I wrote in the NZ Herald recently of the mood for change in and around the Gulf.
The message from the Forum’s State of our Gulf reports is being heeded with responsibility and innovation becoming the new normal among resource users.
The shipping, fishing and aquaculture sectors are early movers; adopting practices that will help safeguard our resident whales and seabirds and contribute to restoration of our marine habitats.
Promoting and facilitating this shift in approach has been the mission of the Hauraki Gulf Forum.
We have documented change in the Gulf and shared the story through four State of our Gulf reports, 32 issues of Weaving the Strands, five poster series with the New Zealand Herald and six marine park seminars with Auckland Museum.
We have commissioned economic research showing how valuable use of the Gulf is, profiled its place of a global seabird hotspot and championed a joined up spatial planning approach, being addressed through the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari project.
Creating this mood for change is based on one simple premise: educate, educate, educate. Appreciate the magic of the Gulf, understand the need to change and we can all rise to the challenge.
So starting next quarter we are taking Weaving the Strands up a few notches: to create a new platform for news, resources and stories that “Support inspired management and action around the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/ Tikapa Moana/ Te Moananui a Toi.”
We’ve invited some ‘friends’ of the Forum to help get the first few editions rolling: Dan Hikuroa is research director at Nga ̄ Pae o Te Ma ̄ramatanga and he is keen to see the transformational shift in engagement and involvement of mana whenua captured in the pages of our new journal. James Russell is one of a new generation of conservation scientists leading research around the Gulf, while Ewen Cameron is an experienced hand, organising botanical exploration around our islands for many years. Rochelle Constantine is our marine expert while Jo Ritchie is involved with many of the Gulf’s practical restoration programmes. Shaun Lee is our design guru.
Content from Weaving the Strands and in-depth news and features will be published in regular issues, along with access to the other educational products from the Forum. We’ll provide opportunities for you to contribute stories too.
