The project
Although all looks well on the surface, the Hauraki Gulf
(
Tīkapa Moana or Te Moana-nui-a-Toi
In one Hauraki tradition, Tīkapa Moana takes its name from Gannet Rock, northwest of Waiheke Island. Tīkapa means ‘sound of mournful sobbing’ referring to the ebb and flow of the tide around this rock. It was here that early Maori performed rituals and ceremonies to claim the land when they first arrived in Aotearoa. Te-Moana-nui-a-Toi or ‘The great ocean of Toi’ refers to the early Polynesian explorer and navigator.
) is under serious stress. Sedimentation, overfishing, climate change and plastic pollution are all taking their toll on these beautiful waters. Marine mammals, fish and sea bird species are dwindling in numbers, or are not returning. Entire areas of the Gulf are losing the life they have known for millennia.
For a full summary of the ecological issues affecting the Gulf, see: State of our Gulf Report 2020.
Sediment is a critical issue
Sediment is a huge issue in the Hauraki Gulf. And it's an area where we can make a difference! SBN’s key focus is planting waterways to stem the flow of sediment into the Gulf.
Human activities have significantly increased the amount of soil eroding into our waterways. This sediment flows into our harbours and settles as a layer on the ocean floor, smothering the habitat of shellfish and other aquatic creatures and creating dead zones. Sediment particles also damage fish gills and block light which is vital for the growth of algae (an important food source).
