Ōnuku hosts climate change wānanga

Ōnuku Marae has hosted its second Climate Change Adaptation & Catchment Planning Wānanga – Te Kori a te Kō.

The marae hosted whānau, water scientists, climate change experts and representatives from local, regional and central government. It was a full house over the two-day event on November 8 and 9.

Those in attendance learned about Akaroa Catchment Map Series and climate change risks for whānau and the communities around Akaroa Harbour.

Ōnuku Rūnanga chair Rik Tainui kickstarted the day with a tongue-in-cheek welcome to “the best Ngāi Tahu marae”.

He quickly switched to a more sombre tone, expressing his sadness as a 26th generation Ngāi Tahu, that the hills around Ōnuku aren’t covered in native bush, and that water in the harbour isn’t teeming with fish.

“I’ve been thinking about what it was like 800 years ago when our tīpuna came into Akaroa Harbour. The hills were natives from top to bottom and the water was full of fish.

“That’s what this climate change wānanga is about. It is a continuation of a conversation that started here a couple of years ago, about creating a 200-year plan for what our whenua and moana could look like,” he said.

Rik said the critical first step was to get the wastewater out of the harbour.

“That’s the beginning. For 60 years, our whānau have tried to get that wastewater out of the harbour. We’re not quite there, but it is happening soon.”

He said Ōnuku was working to regenerate the harbour pointing to the kelp farming project under way in partnership with Dutch-owned company, Kelp Blue. The kelp farming would improve biodiversity and bring back fish, he said.

Te Kori a te Kō organiser and Ōnuku Te Taiao portfolio manager, Debbie Tikao, said the idea for the wānanga sprung from wanting a mahinga kai management plan for Akaroa Harbour in 2019. 

Addressing manuhiri on the first day, she spoke about climate change anxiety.

“The Latest UN report ruined my day. Climate anxiety is real. It impacts your wellbeing. It’s a depressing snapshot. Are we on track? No.”

Debbie said the wānanga was designed to bring together climate change experts, scientists, ecologists, council, whānau, rangatahi and community, to share knowledge, grow understanding, develop a shared vision for the future of the harbour and chart a path forward towards a more resilient future.

Aquatic ecology scientist Shelley McMurtrie shared knowledge on the some of the unique characteristics of Akaroa Harbour and the main threats to the coastal ecosystems and taonga species.

She presented the Focus Catchment Map Series, which is intended as a shared resource to help decision-making about awa catchments.

Coastal scientist Melanie Burns spoke about the impact of climate change on the harbour and wider coastal environment.

She warned of habitat loss, pressure on species from increased macroalgae and phytoplankton blooms, increased sea temperature and marine heatwaves, and increased sedimentation from storm events.

All the experts there delivered a clear message – act now and work together. The stronger and healthier the natural environment is now, the better it will be able to adapt to the changes ahead. There is a lot of work to do.

Later at the wānanga things got practical with a stream science challenge in which groups competed to find macroinvertebrates, taonga species, and plants that are indicators of stream health from a mātauranga Māori perspective.

With help from a freshwater ecologist, the groups sampled water quality and learned facts and issues about the stream.

If your Rūnanga is wanting any support from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in relation to climate change adaptation planning, please contact [email protected].