected for many generations to come. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve is about 20 minutes north of Gisborne city and begins at Pouawa Beach. It was created in 1999, with an iwi condition that it be reviewed in 2025. The reserve stretches along a rugged slice of the East Coast and protects 2452 hectares of coastline and eight different marine habitats. Department of Conservation (DOC) marine ranger Jamie Quirk has been managing the reserve since the iwi, Ngati Konohi, began discussions with DOC in 1989 about its creation after noticing a big decline in fish stocks. After 10 years of talks the reserve was formed in 1999, and was New Zealand's largest mainland marine reserve at the time. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Quirk told RNZ it was special because there was so much people can see in ankle-deep water, making it a very accessible marine environment to explore. "When things aren't fished the place changes, and there are lots of crayfish and octopus to be seen here. "The amount of silt and stuff coming down the rivers and those things are affecting the reserve more than anything most probably, but this is basically the best of what we can make it in today's environment," he said. After 25 years of protection there is an abundance of marine species, although Quirk said the marine reserve always attracts a few poachers. However, CCTV system that captures the carpark and coastline is helping DOC keep an eye out for any dodgy behaviour. "I personally don't like the word 'poaching', that's a Robin Hood word. These people aren't Robin Hoods, they are self-centred narcisists who are stealing from the people of New Zealand. "They're taking away the future of the children who come here. I think poaching is too nice of a word for them, they're basically thieves," he said. Amy Hardy, Mahora Edwards and Jamie Quirk. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook The reserve was not only valuable for scientific reseach, especially on crayfish, but it was also educating local school kids. Amy Hardy runs the 'Experiencing Marine Reserves' programme with her brother and sister. It was an initiative her father Murray Palmer began 20 years ago to educate kids across Tairāwhiti. Each year they bring up to 3000 students out to the reserve to snorkel on the reef, learn about marine protected areas and compare a protected and unprotected marine environment. Hardy said many of the children had never seen a marine reserve. "They are really learning about why we should be protecting it, why they are seeing such bigger species or more abundance in this site and the reason for it. "It's really cool when they go back to their own parents and talk about only taking what you need," she said. Young divers enjoy the thrills of the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve. Photo: Supplied The reserve is teeming with all sorts of life, and home to many different marine species. "Kina, kōura or crayfish, fish species like blue moki, red moki, spotty fish - those are definitely some of most common ones but then also octopus... there's a whole range," said Hardy. She is keen to see the marine reserve protections remain in place. "I think it is an incredible learning environment. It's such a unique and beautiful place, I would love for it to continue so these tamariki can experience it," she said. When the reserve was formed, a condition by the iwi was for a generational review after 25 years. Mahora Edwards is the kaitiaki of the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve Committee and said it took a lot of mahi to protect this marine area. "It was really founded on whanau going out into the water and not finding any kai, so hence the need to do something about it. "It took 10 years and 135 hui, because at first people weren't interested but through perserverance and evidence of why it was needed, it was formed," she said. It was through negotiations with DOC and Ngāti Konohi that the requirement of a 25-year review was born. "The generational review was set up so we could take a look at if, and how, things have changed... If the hapu have benefitted from it, what the communities take on it is, how the stakeholders have benefitted from it as well," said Edwards. The process of assessing if any changes are needed is expected to take a year, but Mahora said the committee had recieved lots of positive feedback about the reserve - including from the local school students who had written to them in support. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve is about 20 minutes north of Gisborne city and begins at Pouawa Beach. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Quirk is on the same page, over the years he has witnessed the recovery of fish stocks and improvement of the marine environment. "Hopefully in the future we will still get to see lots of children out here enjoying themselves, lots of people enjoying themselves. "Our biggest thing is that in New Zealand we've been really good at looking after our land - 33 percent of our land mass in in national parks and reserves - but we need to do more in the sea and having places like this will show other people the benefits of marine conservation," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
New book captures the mountain-biking trails of New Zealand
environment 38 minutes ago Roughly thirty years ago a revolution took place in the world of adventure biking. It was the advent of suspension - something many riders probably take for granted - but it was key to improving off-road performance and allowing the sport of mountain-biking to take off. Now a new book, edited by Wanaka-based film-maker Nick Stevenson, showcases the best of what New Zealand has to offer mountain-bikers. It's choc-full of stunning imagery taken from photographers with a real passion for the sport themselves. Nick joins Kathryn to talk about Eden: A portrait of mountain biking in Aotearoa New Zealand, and his own interest in biking.

RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Kaikōura cruise visits expected to halve this summer
A cruise ship berthed off the coastline at Kaikōura. Photo: LDR / David Hill / North Canterbury News Economic uncertainty and rising costs have been cited as reasons for fewer cruise ships planning to visit Kaikōura this summer. Just five cruise ships are scheduled to visit Kaikōura during December, January and February, down from 11 last summer and 16 in summer 2023/24. "There's lots of reasons. Global uncertainty, Government changes and it has led to less cruise ships planning to come this season," Destination Kaikōura manager Lisa Bond said. "But everything has a cycle. This year we are down to five, but in two years we might be back to 13." She said cruise ship companies planned their schedules 18 months or two years ahead, so the global uncertainty was big a factor. But she noted cruise ship schedules are subject to change, depending on weather and other factors. Destination Kaikōura deputy chairperson Lynette Buurman said the ability to attract cruise ships has not been helped by Environment Canterbury increasing its berthage fees. As Kaikōura has small wharves, cruise ships anchor off the coast and bring tourists into the wharf by tender boats. An Environment Canterbury spokesperson said berthage fees depend on the size of the ship, ranging from $7666 for ships less than 100 metres to $16,866 for ships 200 metres or more. Cancellation fees also apply. Kaikōura's pristine coastline. Photo: LDR / David Hill / North Canterbury News It covers the costs of chart updates, operation and maintenance of navigation aids, and operation and maintenance of safety management systems. The berthage fees have not changed in the last 12 months, the spokesperson said. Other tourist hot spots are also experiencing sharp declines in cruise ship bookings. Bay of Islands' cruise ship bookings for the 2025/26 season have almost halved from their peak two years ago, from 92 to 47. A cruise ship representative told Local Democracy that cost increases had contributed to the drop. Bond said Kaikōura enjoyed a busy summer and autumn, while King's Birthday weekend, Matariki weekend and the July school holidays brought strong numbers of visitors to the town. April was a particularly strong month, with the spend from domestic visitors up 15 percent compared to last year, while accommodation bookings were up 7 percent. Strong domestic support continued in May, with the spend up 13 percent and guest nights up 14 percent compared to May 2024. Bond said the bulk of domestic visitors come from Canterbury, with visitor numbers from Auckland and Wellington also up. There has also been growth in international visitors, according to visitor data. International visitor spend, excluding accommodation (which is now pre-paid), is up 13 percent, which suggests either a higher average spend or an increase in day visits. A busy few months are expected, with the Kaikōura Whale Run and the Kaikōura Hop in September, followed by the school holidays, the Mountains to Sea Marathon and Labour Weekend in October, and the Kaikōura Trotting Cup in November, before summer gets into full swing. Destination Kaikōura is a partnership between the Kaikōura District Council and local tourism operators.