Coast care conference at Maketu Marae

MAKETŪ marae at Kāwhia will host the 2024 coastal restoration conference over three days in March.

The Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand is a nationwide organisation that brings together the knowledge and experience of communities, iwi, management authorities, industry and science agencies to restore coastal ecosystems.

With the conference in Kāwhia from March 20 to 22, local speakers are prominent.

Keynote speakers for day one include Te Toki Voyaging Trust chair Hoturoa Barclay Kerr who will speak on Kāwhia moana and navigating ocean going waka. Kāwhia is the final resting place of the Tainui waka.

Also speaking on day one is Waikato University professor Karin Bryan who is to talk about the northwest wave climate and sediment process and implications for dune restoration.

Hano Ormsby will speak at the conference about Te Taiao o Kāwhia Moana (the harbour environment). Daisy Horahaere Scott will speak about the work of the Onepu Charitable Trust.

Premiere sponsors Puurekireki Marae (Pirongia) and the Waikato Regional Council will also have their turn on the podium.

CRT Chair Laura Shaft said it would be a flax roots conference with its theme of ‘Whatungarongaro te tāngata. Toitu te whenua, as man disappears from sight, the land remains”.

The impacts of climate change being felt by the coastal community will be explored through a presentation on adaptation of pā to sea level rise and NIWA’s Future Coasts Aotearoa project.

MPI and Biosecurity staff from Waikato Regional Council will present on how to control invasive plants. Workshops will cover coastal plants, monitoring, and identifying and controlling pest animals which impact our coast.

“The conference provides an opportunity for coastcare volunteers and subject matter experts to come together to discuss issues and solutions, share information and hear the latest research,” Laura said.

“The Trust’s aim is to support and encourage cost effective, practicable methods for coastal communities and management authorities to restore natural coastal ecosystems.”

The conference will feature field trips to local restoration sites, and attendees will be able to discuss problems and solutions with a wide range of restoration practitioners.

Onepu Charitable Trust and Te Taiao o Kāwhia Moana, are proud to be hosting the conference.

“Our community is working hard to help prevent coastal erosion by restoring natural coastal habitats. We value the support of Waikato Regional Council’s coast care programme and the Coastal Restoration Trust,” Horahaere said.

“We are grateful to Waikato Regional Council, Puurekirekie Marae, Waipa Networks, Ross Dockery from Aotea Marine Farms and Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation for providing sponsorship which helps to keep registration fees low for coastcare volunteers and interested locals.

“We are looking forward to showcasing Kāwhia to other coast care groups from around New Zealand.”

The Coastal Restoration Trust was incorporated in 2007 as the Dune Restoration Trust that, in turn, continued the work of the Coastal Dune Vegetation Network.

The trust’s intent is to support and encourage the development of cost-effective practical methods for coastal communities and management authorities to restore coastal ecosystems and their function.