Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Conference: 2019 - Making Waves

Session 1: State of the Gulf

Making Waves – Welcome and opening address

Hauraki Gulf Forum Chairperson John Meeuwsen & Deputy Chairperson Moana Tamaariki-Pohe welcome attendees to the 2019 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Conference, Auckland.

Making Waves – Conference overview

Alex Rogers, Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer, gives an overview of the 2019 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Conference.

State of the Gulf

Tom Trnski, Auckland Museum, and Dan Hikuroa, University of Auckland, present different ways of thinking about the State of the Hauraki Gulf and our aspirations to restore the health/mauri of the Marine Park.

Capturing our Stories

How do we make protection and restoration of the Gulf front of mind? Nick Sampson, Strategy Director, Principals, starts a collective conversation about our relationship with the Gulf and the stories we tell.

Philanthropy Address

Chris Severne, Chair of Foundation North Grants Committee, outlines the innovative mahi G.I.F.T is supporting in the Hauraki Gulf.

Session 2: Mahi tahi (working together) toward the two goals

Mahi tahi towards at least 20% protection

Introduction to Group 1, facilitated by Livia Esterhazy, CEO WWF-New Zealand.

What mechanisms can we use to get to at least 20%?

EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart outlines what’s currently protected, what marine protection tools we have, and how we might get to at least 20%.

Seeing the value

Nick Shears from Leigh Marine Laboratory presents their current research and shares insights about how we can protect marine biodiversity.

Looking abroad (marine protection)

WWF – New Zealand, Ocean Programme Manager Lucy Jacob discusses what’s happening globally with marine protection and the benefits being realised.

Mahi tahi towards 1000sqkm of shellfish beds

Facilitated by Carl McGuinness, Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy.

Marine Biosecurity Context

The extent of the marine biosecurity challenges facing the Marine Park as context for restoration efforts is presented by Kathy Walls, Biosecurity New Zealand – Tiakitanga Pūtaiao Aotearoa, MPI, Melanie Tupe, Auckland

What has been done

Rebecca Barclay, Revive Our Gulf, talks about their work, other projects they have been involved in, and the challenges of shellfish restoration work.

Looking abroad (shellfish restoration)

Simon Branigan from The Nature Conservancy shares insights into international examples of shellfish restoration projects.

Facilitators feedback from Session 2

Livia Esterhazy, CEO WWF-New Zealand, and Carl McGuinness, Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy.

Session 2: Conference Presentations

Session 3: Expert panels

Panel #1: Mahi tahi towards at least 20% protection

Facilitated by Livia Esterhazy, CEO WWF-New Zealand.

Panel #2: Mahi tahi towards 1000sqkm of shellfish beds

Facilitated by Carl McGuinness, The Nature Conservancy.

Panel #3: Youth view

Facilitated by Conference MC Elisabeth Easther

Panellists:
– Rangatahi
– Waiheke High School students
– Long Bay Primary School students

Session 5: Call to Action

Visiting the moana in Virtual Reality

James Frankham from New Zealand Geographic and Annika Andresen from BLAKE present NZ-VR, and take participants on an underwater journey with the help of state of the art virtual reality.

Government Address

The Minister of Conservation, Hon Eugenie Sage addresses the 2019 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Conference.

The Next Generation

Steve and Riley Hathaway from Young Ocean Explorers bring the conference to a close with a message from the next generation.