An estuaries toolkit for New Zealand communities Gretchen Robertson & Monica Peters Published by the TAIERI Trust, 2006 Cover Artwork by Theresa Reihana - www.maoriart.com Illustrations by Monica Peters Graphic Design by Mark Jackson - www.ecoimage.co.nz This work is copyright. The copying, adaptation, or issuing of this work to the public on a non-profit basis is welcomed. No other use of this work is permitted without the prior consent of the copyright holder(s). The TAIERI Trust acknowledges the Minister for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund, which is administered by the Ministry for the Environment. The Ministry for the Environment does not support or endorse the content of this publication in any way. I Acknowledgements Thank you to the Waikouaiti-Karitane River and Estuary Care Group for your patience in trialing early drafts of the monitoring section. To Dr Barry Robertson and Leigh Stevens of Wriggle Coastal Management, your willingness to work with us to develop user-friendly tools for estuarine monitoring and assessment have transformed this kit from an idea to a reality. To Mark Jackson for his wonderful graphic design skills. To the Cawthron Institute for providing images and advice, especially Rod Asher for his species identification knowledge. To employees of the New Zealand Landcare Trust for providing information about community estuary groups around New Zealand. To the Manawatu Estuary Trust for providing us with inspiration and a copy of your wonderful CD. To the Auckland Regional Council and Christchurch City Council for information about your estuarine programmes. To NIWA for providing inspiration through your mangrove based ‘Estuary Monitoring by Communities’ document. Thanks also to Rob McGowan for providing the photos demonstrating the traditional uses of estuarine sediments for piu piu dying. We note the huge voluntary efforts being made by estuary- care groups throughout the country and recognise your passion as a huge motivating force. Our huge gratitude for the vital funding role of the Ministry for the Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund. We also acknowledge the support offered by the NZ Landcare Trust. We would finally like to extend a huge thanks to our friends and families who encouraged and supported our vision for engaging communities in caring for their local environment. II Contents Acknowledgements II Contents III Turning the Tide: What can this kit do for us? IV The Authors V Chapter 1 - Introduction 1 Why care about mud? 1 Culture and History of Our Estuaries 2 Why value estuaries? 4 The Ecology of Our Estuaries 5 The plants of the estuary 9 Chapter2-ASolid Grounding 10 Step One: - Holding an initial meeting 11 Step Two: - Mapping what you know 14 Step Three: - The Matrix 17 Where to next 20 Chapter 3 - Building up a Picture of Estuarine Health 22 Investigating Estuarine Impacts 23 Mapping Tips - Info you need to get underway 25 Mapping your estuary 27 Estuary Warrant of Fitness Check 48 Taking it to the next level 54 What's Possible? 55 Chapter 4 - Sharing the Knowledge 58 General Estuary Resources for the Classroom 59 Fieldtrip Resources 61 Resources for Adults 63 Chapter 5 - Linkages and Networks 64 Some New Zealand Estuary Groups and Projects 65 Community Group Case Studies 66 A Network of Experts 72 Seeking Funding 74 Making Submissions 76 References 77 Appendix 1 - Species 80 Common Species of the Estuarine Mudflat 80 Other Estuarine Organisms 90 Seaweeds 94 Appendix 2 - Cockle Monitoring Methodology 96 III Turning the Tide: What can this kit do for us? Chapter 1: Introduction: Why Care About Mud What can this part do for us? # Introduce the special features of estuaries # Put your estuary into a national context Chapter 2: A Solid Grounding This section outlines a structured process for getting together as a community to share ideas and think about the future of your estuary. What can this part do for us? # Provide information on how to run a community meeting # Record the known current and historical condition of your estuary # Assess the community values associated with the estuary # Highlight key areas for future action Where to next? You decide! Every estuary will have a different set of issues and values, where you want to go next is your decision. This kit provides the tools to assist. You can choose as many or as few as you want. Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Building up a Picture Sharing the Knowledge Linkages Monitoring Widening Resources, estuarine ecology awareness networks & advice What can this part do for us? What can this part do for us? What can this part do for us? # # # Further community links Build up a wider community Provide inspiration from, and links appreciation to, other community groups to the estuary # # # Get schools involved Outline resources available Fill knowledge gaps # # # Unite communities in learning and Offer advice on getting involved in Track changes over time having fun in their local environment local government planning # Illustrate to agencies genuine # List agencies with interests in interest/concern from the estuaries community # Add credibility to issues raised with resource management agencies IV Turning the Tide The Authors Gretchen Robertson Monica Peters This kit arose from a One of my long-term community’s desire interests is getting to know more about science out there the Waikouaiti and making it fun. Estuary, Otago. Over the years, I Monica and I worked have worked on a with this community diverse range of to trial a draft kit conservation-related based predominantly publications, on ecological facilitated volunteer monitoring. It environmental became clear while working with this management/restoration projects, carried out community, that scientific monitoring can leave habitat assessments, and monitored birds and more questions unanswered than answered plants in many places around the world. within estuaries. Although a lot of useful information was gained, a suite of useful I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts and more information was also missed. recently a Diploma of Science in ecology. A component of my diploma involved assessing After further work on this resource, we have the ability of resources to allow communities to endeavoured to design a kit that can be of participate in scientific monitoring. The draft value across New Zealand. It harnesses estuarine monitoring kit became my model for communities’ valuable existing knowledge as this work. Monitoring does not need to be a baseline for decision making on future action confusing, onerous or boring! and provides tools for moving forward. In my current wetland restoration work with the After graduating with a BSC Honours in New Zealand Landcare Trust, I’m inspired and ecology from the University of Otago in 1999, I impressed by the conservation projects took up water quality scientist positions within developed and implemented by dedicated the Wellington and then Otago Regional community groups around New Zealand. I Councils. I currently work for the New Zealand believe in the value of coordinated bottom-up Landcare Trust where I was project coordinator approaches for protecting and enhancing the for the TAIERI Trust from 2001-2006. The TAIERI environment. Trust is a multi-stakeholder integrated catchment management project aiming to enhance information exchange and waterway health within the Taieri River catchment. I am also an Otago Regional Councilor representing the Dunedin constituency. Science can never substitute for the intimate day to day relationship a community has with their environment. The taste of a fat juicy cockle, the squelch of gumboots across the mudflats, the carnival atmosphere of whitebaiting season, or the rituals of a pair of oyster catchers may seem like minute details tangled amidst our busy lives. But it is these inherent observations that shape our values and aspirations for our local estuary. These small details arm communities with a set of tools enviable within any scientific laboratory. An estuaries toolkit for New Zealand communities V VI Turning the Tide Chapter 1: Introduction Why Care about Mud? Estuaries are the point where streams and rivers rest momentarily as they contemplate their destiny amidst the great salty ocean. As the river lulls in its peaceful respite, it starts to unload its burden - particles washed from the Introduction headwaters, foothills and plains of the surrounding catchment. These particles accumulate within the estuary as mementos of the river’s journey. The health of the surrounding land very much affects the health of the estuary. Estuaries are far more than just a geological process however! We New Zealanders love our estuaries! Estuaries have long been regarded as useful to humans as sheltered The health of your local harbours and food gathering sites. It is no estuary reflects not only the surprise that most large towns in New Zealand current value, but also the are built around them. Although we have historical value, your recognised the benefits estuaries can provide, community placed on it. we have not realised our own strength in terms of our impacts upon them. With population increases and industrialisation our impacts have been ever intensifying. Human development around the margins of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Christchurch Photo, Cawthron Institute Local people check for whitebait at the mouth of the Kakanui Estuary Photo, Gretchen Robertson 1 Turning the Tide Culture and History of Our Estuaries Introduction Tangata Whenua Values Estuaries and their surrounding margins are regarded by Mãori as a taonga or treasure. Many have historical and cultural importance and may include wahi tapu (sacred sites). They are mahinga kai (food gathering) sites, and provide significant habitats for a range of culturally important animals including fish, tuna (eel), birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Many plants found in estuaries are used for weaving, medicine and carving. Sheltered coastal sites were the first homes for Piupiu dying, Matakana Island our early Polynesian migrants.