Sustainable Coastlines Hui

Friends of the Farm members recently took part in a hui facilitated by Sustainable Coastlines, an organisation that mobilises and trains people around New Zealand to run beach clean ups in their local areas.  The organisation is looking to co-ordinate a huge Manukau Harbour-wide clean up in March 2016, to coincide with Sea Week, and arranged the hui to gauge interest from local groups.

Groups from all around the Harbour attended, including people working and living in Mangere, Otahuhu, Waikowhai, Hillsborough, Titirangi and Waiuku.  A common love for the Harbour was shared by all, including some that belonged to Mana Whenua groups with several centuries of connection to the area.   Grief and sadness was expressed by many at the way the Harbour has been abused and polluted in recent times.

Sustainable Coastlines plans to contact local schools towards the end of October to offer education and training, in preparation for the clean up next year.  The training includes a powerful presentation showing the impact of rubbish on sea life and, consequently, on us, as we are at the top of the food chain.  It is hoped that children will play an active part in the clean ups through participating schools.

Local groups are committing to partner with Sustainable Coastlines to facilitate  a clean up of “our patch” of the Harbour, so Friends of the Farm will focus our efforts on the Mangere Bridge waterfront from the bridge to Ambury Farm.  We’d love for as many Mangere Bridge residents and groups, as well as our local schools to get involved in this.  We hope this event will give people a real sense of guardianship of the treasure that is our Manukau Harbour and that it will send a strong message of our desire for the Harbour to be cared for and respected by the wider community.

 Written by Justine Skilling