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Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
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Letters to the Editor

 

 

No evidence presented
It is deeply disappointing the interests of one small group, on the basis of opinion not fact, has outweighed the wider community’s desire to progress a project of historic significance. The rejection by the commissioners of the application to recreate Mangawhai’s historic wharf, on the tenuous evidence that it might disrupt the feeding environment of the fairy terns, threatens all activity on our harbour.

With Mangawhai’s rapid growth, use of the harbour will inevitably increase, and while the wharf will no doubt contribute to this activity, the upper harbour is already widely used by jet skis, kayaks, other pleasure craft as well as low tide walkers and their dogs.

While the protection of these rare birds is important from a conservation perspective, their presence is being used, without good evidence, to restrict the community’s use of, and access to, its harbour. No evidence that the reinstatement of the historic wharf will have any impact on the bird’s survival has been presented. Birds invariably adapt their behaviour to changes in their environment and there is no reason to believe any minor disruption caused by the wharf project to their feeding zone will not be so accommodated.

Does the present decision signal that severe future restrictions on the use of our harbour are on the horizon?

Gordon Hosking

Mangawhai

 

Need some balance
Has someone got the time to calculate the coastal area available per fairy tern, keeping in mind that for most of the year the birds feed in the Kaipara Harbour? There are already crowds and music at the hotel. How many humans would enjoy the rebuilt wharf? It would affect a tiny fraction of the available coastline. All credit to the Fairy Tern Trust but surely there should be some balance here. Maybe the Army could practice their building skills on the wharf.

Glenise Stone

Mangawhai

 

Decision ‘unfathomable’
The decision of the commissioners to can the proposed new wharf is unfathomable and inconsistent, flying in the face of considerable evidence in favour. The mantra "save the fairy terns" seems to override all other considerations.

None of us welcome the demise of any species once common in this environment. All would applaud the efforts of those enthusiasts who work tirelessly to maintain current populations.

Surely though there are a very large raft of factors involved that threaten the survival of these birds. Isolating one feature such as the restoration of a wharf seems irrational. As mentioned before, what about the human activity in all its shapes and forms all around this area – does that not impinge upon the fortunes of the fairy terns?

Unfortunately species become extinct all the time, it seems to be a feature of evolution and the changing environment. The rebuilding of a once-existing structure seems hardly likely to accelerate this process. Are commissioners really in tune with local opinion? It doesn't seem so.

Patrick Miller

Mangawhai

 

Won’t hold my breath
In 1999 I started the One Tree Point Boat Ramp Upgrade Committee. People on the committee had lived in this area, had experienced boating skills, and skill to deal with the ramp. Due to the position of this ramp it has its difficulties with launching and coming back in certain weathers due to being near the Big Bay situated to the left of the ramp.

In our enquiries we found that the Refinery did have monies put aside for a boat ramp and we used that monies for WDC to draw up plans for a good ramp, an all-weather ramp and always above high tide for ease of launching, for boaties with larger boats to draw up alongside and passengers to get on and off their boats. Also for children to fish off, as this is a much-used area with holiday makers and locals wanting to enjoy a day's fish.

This area has grown so much with all the new subdivisions in OTP that a good serviceable ramp is sorely needed. I have been advised from WDC that there will only be two ramps in the area – this one and one at the marina at Marsden Cove.

There have been many committees over the years prior to the one I started but they have all failed in their attempts to get a serviceable ramp. Yes there is a ramp operating now but the issues with launching in bad weather are well known to all who use the ramp. The

pontoons that the WDC put in were just ridiculous and our committee tried to tell them that because of the huge surge.

At one time I had free big rocks and someone who had a digger who volunteered his services in placing the rocks on the side of the ramp to act as a groyne to reduce the surge, but this was ignored. This would have been beneficial to wildlife such as birds and shellfish. In Australia I've seen groynes done with rocks and a concrete jetty that is beneficial for all.

So I read your editorial with interest and sadness. As time goes on we still have the same issue of no jetty for boats to tie up to and the price will keep going up. I have attended many WDC meetings since 1999 and now I’ve been told it’s in the 10 year plan. I won't hold my breath!

Sue Forsyth

One Tree Point

 

Community ignored
Like all other passionate members of our Mangawhai community , who love respect and care for our magnificent estuary ,the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) is at a loss to understand how the Northland Regional Council (NRC) could deny resource consent approval for the building of a new wharf, on the same location as the first wharf, which played such a significant role in the early development of Mangawhai.

The proposal, put forward by highly respected local Colin Leach as chair of the Mangawhai Historic Wharf Trust, had overwhelming community support, was well researched, with compelling scientific data and was sensitive to the ongoing protection of our special bird and marine life.

The value this project would bring to our community, both recreational and educational,for generations ahead is immeasurable, and it is a very sad moment for Mangawhai.

The NRC based its decision on their concerns that the local fairy tern population would be at risk following the wharf’s construction, and whilst the Mangawhai Historic Wharf Trust put forward compromises and scientific data to remedy these concerns, they were not given the consideration they so deserved.

The NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust was highly active in opposing the wharf’s construction, as they have consistently done in the past in opposing other estuary environmental projects deemed essential by the majority of Mangawhai locals and organisations, including the management of rampant mangrove growth, public estuary walkways, and restraining of the essential estuary dredging activities that not only keep our estuary water in pristine quality but also provide secure bird nesting habitats with shell placements on the spit.

Regrettably these actions, giving no consideration to the wishes of the broader community and with their blinkered protection of the fairy tern driving them, has seen their credibility

highly challenged, with the recognition that they are seen as the ‘hand brake’ on the Mangawhai community ever being fully able to sustainably enjoy and enhance our treasured harbour estuary.

The MHRS wishes to publicly recognise the work undertaken by Colin Leach, his skilled committee, and the community who financially and passionately supported this much-desired project.

Sadly, life at times does not seem to be fair!

Ken Rayward

MHRS

 

Wharf could wait
Mangawhai is an area that lies about equidistant from Auckland and Whangarei and, as the least affected by permanent human settlement, has the largest population of surviving shorebirds on this part of the East Coast.

As there has been increased human activity over the last 40 years the bird population has continued to decrease to the stage where the fairy tern has become critically endangered. There are 11 breeding pairs remaining, most of them breeding on the Mangawhai Wildlife Refuge. Their breeding declined three years ago but has now increased to maintain a static population of about 40.

Seventy-odd years ago, older residents can recall being dive bombed by pairs of fairy terns safeguarding their nests and numbering many more. The decline in their population has continued unabated over these years.

The birdwatchers of the world form a surprisingly international co-operative group. The move by North Korea to safeguard two wetlands under an international convention may be the only recent example of this country embracing a global institution. On Taiwanese and mainland Chinese islands, Taiwanese and mainland Chinese bird watchers have combined to bring back the Chinese crested tern from extinction to 40 breeding pairs. Four years ago China and New Zealand signed a treaty to protect the habitat of the bar-tailed godwit. These international environmental results are a testament to soft diplomacy that improves the relationships between countries.

The building of the heritage wharf could surely wait until the fairy tern has increased to a more viable population.

J Price

Mangawhai


 
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