Summer Edition 2010

Welcome... To the Matakana Island Environment Groups Autumn Edition of the Mahiwhenua Newsletter. We aim to keep the

whanau informed of all the environmental happenings on our Island and across the motu. We hope you find the

articles interesting and informative!! If you know of anyone who wants to be on our mailing list please contact us.

Have you noticed some different looking creatures in our moana lately?? We are facing threats to our marine ecosystems everyday as ships come in to the Port of Tauranga from all over the world. The super invasive Didymo is just one example of an introduced foreign pest. An American angler visiting New Zealand was the likely origin of the didymo plague that threatens to cost the country up to $285 million and has ravaged some of our “pristine” rivers. Vessels from all over the world enter Tauranga Harbour every week bringing in imports such as oil and fertiliser, and taking out exports such as kiwifruit and logs. Unfortunately these and other vessels can also bring in marine pests – either hitching a ride as “fouling” on ships’ hulls, or in ballast water discharged into our coastal waters. There have been two recent marine pest identifications in Tauranga Harbour – the Asian date mussel (Musculista senhousia) and the Asian kelp(Undaria pinnatifida). The Asian date mussel is small (up to 3 cm) and brown to green in colour. It lives in shallow and calm areas of the harbour. Young date mussels seep out tiny threads which attach to sand grains and join with those from neighbouring mussels to form a thick, hard mat. These mats can prevent other shellfish species and sea grass from growing, surviving for one or two years before they die or drift to somewhere else. The Asian Date Mussel has been found in thick mats around the pipi beds at Ratahi Rock and this once abundant supply has now totally gone!!

Undaria, or Asian kelp, grows on rocky surfaces, shell beds and artificial structures like wharves, marine farming equipment and boat hulls. It grows very fast, forming forests of up to 2 m in height. Undaria can prevent native marine species from growing and may cause problems to the aquaculture industry as it grows on equipment and smothers shellfish produce. Undaria has spread to most major New Zealand ports and many harbours. It was first recorded in Tauranga Harbour in November 2005 and has been found on shell banks inside the harbour entrance and on man-made structures at the southern end of the port wharves. Saltwater Paspalum This plant lives around the edge of the harbour and is very similar to kikuya grass. Not too much is known yet about his plant except that it is invasive and spreads rapidly and smothers native plant life. We have this growing in areas around the coastal margins of the Island and Witana Murray has been eradicating this pest for EBOP during the past year. There are three routes by which marine organisms can arrive in our moana - in ballast water, in marine aquaria, and by hull fouling. Hull fouling includes commercial vessels, international residen-tial vessels, national residential vessels, and overseas fishing boats. Ballast water is sea water taken on board for stability, often in one country and discharged before loading. Such water can contain undesirable organisms, especially if taken on board in a harbour. Although there are many ways to eradicate pest weeds, once a marine pest is introduced to the harbour it is near impossible to eradicate it from our moana, one of our only defences is the MAF and Biosecurity controls of our international borders and public awareness to ensure our own boaties/vessels are not spreading pests from harbour to harbour. If you find or see anything unusual, bring a sample of it or take a photo and drop it off to the Matakana Is Environment Group (at Te Akakura Native Nursery) or take it into EBOP.

Colony of Asian Date Mussell Close-up

Asian Kelp

Saltwater Paspalum

The Opureora wetland is located along Opureora Rd and can be clearly seen as you drive along. It was a highly

modified palustrine wetland system and is approximately 1 ha in size. Years of intensive grazing had reduced

the native plant species to native grass species with emergent Wiwi species. The degradation of these native plants

has had major effects on the small juvenile eels that use this wetland system as a source of refuge. This in turn has

had an effect on the bird life that rely on these areas for food especially the Australasian bittern which is seen on

numerous occasions when water levels are high. This area is of particular importance to the local people both

culturally and environmentally. It is the only known site on Matakana Island that supports such large numbers of

juvenile eels which migrate into the wetland through the Waipuna (spring that is connected to the inner harbour via

alluvial vents). Without this area many of the old people say the numbers of eels found on Matakana Island would

become scarce and disrupt the balance of wetland biodiversity. At present the Opureora Trust and the Matakana

Island Environment Group has worked with both Nga Whenua Rahui & Environment Bay of Plenty to plan and

implement the restoration program. This involves pest plant eradication, planting native plant species on the margins

and fencing off the area from stock in the hope to increase the numbers of eel populations to a more sustainable level.

The main part of this project has been completed and there is an on-going weed control program for the next 2 years.

This wetland is now starting to look really good as the plants are starting to emerge!!

