Akaroa Harbour Environmental Concerns and Solutions

Akaroa Harbour has faced environmental concerns due to its unique location and geological features. The harbour's narrow entrance and shallow waters make it prone to sedimentation and pollution.

The harbour's history of sedimentation is evident in its sediment cores, which show a significant increase in sedimentation rates over the past century. This is largely due to human activities such as deforestation and farming.

The harbour's pollution is also a concern, with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff and sewage contributing to its poor water quality.

Akaroa Harbour is situated in a unique location, being one of two eroded volcanic centres from the extinct Banks Peninsula Volcano.

The harbour is surrounded by a stunning natural feature, the 475-hectare Akaroa Marine Reserve, which was given approval in 2013 after a 17-year campaign.

Rainfall plays a significant role in determining the harbour's water quality, with six out of seven sampled sites graded as "good" for recreational use as of 2011.

The Banks Peninsula Volcano is an extinct volcano, and its eroded volcanic centres are a testament to the region's geological history.

The Akaroa Marine Reserve is a protected area, showcasing the harbour's natural beauty and importance for marine life.

Here are some key categories related to Akaroa Harbour's geography and natural features:

For Ngāi Tahu, it is too expensive not to discharge to land. The expense is not monetary; it is the environmental cost of not doing anything that we must be concerned with.

This is an extremely sensitive issue for Ngāi Tahu. The cost to the environment, our takiwā and the loss of values for future generations far outweigh the dollars.

The discharge of wastewater is a significant issue in the Akaroa Harbour area, with A1 being a major concern.

Here are some of the key issues related to the discharge of wastewater:

The environmental cost of not addressing these issues is too high to ignore.

Akaroa Harbour's water quality is a major concern, with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus detected in the water. This is due to the harbour's location in a high-nutrient area, where runoff from surrounding farmland and urban areas contributes to the problem.

The harbour's water quality is also affected by the presence of sediment, which can cause algae blooms and deplete oxygen levels. Sedimentation is a major issue in the harbour, with an average of 1,000 tonnes of sediment deposited each year.

Regular monitoring and management efforts are underway to address these issues, including the implementation of a nutrient management plan and the installation of sedimentation ponds.

Wastewater discharge is a significant contributor to water pollution. It accounts for about 70% of the pollution in rivers and streams.

Industrial wastewater can contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic, which can harm aquatic life and contaminate the food chain.

The Clean Water Act sets standards for wastewater treatment plants to remove pollutants before discharge. These plants are designed to remove at least 85% of pollutants.

Agricultural runoff is another major source of wastewater discharge, with fertilizers and pesticides entering waterways through irrigation and manure from livestock.

In Akaroa Harbour, a Taiāpure reserve was established in 2006 to protect the marine environment and customary fisheries. This community-based management tool includes representatives from Ngāi Tahu, local fishing groups, and charter operators.

The vision for the Akaroa Taiāpure is to improve the sustainability of the customary fishery and create opportunities for future generations to fish in the harbour. This is achieved through a combination of western science and Māori-based methods.

Water quality in Akaroa Harbour is required to be consistent with protecting and enhancing customary fisheries, and enabling tāngata whenua to engage in mahinga kai activities. This is a key goal of the Akaroa Taiāpure.

The Akaroa Taiāpure Committee is working with the wider community to implement the Taiāpure. This includes projects like the experimental translocation of pāua from Pōhatu Marine Reserve to Akaroa Harbour, which incorporates traditional Ngāi Tahu methods.

Tāngata whenua are also investigating the potential to establish mātaitai reserves on particular areas of the harbour, to complement the Taiāpure and further protect customary fisheries. This would recognize the importance of traditional fishing grounds and provide for customary management practices and food gathering.

Waterways in the Akaroa Harbour catchment are important to Ngāi Tahu cultural heritage, with many original Ngāi Tahu names and histories remaining an important part of the cultural landscape.

Abstractions, stock access, and land use activities like subdivision, development, and forestry have significant effects on surface water quality and quantity in the Akaroa basin. The creeks around Akaroa have less water in them than they used to.

Stock access to waterways is a major issue, with whānau identifying it as the primary source of contaminants in the Awaiti stream, which supplies drinking water to Ōnuku Marae. The water is treated due to the levels of contaminants present.

Water quality in streams used for mahinga kai such as watercress and mint is also a concern. Sustaining the mauri of freshwater resources and fitness for cultural use must have priority over abstractive use.

Establishing native riparian buffer zones along all waterways and drains is a key method for improving water quality in the Akaroa Harbour. This can help eliminate existing discharges of pollutants and restore degraded waipuna and wetlands.

Closed landfill sites are a concern in the Akaroa Harbour catchment. Unused landfill sites can be contaminated sites, posing a risk to soils and groundwater via the leaching of contaminants.

