Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.envbop.govt.nz

We walk, run, lie and picnic on it. We swim in it. We dive under it. Boat, ski and kayak on it. Fish from it and often just simply look at it. Our Tauranga Harbour – a place we love, proven yet again by another survey of users.

Probably findings that we who live here would know as fact, because our harbour is a part of us – it's our daily life backdrop – our sanctuary – our playground – our life source. Perhaps the one surprising aspect of the survey recently presented to the regional council was that consistently 50 per cent of the ‘users' are ‘out of towners' who value the beauty, condition and recreational opportunities as much as we do.

The Tauranga Harbour is special. It covers 218 square kilometres, has two entries at Mauao and Otawhiwhi – Bowentown – is home to the Port of Tauranga, houses two marinas and luckily for all of us, is looked after by 10 Estuary Care Groups who give their time and skills to look after the coastal estuarine areas.

You may have seen that the Nga Tahatai o Te Puna Care Group recently won the Heritage and Environment Award at the Trust Power WBOP Community Awards. Included in the group's work is the ‘Tukoro' or ‘Cup of Tea' island restoration. This is a tiny island of only 50Sqm in Waikaraka estuary which has been slowly eroding away. The restoration work, funded through the regional council's Environmental Enhancement Fund and WBOPDC funding for the resource consent, included the group placing 90 geotex sand bags around the island. The work was finished in late 2010 and now the group is completing weed control and replanting – one of the magic stories of the incredible work the care groups do.

The harbour is of huge significance to Maori and history recounts the arrival of the Takitimu and Mataatua Waka in the 12th century. The philosophy of Maori that connects health of sea, land and people is the essence of sustainability – and that is the challenge for us all in terms of valuing and maintaining our treasure.

The harbour is home to thousands of plants, shellfish, birds and fish. But its health is under threat – from plants like mangroves that thrive off build-up of nutrients, from sedimentation, contaminants, pests and the consequences of careless use and abuse. As a walker of the estuaries, I am saddened and maddened by the amount of broken glass and or plastics that litter some parts.

The regional council is funding an integrated Tauranga Harbour Programme that will, amongst other things, manage erosion, water quality, support the work of the Coast Care Groups, develop and implement pollution initiatives, carry out research on ecology, sedimentation and sea levels, work to progress mangrove removal and management, sea lettuce and basically anything else that needs looking at or after that will protect and enhance our harbour.

Our special place will be a special project of the regional council – who will work collaboratively with other councils and a range of other organisations and people to make sure those that follow us are left a sparkling inheritance. In the meantime, thanks and more thanks to all those who give so much of their time to protect and nurture this jewel. Enjoy.