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Sea Week
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Our sea is 15 times our land mass and holds a wealth of sea-creatures from elephant seals in the cool sub-antarctic south to turtles in our sub-tropical north.
Costumed Forest & Birders celebrate sea-week
In fact, our seas are so rich with life that scientists estimate over 80% of our unique creatures and plants are found there.
New discoveries are being made every day!
So celebrate our oceans by taking part in a clean up or dive in and get up close and personal with some of our colourful sea creatures
Check out the list of events below to see what's happening in your region -
Wellington
Forest & Bird's marine group - Blue Wellington - will be running a series of talks over Seaweek - learn about everything from ocean acidification to new underwater discoveries.
Where: Forest & Bird office, Level One, 90 Ghuznee Street (look for the giant tui on our roof!), finishing off with a wee drink and discussion across the road at Bar Bodega.
When: 6pm (30-40 min talks)
Monday 8th March
Ocean Acidification
Cliff Law, Oceans Scientist, NIWA
Cliff coordinates the Ocean-Atmosphere Research and advises the Chief Scientists of Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate Change Centres. He currently contributes to international policy development on ocean fertilisation via the London Convention and national perspectives on ocean fertilisation and acidification via the NZ government Ocean Fertilisation stakeholder group and the NZ Royal Society. He is also a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the IGBP program SOLAS (Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study). His current research interests include trace gas cycling and sources in coastal and open ocean regions, nutrient limitation of phytoplankton and impacts of ocean acidification. Starts 6pm
Tuesday 9th March
Estimating fish populations How we count fish when they keep moving and we don’t see them
Sophie Mormede, Fisheries Scientist, NIWA
Sophie is a fisheries modeller, working on a variety of fishery projects, in particular related to stock assessments and the effects of fishing. She works both on national and international fisheries. Her work includes fishery characterisation, catch per unit effort analyses, fish stock assessments, participation in trawl or acoustic surveys and analysis of survey data, analysis of the environmental impacts of fishing and ecological characteristics of exploited resources. The majority of her work is carried out in order to inform Ministry of Fisheries management, some is part of the Foundation for Research Science and Technology research (FoRST).Starts 6pm
Thursday 11th March
Marine BioBlitz’s – What we learned from our world 1st in 2007 and plans for a new Blitz later in the year
Dennis Gordon, Leading Biodiversity scientist, NIWA & Kirstie Knowles, Marine Advocate
Dennis Gordon is a global authority on the systematics, phylogeny, and biology of living and fossil bryozoans. He has a broad interest in all biodiversity and serves on the international project teams of the Catalogue of Life and World Register of Marine Species. He is also coordinator and editor of the decade-long project "Inventory of New Zealand Biodiversity" that provides the authoritative names for the New Zealand Organisms Register. In 2005, Dennis was the recipient of the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Award for his lifetime contribution to marine science. Starts 6pm
If you want to breathe in some sea-air, or get aquatic then see below-
- Take part in a shore based clean up with Splash Gordon between Island Bay and Owhiro Bay on 10 March, meeting at their shop at 6pm. They will also be doing a count of cigarette butts as part of this clean up! No butts about it – get your butt down there and lend a hand
- Blue Wellington is holding a local photo competition – for entry information see here
- Blue Wellington will be coordinating a local beach and underwater clean up on Saturday 13 March – more details to come.
- Blue Wellington will be out and about in themed costumes on the city streets handing out marine conservation information and stickers – keep an eye out for us at weekends and week-day lunch times.
Auckland
Movie Screening - The End of the Line
Thursday 11 March at 7:00pm
Scientists predict that if we continue fishing, as we are now, we be facing a world without fish. Based on a book by Charles Clover, The End of the Line documentary explores the devastating effect of over-fishing.
Guest speaker: Clive Monds, Marine Campaigner, Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand Inc (ECO) All proceeds go to: Auckland University Underwater Club ‘Save our Boat’ fund.
Contact Ali Perkins, email grants@akunidive.com or mobile 021 066 5760.
Room OGG098, Owen G Glenn Building , University of Auckland
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children (under 15 years).
Trip to Goat Island
Sunday 14 March, 1pm onwards
Join our kid's club on this family friendly trip to our oldest marine reserve - Goat Island. We will explore the rocky pools and confident swimmers will be able to snorkel if the weather is good. Tony and Jenny Enderby, well-known marine advocates who have written often for F&B magazine about the marine reserve, will guide theses activities.
For more information, see here
Tuff Crater Reserve Estuary clean up
Sunday 7th March – 8:30am
Meet at the end of Exmouth Rd at Heath Reserve.