The old Akaroa rubbish tip at Takapūneke is a resource management issue of particular concern in the catchment. Environmental concerns are coupled with the cultural issue of having a contaminated site in an area of such immense cultural and historic significance.

Priority should be given to investigating, monitoring, and remediating the Takapūneke site, as well as assessing the feasibility of removing contaminated soil and fill from the site.

The cultural significance of Takapūneke to Ngāi Tahu requires careful consideration in any remediation efforts.

Akaroa Harbour has significant recreational value for the community, but the purpose of Policies A8.1 to A8.3 is to ensure that recreational use doesn't compromise customary values and interests.

The harbour is home to many structures, including boat ramps, slipways, and jetties, but these can interfere with kaimoana beds and water flow.

To avoid adverse effects on mahinga kai resources, structures in the coastal marine area are considered on a case-by-case basis, considering the purpose of the structure, effects on mahinga kai, effects on the marine environment, and cumulative effects.

Moorings are concentrated in areas where they already exist, and the development of marinas on the western side of Akaroa Harbour is opposed from Ōnawe to Timutimu Heads.

The harbour is a significant natural area and aquaculture exclusion area, and tāngata whenua have a particular interest in ensuring that structures and aquaculture don't adversely affect mahinga kai resources and customary relationship with the coast.

Some of the values that need to be protected in the harbour include:

The A10, or Tapu Rohe Wāhi, is a significant area in Akaroa Harbour. It's a restricted zone to protect the harbour's sensitive ecosystem.

This zone is off-limits to the public for good reason, as it's home to rare and endangered species.

Akaroa Harbour has a rich history of human settlement, with its waterfront being continually inhabited since the 1840s. This has led to the development of several small towns and villages along the harbour's shoreline.

The harbour's shoreline is home to several settlements, including Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Takapūneke, Takamatua, Barrys Bay, French Farm, and Wainui. These communities are connected to the rest of Canterbury via State Highway 75.

The area is also home to significant cultural and historical sites, including wāhi tapu and wāhi taonga sites, which are areas of great spiritual and cultural importance to Ngāi Tahu. These sites include dwelling places for taniwha kaitiaki, urupā, safe repositories for taonga artefacts and cultural objects, and the locations of chiefly deaths in intertribal warfare.

Takapūneke is a place of immense significance in the story of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It was the kāinga of the Ngāi Tahu upoko ariki Te Maiharanui.

The site has been long recognised as a wāhi tapu by Ngāi Tahu, and was registered as a Wāhi Tapu Area by the NZHPT in 2002. Takapūneke was made a local purpose (Historic Reserve) by Christchurch City Council in 2008.

One known archaeological site exists at Takapūneke, identified as platform terraces and coastal midden. Unfortunately, the midden was destroyed by earthworks, and the terraces largely covered by vegetation.

The Papatipu Rūnanga is able to exercise tikanga and kawa with regard to management and use of the Historic Reserve. They are also involved as primary decision makers in all management plans for the Reserve.

Here are the key principles and policies that will guide the management of Takapūneke:

These principles will ensure that Takapūneke is protected for future generations.

Structures in the coastal marine area of Akaroa Harbour are carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. This approach takes into account the purpose of the structure, its effects on mahinga kai, the marine environment, and cumulative effects.

The harbour has significant recreational value, but policies aim to ensure recreational use doesn't compromise customary values and interests. Tāngata whenua have a particular interest in protecting mahinga kai resources and the use of the bay for mahinga kai purposes.

The following values and sites are protected in the coastal marine area:

Moorings are to remain concentrated in areas where they already exist, and the development of marinas on the western side of Akaroa Harbour is opposed. This is to preserve the harbour's natural character and visual beauty, as well as its cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu.

Akaroa Harbour's waterfront has been continually inhabited since the 1840s.

Akaroa, Duvauchelle, Takapūneke, Takamatua, Barrys Bay, French Farm, and Wainui lie on the shoreline of the harbour.

They are connected to the rest of Canterbury via State Highway 75.

French Bay, the site of the French settlement of Akaroa, was originally known as Paka Ariki.

Imagine a French-inspired coastal escape, where the charm of a bygone era meets the tranquility of a seaside haven. Akaroa Harbour is the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway.

The harbour's picturesque setting, with its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, is reminiscent of a French Riviera town. The harbour's unique shape, formed by the volcanic activity that created Banks Peninsula, adds to its natural beauty.

Akaroa's French heritage is still evident in its architecture, with many buildings dating back to the 19th century. The town's historic precinct is a must-visit, with its cobblestone streets and charming shops.

The harbour's natural beauty is home to a diverse range of marine life, including dolphins, penguins, and seals. Visitors can take a boat tour to see these amazing creatures up close.

Akaroa's French-inspired cuisine is a culinary delight, with dishes like bouillabaisse and ratatouille on the menu. The town's many cafes and restaurants offer a range of dining options to suit all tastes.