The world’s smallest known species of dolphin, the Maui’s (or “Popoto”) dolphin is critically endangered and faces the threat of total extinction if moves to mine the seabed along the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island go ahead, according to surfers and environmental campaigners who have banned together to fight the proposals.
On Friday, 16th November, pro surfer and activist, Dave Rastovich (32, Byron Bay, NSW AUS), will begin a daunting 350km sea-paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha to draw awareness to the threatened stretch of coast. Rastovich says like-minded surfers and activists will join him on his journey, but if they don’t follow him the whole way, he intends to complete the two-week journey solo.
“People the world over come to experience the raw, untouched waters of New Zealand and celebrate a space not yet disturbed by industrial humanity. Yet, if widespread seabed mining reaches the coastal waters of this country, the allure of visiting a once pristine place will disappear,” said Rastovich.
What a day! Dave Rastovich is escorted by the very animal he is trying to save – the Maui’s Dolphin -as he negotiated radical currents and 8ft + waves to reach Whatipu, near Auckland. He later described the day as one of the best of his life.
Joined by KASM representative and dolphin lover Bernadette Gavin (Raglan) on her sea kayak, Dave left Manu Bay, Raglan yesterday morning on his 17 foot paddle and made it safely to Port Waikato after a 7 hour mega paddle. This Distance completed (46 km) was only about 1 mile less than the Molokai to Oahu paddle in Hawaii!
Well done you two! Thank you for your commitment.
With stopovers in Kawhia, Ruapuke, and Manu Bay, Dave entered the Raglan Harbour on Saturday, where he was welcomed by more than 100 concerned local surfers, residents and international visitors, who jumped on different types of boards to join the paddle up the harbour into town with hundreds more families and kids waiting on shore to greet them.
The issues are extremely serious – the most important thing to do is register your name and email for a submission reminder and tell your friends (on the right)
Episode 3 of Coastal Journey with Rasta. Thanks Chris Kirham of nzgreen.tv
Part 2 of the KASM & S4C COASTAL JOURNEY. Thanks Chris Kirham of nzgreen.tv
http://vimeo.com/53989893
In Urenui the Crew caught up with Pip where he handed the batten onto Phil to paddle to White Cliffs.
We made Mokau just on sunset and are in a crazy little bach just a metre from the cliff, opened up to us by yet another KASM supporter wanting to help.
Hilton Dawe, of Surfers4Cetaceans, is about to jump in the water to paddle north from Mokau.
Anatonio Te Maioha and his kids Amua and Ahina have joined the crew for the next couple days to Kawhia.
All of us are really looking forward to Saturday arriving into Raglan!! Woohoo! Bring it Raglan!
Listen to Dave, Howie and Phil covering a lot of the issues
While the weekend of bad weather and rough seas did not allow for any paddling, the crew was given opportunity to discuss the possible impacts of seabed mining with the local community and enjoy a big pot of pumpkin soup while holed up in a classic Taranaki farmhouse.
Dave has successfully completed the first leg of the 350km paddle.
He launched his paddle from “Te Mapua”, a waka channel between the rocks that has been used as a departure and arrival point for generations of Maori accessing the sea. Local land custodian, Tihi Kura Hohaia, blessed the journey via traditional Maori prayer.
The launch location bares huge significance. “Parihaka Pa” is an area steeped in history. The events that took place in and around Parihaka, particularly from about 1860 to 1900, have affected the political, cultural and spiritual dynamics of the entire country. Of particular note are the actions of two figures, Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi who led the Parihaka movement via their commitment to non-violent action to resist displacement from their land by government invasion.
More information about Parihaka can be found here.
Episode 1 of Coastal Journey with Rasta. Thanks Chris Kirham of nzgreen.tv
The world’s smallest known species of dolphin, the Maui’s (or “Popoto”) dolphin is critically endangered and faces the threat of total extinction if moves to mine the seabed along the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island go ahead, according to surfers and environmental campaigners who have banned together to fight the proposals.