Bring your gumboots, and old clothes, some heavy rubbish bags and a wheelbarrow if you live nearby for this clean-up. We will work along the estuary edge near the motorway cleaning all the debris out of the mangroves. Low tide is at 0710 so it should be ok.
We have permission of the motorway people and the police. Some fluoro vests will be available. We are not permitted within 1m of the guard rail or on any of the tarmac
Children under 15 are unfortunately not allowed. We will then carry the junk to the end of Exmouth Rd for the council to collect later. If we clean up this side quickly then we could venture to the Shoal Bay side over the bridge dotterels permitting.
If that is all too easy then I am sure there will be more moth plant to find.
Matakana
Movie Screening: End of the Line
Matakana Theatre
Sunday 14th March, 8pm
Forest and Bird (Mid North Branch) in association with Matakana Cinemas presents the world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing, premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act. One show only at the Paradiso Theatre at Matakana. Door sales only. $10.00.
Whangateau Hikoi
Date: Sunday 14th March
Time: 9am – 1pm
Meet: Whangateau Hall, 15 mins north of Warkworth on Leigh Road
Whangateau Harbour Care Society and Forest and Bird Society invite you along for their Seaweek event. Join local experts on a ‘bus Hikoi’ showcasing the history, geography and natural history of the Whangateau Harbour and surrounds. This event is in partnership with the MOKO Trust representing Ngati Manuhiri.
There will be opportunities for short walks to see points of interest so bring beach shoes, water and lunch. Departs Whangateau Hall at 9am, returning around 1pm to the hall.
Spaces limited so book your seats with Margaret at mls@xtra.co.nz or phone evenings 422 9717
Horowhenua
Seaweek Beach patrol: Saturday 6 March, Otaki Beach.
A special Saturday beach patrol for Seaweek. Meet at the Surf Club, Marine Parade, Otaki Beach at 10am. KCC members and families are warmly invited to join us. Leader Belinda McLean, 06 364 5573.
Seaweek Fish Fest: Sunday 14 March 2pm-6pm, Manawatu Boat Club Grounds, 50 Hartley St, Foxton Beach.
Leap on a boat, see a sea-elbrity children's parade, or take a walking tour of the estuary at this fish festival, organised by F & B, DOC, the Manawatu Boat Club, Horizons and the Manawatu Estuary Trust. Parade starts at 4pm. Contact Belinda 06 364 5573.
Wairarapa
14th March, Corner Creek Clean-up, 9.15am - 1pm
Corner Creek is located at the western end of Ocean Beach Road, Palliser Bay. This is a wonderful opportunity to see a wild beach at the Southern end of the North Island, and create a bottle-free, plastic-free beach.
*** BBQ lunch will be provided afterwards ***
For more information, see here
Kaikoura
Sea Festival
Sunday 7th March, at Fyffe House, from 1 until 6pm.
Listen to shore talks, learn how to weave or take part in competitions at this family friendly event. The event is supported by Te Rununga o Kaikoura, Kaikoura District Council, Te Korowai o te Tai o Marokura, Forest & Bird, Coast Guard, Kaikoura Marine and Coastal Protection Society, Ministry of Fisheries, and other groups and individuals.
There will be free BBQ sausages, and lots of kids activities.
Gisborne
Marine Presentation by Al Fleming - Central North Island Field Officer for Forest & Bird, Monday 8 March
Marine mammal guru and veteran marine reserve campaigner, Alan Fleming will talk about the Poor Knights Islands marine ecosystems, Forest & Bird's marine reserve campaign and the protected areas of the East Coast.
Al has worked as a researcher of marine mammal strandings, a DOC ranger at Poor Knights & Whangarei marine reserve and Mimiwhangata marine park.
Forest & Bird Gisborne Branch Meeting 7.30pm, The Hearing Association, 179 Palmerston Road, Gisborne. PUBLIC WELCOME! Gold coin donation at the door appreciated.
Nelson
Sunday 7th March, 3.30pm onwards
Learn about our tides at this family friendly beach event. BBQ will be hosted afterwards.
For more information see here
Southland
Special screening: The End of the Line
Scientists predict that if we continue fishing, as we are now, we be facing a world without fish. Based on a book by Charles Clover, The End of the Line documentary explores the devastating effect of over-fishing.
10 March, 7:30pm @ the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), Invercargill.
Dunedin
Sunday 7th March, from 12.30 pm
Otago's Changing Seas
Lecture series by marine experts
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
Come along and hear marine experts discuss the need for marine protected areas and marine reserves in Otago. Eight speakers and free vdeos. All welcome.