Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Human Chain

The world’s first human chain around the world’s first student-driven marine reserve will be created today.

The Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme, supported by the Department of Conservation, is organising the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Human Chain event as part of Conservation Week 2009.

1098 Northland students, parents’ teachers and community members are registered to join hands to form the chain around the landward boundary of the marine reserve at Reotahi (Motukaroro) today. 65 personnel are managing this event. Over 10 boats will form the links on the seaward boundary. Dive Tutukaka’s ‘Perfect Day’ will travel as a show of support from Tutukaka to Motukaroro and will be the media base from 12.00pm.

The huge event follows the theme of strong student and community voice and action – Kaitiakitanga – that the EMR programme embraces and the Department of Conservation fosters, says co-organiser Samara Nicholas.

“The event will help raise awareness of the marine reserve boundaries and promote community guardianship with a goal of reducing the number of infringements within the reserve. Our aim is to encourage people to take positive action and do the right thing themselves rather than presenting a challenge to compliance.”

EMR has a genuine interest in the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve, with it being utilised as part of our EMR marine education programmes including snorkelling at the Motukaroro site. EMR also runs guided community snorkel days at the Motukaroro site, co-organisers Samara, Kim and Nicki are past students of Kamo High School, which was responsible for the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve proposal.

“This marine reserve conserves unique marine biodiversity for the enjoyment of future generations. I am proud to have been involved in its establishment as a past student of Kamo High and co-chief organiser of this ambitious world first event,” Ms Nicholas says.

“EMR works with schools and communities throughout New Zealand offering first-hand marine experiences and encouraging action for the marine environment. It's great to be a part of such a massive event that will draw attention to the boundaries of this marine reserve through a colossal amount of community teamwork and spirit” says Northland EMR coordinator and human chain co-chief organiser, Kim Boyle.

Supporting organisations: Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust/Experiencing Marine Reserves– event organisation and management

• Department of Conservation – responsible for managing the marine reserve where event taking place, financial and support staff for event
• Transfield – traffic management planning and coordination, sponsored TMP
• Radio Rentals – discount radio equipment
• Whangarei District Council – land reserve where event taking place
• NZ Police – Observers
• Webb Ross – Legal advice
• Dive Tutukaka – Media base
• Manaia Club – Parking facilities
• NRC – Harbour master official
• Association of Maori Wardens – Event traffic management
• St John – First Aid service
• Radio Rentals – discount hire radios

Participating Schools (human chain links):

Kamo Primary, Whau Valley School, Te Horo School, Kerikeri Primary, Parua Bay School, Mangakahia Area School, Kamo High School, Northland Health Camp, Whananaki School, Kamo Intermediate, Manaia View, Ngunguru School, Otangarei and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Rawhitiroa.

Participating organisations (human chain link supervisors): Greenpeace, NIWA, Northtec, Department of Conservation, Northland Regional Council, Whangarei District Council, Dive Inn

Participating boats (seaward boundary links):

Noel Cronin Fishing Charters, Northland Dive, Dive Tutukaka’s Perfect Day, Oakura Bay fish and dive, Ocean Diversity, Orca Rescue, Marine North, Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conservation

Extra Information
Itinerary

10am-11am – Registration

10.30am - 11.00am People get into place along the chain – advised by event personnel

11:15am – There will be hornblowing coordinated over the VHF comms at approximately 11:15 am to signal a 10 second countdown. OUR MARINE RESERVE! Will then be yelled out and aerial photos and footage taken. Followed by 2 Mexican waves, a 5 min pause for cameraperson change-over in helicopter, then another 2 mexican waves.

12.00pm – Meet on beach by yellow triangle below Reotahi carpark (Stage 9 - see map). Pick up media and transfer via tender to ‘Perfect Day’ for media conference and nibbles.

Your Safety: Please remember that whilst we are putting advanced safety measures in place on the day, you play an important role in ensuring your own safety. Please be aware of the rocky terrain and oysters. Please take note of the emergency procedure, available from our registration desk.

Background

The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve was first proposed by students of Kamo High School in 1990. The Motukaroro and Waikaraka sites attained marine reserve status in October 2006 and are believed to be a world first through the school’s ongoing commitment. The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve protects 253.7 hectares or 2.54% of the Whangarei Harbour, and is made up of two sites including a unique rocky reef site at Motukaroro (Aubrey/Passage Island) near Reotahi and an intertidal mudflat/mangrove environment at Waikaraka.

Department of Conservation formally opened the reserve on 18 October 2006, DOC are responsible for management of the reserve.

Experiencing Marine Reserves – EMR www.emr.org.nz
EMR is a programme of the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. Other programmes we have developed include the Whitebait Connection, Mangrove Discovery and Drains to Harbour (DTH) stormwater programme for schools in the Whangarei District. As a charitable entity, our Trust receives funds from infringement fines when people are caught breaking the rules inside the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve. We are using this money to organise this event so that it is going back into the reserve in a positive way and hopefully preventing future offences.

The aim of EMR is to raise awareness, understanding and involvement in marine conservation through provision of dynamic experiential environmental education opportunities. EMR has a genuine interest in the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve, with it being utilised as part of the EMR marine education programmes including snorkelling with the EMR programme at the Motukaroro site. EMR also runs guided community snorkel days at the Motukaroro site, Samara Kim and Nicki are past students of Kamo High School, which was responsible for the WHMR proposal.

The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust was formed in 2002 as an umbrella organisation for the EMR and Whitebait Connection (WBC) programmes. For more info on the MTSC Trust you can visit www.emr.org.nz or www.marinenz.org.nz or www.whitebaitconnection.co.nz .

Event organisers

This Human Chain event is organised by the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme team, all of which are Trustees of the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

Samara Nicholas (nee Sutherland) is an original trustee and is the Programme Director. She was recognised in 2005 in the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards. Samara was a co-founder of the EMR and Drains to Harbour programmes. She is also a graduate of Kamo High School where she was Head Girl and played a key role in the school’s Whangarei Harbour marine reserve proposal and has been involved ever since.

Kim Boyle is the Whangarei District co-ordinator for the EMR programme and co-founder of the Drains to Harbour campaign and Mangrove Discovery Programme. Kim is an elected member of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Advisory Committee.

Nicki Wakefield (Ngapuhi, Ngai Tahu, Te Arawa) holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waikato. Nicki is currently a Northland and Auckland EMR regional co-ordinator.