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Regenerate Project

We would like to introduce our new sub-committee ‘Regenerate’, with the idea of exploring more holistic approaches to living and working on Horomaka/Banks Peninsula.

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With concerns about issues such as climate change and unsustainable practices we realise that ‘sustainable’ in this world is not going to be enough. We dream of a more ‘regenerative’ community where we can enhance our natural biodiversity, our local economy and our community well-being.

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We wish for locals to look deeper at their own livelihoods, local industries, and the practices in our wider community, gaining and understanding with more awareness of the natural world around us all from the land to the sea.

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The sharing of thoughts and ideas is the first step for our committee to take, looking to create awareness on some environmental issues and find alternatives to be more regenerative. You can view our Facebook page for useful tips and information about regenerative practices.

GOALS:  Long-term visions and goals we would like to see achieved in our community in the future​

  • Become a more self-sufficient community that contributes more to the local economy in our area.

  • Better understand our marine environment and work to regenerate to bring back abundant fish stocks and marine wildlife

  • Achieve a healthy underwater eco-system for our wildlife, for the economy of local fishermen, recreational fishing and marine tourism.

  •  Support a transition to more regenerative farming practices on Banks Peninsula.

  • Support biodiversity and conservation projects in our area.

PROJECTS: Our first steps​

  • Organizing talks with scientists and experts about regenerative techniques – the first of these will be incorporated with Sea Week 2020 in Akaroa.

    • ‘Investigating potential impacts of tourism on Hector’s dolphins’, by William Carome, MSc student, Otago University

    •  ‘An update on the status of Hector’s dolphins - are numbers increasing or decreasing?’ by Lindsay Wickman, MSc PhD candidate, Otago University.

    • ‘Effects of Mussel Farming on Hector’s dolphins - an eco-system perspective’ by Jesu Vales, PhD candidate, Otago University.  

    • ‘Marine distribution of Yellow-eyed penguins. Kàinga noho o ngà hoiho,’ by Rachel Hickcox, PhD candidate, Otago University.

    • ‘Living with Leopard seals’ by Giverny Forbes-Scott, M.Sc. student, Otago University.

  • Showing environmental and inspirational movies at the cinema with possible discussion afterwards

  • Inspiring our younger generation through educational to get them involved and encourage connections with the natural world. Pohatu Penguins are assisting to provide this opportunity for school children in our community.

  • As part of Sea Week 2020 we will be running an environmentally based quiz night – how well do you know our marine environment?

​IDEAS:  The sharing of thoughts and ideas is the first step towards gaining knowledge, creating awareness and bring about long-term change.  Our hope is that some of these ideas develop into possible projects in the future. Here are our thoughts so far on things we are interested in exploring further:

  • Run an environmentally based quiz night – how well do you know our marine environment?

  • Organizing talks and conferences with scientists and experts about regenerative techniques

  • Showing environmental and inspirational movies at the cinema with possible discussion afterwards

  • Start a Facebook group chat to share ideas within our community

  • Sharing knowledge about self-sufficiency by increasing the opportunity of workshops (eg. making your own cleaning products, organic gardening and preserving.)

  • Building up networks - already existing and new ones - for people who can fix things, reuse, barter or buy local products. ‘Project Lyttelton’ could be a good model for this (see https://www.lyttelton.net.nz/)

  • Compile a list of local products and trade services that local businesses and residents could buy or use.

  • Promote our local businesses and encourage residents to buy local products and produce where they can.

  • Inspiring our younger generation through educational programs and workshops to get them involved and encouraging connection with the natural world. (e.g conservation class, tree planting, field trips).  Working alongside local schools.

  • Researching alternative solutions to environmental issues and practises.  Carry out local trials to see new potential ideas work eg. different methods of fishing, regenerative farming, organic farming , gorse and road side sprays (trial alternatives with aspects of not harmful sprays to soil, and human health.

  • Seeking funding for research to better understand our land and oceans to allow more transparency, and take appropriate actions

  • Aim to seek research of our marine environment and its current state.  Work to find previous research, identifying any gaps which may be important and not already studied, allowing us to have solid evidence of the state of the Banks Peninsula marine environment from Conway Flat to the Rangitata River. 

  • To see if we need more marine protection and gauge if human activities are having an impact on the biodiversity, and if so how this can best be managed. 

  • Gain more understanding about the issues surrounding trawling and nets - we see the potential possibility to assist commercial fishermen transition to more environmentally sustainable technique’s, as well as encourage education for recreational fisherman.

  • Encourage the protection of waterways

  • Community action projects on public land or reserves – suggestions include planting out useable trees or native trees, or shrubs.  

  •  ‘Think’ signs - signs placed in a public place for a short time with a volunteer holding an environmental message to encourage people to think. eg. for an hour on main beach,  or possibly signage on farmland on the way to Christchurch.

  • See if DOC would consider having a stand with marine reserve info, boat speed limits and fishing rules in Akaroa over ‘Sea Week’.

  • Create a ‘Fishing Forever’ panel aimed to providing education about our marine environment

  • Investigate the possible introduction of a national ‘boat license’ – with a short course as a requirement that would educate about the marine protected area and wildlife code eg. Safe distances, speed limits in certain areas, safety at sea and quota limits.

  • Maximising carbon sequestration and minimising emissions on Banks Peninsula.

  • Learn more about managing ruminant animals to help sequester carbon.

  • Seek ways to support a transition to more regenerative farming practices on Banks Peninsula.

GALLERY
Tree Planting Group
Children at Pohatu
Tree planting
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