Bay Harbour: June 26, 2019

Wednesday June 26 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 15
Calls for ‘control’ over
shellfish gathering
Linwood-
Central-
Heathcote
Community
Board and Avon
Heathcote Ihutai
Estuary Trust
Board member
Tim Lindley writes about
the community’s reaction
to shellfish gathering in the
estuary
THE IMPACT of shellfish
gathering in the estuary on
shellfish numbers, birdlife
and human health has been
of growing concern for local
communities. To help everyone
better understand these issues,
the Avon Heathcote Estuary
Ihutai Trust recently hosted a
public meeting at the Mt Pleasant
Community Centre.
About 90 attended and
a lively discussion ensued.
Presenters included marine
biology professor Islay Marsden,
medical officer of health Alistair
Humphrey, representatives
from the Ministry for Primary
Industries, and estuary birdlife
expert Andrew Crossland.
AHEIT chairman Kit
Doudney welcomed everyone
then facilitator Gay Pavelka
sought questions from the floor,
and asked various experts to
comment.
Dr Marsden noted student
research, commissioned by
AHEIT, showed that cockle
numbers had dropped from
about 500 to 200 per square
metre in collection areas and
there is a concerning change in
the ratio of adults to juveniles.
Care has to be taken with these
numbers as the survey was
limited and more research is
needed.
Dr Humphrey said all sorts
of muck from the streets of
Christchurch gets washed into
the estuary, including copper
from brake pads, and dog faeces.
Filter feeding estuary shellfish
simply are not safe to eat and
there are other, safer places to
gather from.
Dr Crossland said the main
birds affected are oyster-catchers.
They are very mobile so if the
estuary has human disturbance
and fewer cockles, they will
quickly prefer somewhere else.
He also has good connections
with migrants from Southeast
Asia, where shellfish gathering is
commonplace, and has discussed
that our estuary is different from
the warm waters of the tropics
where replenishment happens
much faster. He helped give a
very human perspective on those
who gather seafood.
The discussion then moved to
potential solutions. The feeling
from the floor was that a ban is
not needed but control is.
The Ngai Tuahuriri
representatives said almost all
parties seem of the same mind.
They offered to work with
AHEIT, as tools within their
customary rights – for example
mataitai – could help protect the
estuary.
There was strong support
from the floor for exploring
this approach further. This was
an extraordinarily successful
event ending in a consensus and
community-driven pathway
forward.
HISTORIC: Little River’s Coronation Library was built to mark
the coronation of King George V in 1913.
New use for old library
• By Jess Gibson
LITTLE RIVER’S historic
Coronation Library will be
restored and become a base for
community activities.
The Banks Peninsula
Community Board
approved the future
use of the 108-yearold
building on
Christchurch Akaroa
Rd as a base for the
Little River Wairewa
Community Trust.
The trust will hold
commemorations, meetings and
cultural events in the building.
However, first the trust will
need a community partnership
agreement with the city council
before the building can be
restored for $650,000.
A full scope of work to
Mario
Downes
repair the building will also be
prepared and the work tendered.
Little River Wairewa
Community Trust acting
chairman Mario Downes said
the community board’s
decision was “good news.”
“Obviously a bit of
work has gone on in the
background to try and
secure it. It will be good to
have the building in use
again,” Mr Downes said.
The trust currently holds
its meeting in the Little River
Library and Service Centre.
The Coronation Library was
built to mark the coronation of
King George V. It was opened in
1913, and was used as a library
until 2000.
It was damaged in the
September 2010 and February
2011 earthquakes.
PUT ASHES IN A
METAL BUCKET
TO COOL
THEY CAN STILL START
A FIRE FOR UP TO 5 DAYS
5