In 2009 the whanau from Matauri Bay were welcomed onto Opureora for a 2 day stay. There kaupapa was to consider what Te Moutere o

Matakana was doing with regard to kaitiakitanga and any environmental projects we were undertaking, oh and cos they have been reading

Mahiwhenua! Although Te Aka Kura (the nursery) had not been formally opened the Matauri Bay whanau had come to gauge the notion of

having a community nursery for their rohe. In particular they were curious about the different complexities that may have arisen when

initiating the concept for a Tangata whenua/community nursery (such as ours) financially through Nga Whenua Rahui, politically –EBOP,

WBOPDC etc and the whanau, hapu, iwi support that is most imperative for the very success of this type of project.

We as a whanau shared korero with our manuhiri that would optimistically inspire again the relationship that Maori have with their

environment and the responsibility that is required as Kaitiaki to fulfill the objectives of any idea, such as the Matakana Island Restoration

Plan. They were taken on a visit to the completed sites like the Hamiora Whanau Trust wetland, Richard & Roharia Murray Farm wetland

and a visit to Te Aka Kura to observe techniques around seed collecting (we access most seed/cuttings from the island, we also head to Otawa,

Manoeka Track, Marutuahu Track and Aongatete Kaimai/Mamaku area). It was awesome to host other whanau who went away with an

understanding of what is required when dealing with multiply owned Maori Land and the ultimate positive difference that the restoration mahi

will have upon the whenua and the whanau, over time.. ka huri.. Nessie Kuka

Native Focus Ponga (Silver Fern) - Cyathea dealbata As legend tells it the Ponga was one of the ferns who once lived in the sea, but was forced to flee with his taller brother, Mamaku to the safety of the forests when pursued by Tawhaki the atua of lightning. In times gone by, the Ponga fronds were used to sleep on and the woody fibre which is poisonous was used during war to make ponga tipped spears called kootaha. As a rongoa you use the pikopiko of the ponga – an easy way to tell that its

the right fern is that the hair on the frond is black and falls of easily when you

rub it. Remove all the hair with the edge of a knife. Cut of slices as needed

and rub on sore/tired eyes, or is excellent for healing burns, or the pith is

excellent for treating any wounds or ulcers or poultice onto boils.

Basic gardening is something that everyone can do. Some are good at it and have a fairly good knowledge base that has been built up over

years and others not so good. However way you look at it, the one factor that makes up good and healthy plants is the soil. Soil is the

absolute basis of agriculture – and, therefore, of human existence. We survive by eating plants grown in the soil, or by eating animals that eat

plants grown in the soil. Quite clearly, soil is the most important national resource. Wise use and management of the relatively thin upper

layer, the topsoil, is crucial for us to maintain good health and a high standard of living.

But, because of misuse through intensive mono-cropping, excessive use of fertilizers and toxic pesticide sprays, a frightening large amount

of topsoil is lost to erosion – well over 30 tonnes per hectare in some of the worst-affected areas like slopping hillsides. It can take several

hundred years for a couple of centimetres of soil to form, so it’s obvious we cannot keep losing our topsoil at this rate for much longer.

Some of our once-fertile soil, along with our groundwater and wells, is being polluted by toxic substances. We are literally in danger of

destroying the land that feeds us. If we look a little at the detail of soil, it’s not just dirt. It’s a very complex substance, a mixture of several

components, formed by the weathering of rocks on the earth’s crust. Typical soil is made up of:

About 45% minerals. Some, such as sand, clay and iron oxides, are insoluble and are not used by plants; others, such as calcium, potassium

and magnesium, are soluble and valuable plant nutrients. Particles of minerals range in size from coarse gravel and sand to fine silt and small

clay particles (colloidal).

About 25% water. It’s needed as part of the plant cells, and to dissolve and carry nutrients. But too much water in the soil can exclude the

necessary air.

About 25% air. It provides oxygen to the roots and micro-organisms, and nitrogen to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. A good supply of air is vital

for fertile soil.

About 1-5% organic matter. This includes living soil organisms and dead organic matter that decomposes to form humus. Good soil has 2-

5% organic matter, and up to 10% is beneficial.

So what does this all mean?

One way to maintain a healthy soil annually year after year is by rotating your crops to allow specific nutrient requirements to be taken up by

the various selected species of your garden. As a basic rule of thumb for example, crops that are grown on top of the soil take out more

nitrogen than plants grown under the soil. Basically, different crops have different nutritional requirements. Rotating crops over several years

slows the depletion of various nutrients from the soil. Some crops (beans, peas, and other legumes) add nitrogen to the soil, reducing the

amount of fertilizer necessary for crops grown in the same location the subsequent year. In addition, alternating between crops with tap roots,

such as Kumara, and those with fibrous roots, such as Sweet corn, allows for long-term improvement in soil structure.

