In line with its mission statement, Mangawhai Harbour Restoration now faces a second challenge .... 

 

 

 

.... to restore the Upper Harbour to its previous condition, without mangroves.

The ultimate aim, with the support of the Mangawhai community, is to restore muddy and silty shoreline to sandy beaches and clear channels for swimming, sailing and kayaking and at the same time provide an environment friendly to birds and other compatible wildlife.  This new project will in no way jeopardise the Lower Harbour and Spit, restoration of which is now complete. Both remain high priority for on-going maintenance.  

Mangrove management is the key to improvements to the Upper Harbour. When mangroves spread, they increase the build-up of sediment by reducing and changing the currents and wave energy which in turn may impact on shellfish and birdlife, as well as limiting access on waterways.  

Compare the two photos to the right - one taken mid 1950's, the second taken January 2009. Photographs from the 1940's and 50's  indicate that mangroves are not an integral to Mangawhai Harbour. Their "arrival" and proliferation was exacerbated by  prevailing agricultural methods, land development and causeway building throughout the years. 

This  has been recognised and, subsequently, control measures have been put in place, but the harm has been done and it's now up to the community to reverse the process if we want to re-establish a previously pristine upper harbour.

The following areas of the harbour are under consideration for channel dredging and mangrove removal:

 

Upper Harbour Restoration Area showing channel dredging from pipi beds to the Tavern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First and second phases of proposed mangrove removal

 

 

 

 

RELEVANT FIGURES
Area of Upper Harbour 248 ha.
Total area of mangroves  87 ha.
Mangroves south and east of causeways 41 ha.
Area of "Mangrove Island" 12 ha.

   

RESOURCE CONSENT PROCESS 

With the completion of Lower Harbour Restoration works, and the successful start up of  Mangawhai's EcoCare waste water system, it was decided by the MHR Executive in August 2009 that the time was right to seek resource consent to dredge from the Pipi beds (off Lincoln Road and Tern Point) to Mangawhai Tavern and begin mangrove removal and management, subject to community support.  This followed several years of research and consultation on the viability of the project. 

Two public meetings were held in Mangawhai to advise the community of the MHR's intentions and explain the proposal. A survey was issued at these meetings, placed in local retailers and published in local papers and on this web site.  The support from the community was overwhelming.  In August 2010 a Resource Consent Application was filed with Northland Regional Council for upper harbour channel restoration and mangrove removal. In October the consent was publicly notified.

288 submissions were received:  243 Supporting, 2 Neutral, 43 Opposed.

NRC subsequently requested additional information to be supplied prior to a public hearing.

TIME-LINE

2001   Upper harbour restoration concept envisioned and developed by MHR Futures Committee.
January 2003   Ecological Survey performed to assess feasibility of dredging upper harbour channel.
March 2003   Mangawhai Harbour Draft sustainable Management Plan published - includes plan to manage mangroves.
February 2004   Upper harbour bathymetric survey performed by DML.
March 2004 -    September 2006   Upper harbour mangrove removal ecological study performed by Dr Andrea Alfaro.
July 2005 - Feb 2006   Estuarine habitat study performed by Debbie U-Lynn Low.
January 2008   NIWA sediment cores taken in area of upper harbour channel proposed for restoration.
August 2009  

Decision taken to proceed with Resource Consent Application for Upper Harbour channel restoration and mangrove removal subject to community support.
September 2009   Informal discussions with NRC regarding procedure and support.
14 November 2009   First public meeting.
8 February 2010   Coastal Vegetation Survey performed by Lisa Forrester, NRC.
27 February 2010   Second public meeting.
March 2010   Consultation regarding Fairy Terns, Gwenda Pulham, Member of Ornithological Society of NZ.
August 2010   Consultation and presentation of Resource Consent Application to Te uri O Hau and Department of Conservation.
19 August 2010   Resource Consent Application for Upper Harbour Channel Restoration and Mangrove Removal filed with NRC.
27 August 2010   Section 92 request for further information received from NRC.
2 October 2010   Resource Consent publicly notified.
1 November 2010  

Submissions closed - 288 submissions received.                       Supporting = 243, Neutral = 2, Opposed = 43                                  
17 November 2010   Section 92 request for further information received from NRC.
10 January 2011   Section 92 response to be provided to NRC.
4-8 April 2011   Public Hearing - Mangawhai Club.

                       

The Public Hearing is set to commence at 11 a.m. on Monday 4 April through to Friday 8 April 2011.  It is expected to arouse considerable interest not just in Mangawhai but from other areas of the North Island where mangroves are perceived as a threat to our harbours.   This Consent is not just about mangroves, however, it's also about dredging. Dredging and mangrove management go hand in glove. It is also about making good the promise in the Mangawhai Structure Plan adopted by Kaipara District Council in January 2005, to "get a better connection between the village and the harbour".