|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A new forum showcasing solutions and opportunities for New Zealand’s second-biggest harbour will be held later this month.
The Manukau Harbour Symposium, held at Green Bay High School on May 31, will cover topics from policy to infrastructure, traditional knowledge to harnessing the power of community action.
Keynote speaker and thought leader Cassie Roma will show how communities can open hearts and minds to connect to the environment and work together to create cultures of care between people, systems and pathways.
The event will offer an opportunity to catch up with other people doing great work around the Manukau Harbour, while also having a range of guest speakers.
Regenerative specialists Johnie Freeland (Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāi Tūhoe) and Charmaine Bailie (Te Uri o Hau – Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara) will reflect on restoring and healing the whenua in large-scale and local projects.
Scientist Peter Nuttall will speak on climate change impacts in the South Pacific and its impact on coastal and marae communities here in the harbour, while Dr Rashi Parker of Birdcare Aotearoa will reflect on the contribution of seabirds to resilient populations and how we can start to solve the impacts of human activity on their wellbeing.
The work of rangitahi to create genuine outcomes for the harbour, through the Rangitahi Environmental Action Leaders programme will be highlighted and in a section of intergenerational stories we will hear from those who love and spend time on the harbour including Coastguard, the Portage Crossing Trust, Pest Free South Auckland, Awhitu Landcare, SeaCleaners, and more.
Attendees will learn about Auckland Council work programs, and Scientist Dr Megan Carbine will highlight Auckland Council’s latest environmental monitoring data, while Councillor Richard Hills from Auckland Council will present on the National Environment Strategy work program.
There will also be a range of community displays, and the Watercare Central Interceptor Travelling Discovery Centre and Auckland Council Marine Biosecurity trailer will be featured.
The day will be hosted by MC Mandy Kupenga, and the symposium will also announce recipients of the ‘Ngaa Tohu o te Manukau – Celebrating Harbour Champions’ Awards, which recognise individuals, stakeholders, organisations or community groups for their work to protect and restore the mauri of the harbour.
- One week before the symposium, the Manukau Harbour Forum will also host a clean-up and restoration event, the Love Your Harbour Day, at Island Road, Māngere. This event is held with the support of Te Motu a Hiaroa Charitable Trust, Auckland Council and SeaCleaners, and targets one of the worst sites for illegal dumping in the region.