The following list of crop families should be helpful to you in selecting plants for your rotation schedule. The number one rule to remember

is plants in the same family should not be planted in the same spot in the garden for at least two to three years to enable healthy and sizeable

crops. Below is a list of the common families:

Mustard Family: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, turnip, rutabaga, radish, Chinese cabbage, kale, collards

Nightshade Family: tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato

Legumes (Pea Family): beans, peas, soybeans

Cucurbits (Gourd Family): cucumber, squash, Kamokamo, watermelon,

pumpkin, gourd

Chenopodium Family: beet, spinach

Carrot Family: carrot, parsnip, parsley, celery, fennel, dill

Sunflower Family: lettuce, sunflower

Onion Family: onion, garlic, leek, shallot, scallion, chives

Written by Jason Murray

Upcoming Events

• Start of Restoration Program

on Te Hoe Palmer’s Wetland

• Kumara harvest at the kura

• Environment Bay of Plenty—

Environmental Enhancement

Fund closes April 12th

CONTACTCONTACTCONTACTCONTACT

Aroha Armstrong Matakana Island

Post Office TAURANGA

Ph: 07 579 4111 Fax: 07 579 4112

Email: matakanamci@ihug.co.nz

*If you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter

please contact us

Acknowledgements Biodiversity Advisory Fund

Tangata Whenua

Hinewai Taingahue

Nessie Kuka

Nga taonga o Te MoutereNga taonga o Te MoutereNga taonga o Te MoutereNga taonga o Te Moutere

Sand daphne (Pimelia arenaria)

The Pimelia arenaria or NZ Sand daphne is

an endangered native sand dune plant. This

plant has become very rare in the Bay of

Plenty and is threatened throughout New

Zealand by competition from marram grass;

trampling by cattle, sheep and horses;

browsing of seedlings by possums; seed

destruction by rodents; vehicle damage and

fire. More worryingly it has been observed

that fruiting plants are now rarely seen. It is

suspected that the low fruit set being observed is due to the decline of and perhaps loss from

some areas of pollinators (bees & insects). We are very lucky to have small populations of

this plant on our dunes here at Matakana and we have been successful in propagating it by

seed at Te Akakura Native Nursery to ensure this plants survival.

What is a Hapu Resource Management Plan?

A Hapu Resource Management Plan is a plan that is recognised by your iwi authority, it may be a formal planning document

similar to council policy documents, or, a statement of hapu policies in a less formal and detailed memo. These plans are usually

developed by whanau, hapu or iwi for their whanau, hapu, iwi. They provide korero on the position of the Tangata whenua on a

range of issues so these can be heard and considered by councils and other stakeholders.

Over the last 2-3years a small group of whanau has attempted to create a document that would best represent tangata whenua

statements and policies within a comprehensive plan that looks at the next 100 years for us and our mokopuna. This mahi is

fulfilling and serious and although it has not been completed another attempt for completion of our Plan has been discussed and

hopefully with more dedication and commitment we will have our korero ready and not be pressured by others who have no

whakapapa to the whenua and therefore do not comprehend the reasoning of this type of korero.

A Hapu Resource Management Plan is a vision of how the management and protection of natural and physical resources can be

achieved based on the cultural and spiritual values of tangata whenua. For Matakana and Rangiwaea, a Plan would assist to:

• Avoid reactive responses to resource consent applications or issues and policies (including resource management

plans) that affect Matakana me Rangiwaea

• Clearly state Matakana me Rangiwaea hapu kaupapa on environmental issues

• Enable Matakana me Rangiwaea whanau, hapu to exercise their tino rangatiratanga over ancestral taonga and

tribal resources

• State how Matakana me Rangiwaea hapu intend to participate in resource management processes

• Directly influence how regional and district councils develop policy on matters of significance to Matakana me

Rangiwaea hapu

• Clearly state expectations about how organisations should exercise their functions and responsibilities under the

Resource Management Act with regard to Matakana me Rangiwaea tribal rohe

• Set out ground rules for consultation with Matakana me Rangiwaea hapu

The island is undergoing some significant changes environmentally, developmentally and socially, and as Tangata whenua our

voice in all matters pertinent to these aspects is required even more. If you would like to assist in bringing our Plan to fruition,

nau mai haere mai. Contact - Nessie Kuka on 0277278301

Hapu Resource Management Plan