WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 , 2019 says. Continued on p2 Marine Mammal she says. Connecting Your Community www.star.kiwi Gollan’s geckos find new home » Page 06 Fuelling our love of the outdoors » Page 07 Green fingers at Lyttelton Primary School » Page 08 Issue 13 May 2019 Trained eyes on the Hector’s dolphins Marine mammal observer Maryjane Waru describes her first encounter with Hector’s dolphins and why it’s so important to protect them. Lyttelton Port Company Community Newsletter Maryjane Waru stands on a container near - the mitigation zone - she stops the piling enro led in the course. the construction of the new cruise ship berth operation immediately with two words. “I thought, this is crazy. I get to go out and with her trained eyes on the sea. “Shut down,” she ca ls into the radio keep an eye on the dolphins and whales and “You’ve got the sea, you’ve got waves, strapped to her chest. The piling team reacts be paid for it.” seaweed, birds and everything else, but then immediately and can only resume when In 2014, Maryjane and one other became something catches your eye. You think you Maryjane has seen every last dolphin leave the first Maori marine mammal observers. At see a bird but it’s moving too fast,” Maryjane the zone, or after 30 minutes of no sightings. that time, most of the work was monitoring Maryjane is from the Ngati Rahiri hapu in overseas oil and gas operations, and many of Maryjane is a marine mammal observer Taranaki. She answered an advertisement for the observers were brought in from overseas. with Blue Planet Marine. The sudden New Zealanders to become marine mammal There are now 18 Maori marine mammal movements she is watching for are Hector’s observers in 2014. observers, including one of Maryjane’s dolphins. Armed with binoculars, a “I’ve always been a Jacques Cousteau fan nephews, who she has encouraged into the clinometer and five different smartphone from a kid so when I heard about this course role. Two other nephews are going through apps, Maryjane quickly calculates the I thought, ‘this is rea ly cool’.” the training now. distance of the dolphin to the piling work. Maryjane says she didn’t realise it was a Maryjane says her cultural perspective As soon as the animals get within 450 metres paid role that could be a career until after she makes the role a natural one. Observer Maryjane Waru (Ngati Rahiri) became the first Maori observer in 2014. “The advantage that we have is our affinity with Tangaroa and the way we’ve been raised to protect our environment,” Inside – the latest ‘new-look’ 12- page edition of the LPC Update Council apology for flooding Sumner upset gets the party started Page 15 EXHIBITORS INVITED NOW Lisa Lynch 021 800 809 Marriner St residents ‘over it’ • By Louis Day THE CITY council has apologised for failing to prevent Marriner St in Sumner from flooding after the heavy rainfall last week. The apology comes after the city council promised action to prevent further flooding on the street last year. In May last year, a city council spokesperson told Bay Harbour News Darrell Latham the drain outlet, which is located on Scarborough Beach, would be cleared prior to future weather events. However, the drain was not cleared on Monday last week, which resulted in the flooding. “Unfortunately, the action plan was not followed correctly for the Marriner St pipe outlet due to a miscommunication between the city council and the contractor, for which we are sorry,” said city council land INUNDATED: Marriner St in Sumner flooded after heavy rain last week because the city council failed to clear a drain. drainage operations team leader Mark Mullen. Marriner St resident Rob O’Neill said the flooding has been a problem for the past 24 years. “We are just over it. They have promised to address it for as long as I can remember. It is a bit of a joke now, a joke that is not funny,” he said. Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board member Darrell Latham labelled the city council’s inability to carry out its own action plan as “embarrassing.” •Turn to page 8 Help protect yourself and your family for up to 3 months from the symptoms of cold & flu Ask your pharmacist if Buccaline is right for you. Note: Buccaline is not intended as an alternative to influenza vaccination. Pharmacist only medicine. Always read the label and use as directed. One pack of 7 tablets $14.99 Family pack of four $54.99 Looking for a mortgage broker? lending for buying, building or renovating your new home Refinancing home loans to get best possible interest rates available and a structure to suit your goal Lending for purchase of rental and investment properties Business lending A service that is totally mobile and at NO COST to you 1005 Ferry Road, Ferrymead | Phone 03 943 9635 | OPEN 7 DAYS www.stephaniemurray.mortgage MichelleLindsayMortgageAdvisor Michelle lindsay Mortgage advisor Phone 021 346 265
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