On Friday, 16th November, pro surfer and activist, Dave Rastovich (32, Byron Bay, NSW AUS), will begin a daunting 350km sea-paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha to draw awareness to the threatened stretch of coast. Rastovich says like-minded surfers and activists will join him on his journey, but if they don’t follow him the whole way, he intends to complete the two-week journey solo.
“People the world over come to experience the raw, untouched waters of New Zealand and celebrate a space not yet disturbed by industrial humanity. Yet, if widespread seabed mining reaches the coastal waters of this country, the allure of visiting a once pristine place will disappear,” said Rastovich.
“This coast, including Taranaki’s jewels, Raglan’s points, and Auckland’s beaches, are Aotearoa’s spiritual centre for surfers. All would be threatened if the sand flow is interrupted and a coastline littered with flawless waves could be irretrievably altered. As well, seabed mining will undoubtedly threaten the future of the critically endangered Popoto/Maui’s Dolphin. On those grounds alone it should be prohibited,” he adds.
Rastovich is no stranger to long hours in the ocean. He is a globally renowned surfer, has participated in similar awareness campaigns in Australia and California, and completed the gruelling Molokai to Oahu inter-island Hawaiian paddle race (considered the world championship of long distance ocean paddling). Rastovich will now attempt to complete the equivalent of seven Molokai paddles in two weeks.
A coalition has formed between the local group, “Kiwis Against Seabed Mining” (KASM) and the global organisation “Surfers for Cetaceans” (S4C) of which Rastovich is a founder.
The activists will be paying homage to the Maui’s Dolphin as they glide through the territory of the endangered mammal.
In addition to various regional community discussions, three major events will be held, marking key milestones of the journey.
All local community members and media are encouraged to participate.
The campaign will see Howie Cooke (co-founder of S4C and artist) and the KASM team creating art and information events that provide information about sea bed mining and also the dangers of gill and set net fishing to the dolphins, and agricultural/industrial and domestic runoff that contaminates New Zealand’s water ways.
Event schedule:
Fri, 16th Nov: Oakura Beach (paddle begins)
Fri, 16th Nov: Fitzroy Beach New Plymouth Surf Club (music, food & info) from 6pm (details)
Sat, 17th Nov: Fitzroy Beach (Micro Groms surf event) morning, on the beach
Sat, 17th – Fri, 23rd Nov: paddle, paddle, paddle (meetings and engaging with local communities)
Sat, 24th, 1pm – 3pm: Raglan Family Picnic Event & Live Music (details)
Sat, 24th, 7pm: “Save our Sands” Fundraiser at the Raglan Wharf with Live Music (details)
Sun 25th – Fri, 30th Nov: paddle, paddle, paddle to South of Piha meetings and engaging with local communities)
Sat, 1st Dec: Piha Conclusion “Love Your Ocean Day!” Major day time event. Evening finale event at the Piha Bowls Club (details)
Proposals to mine the West Coast seabed are firmly opposed by a range of business groups and environmental organisations, including SEAFIC (The Seafood Industry Council), Sea Shepherd NZ, Project Jonah, Sustainable Coastlines, Mauis SOS, Greenpeace, WWF, Forest and Bird, and Surfbreak Protection Society.
Leading kiwi individuals including All Blacks star Josh Kronfeld, and ex-Waitakare Mayor Bob Harvey, have also criticised the plans in public, with Kronfeld describing them recently as “a blindside hit”.
Surfers for Cetaceans co-founder, Howie Cooke says of the proposed ore mining: “Sucking up seems an appropriate term here, considering that this kind of operation would be significantly offshore owned, with a small financial benefit to New Zealand that in no way could compensate for the massive and extensive damage that would befall fisheries, fish and families.
“The tearing up of the seafloor, the discharge of toxins and the blanketing destruction caused by the tailings would ensure a multitude of major problems being inflicted on both marine diversity and coastal communities for generations to come.
“There are clearly enough fishery, entanglement, oil drilling and pollution issues already; the desperate situation of the Maui’s dolphin makes that clear,” says Cooke.
