Catherine Delahunty Green MP www.greens.org.nz

The Tauranga Moana has always been a bountiful and productive place for the people living here.

When European settlers arrived, they would have found themselves amongst one of the most populated regions in New Zealand. Kai was readily available from the land and oceans. Today this continues to be the case. Primary production and the services that support it, such as the billion dollar kiwi fruit industry and the port, which is said to hold six per cent of the total value of the New Zealand economy, is the mainstay of economic activity.

Nature is generally kind to the plentiful Bay. But our land and moana is fragile. It's estimated that 130,000 tonnes of our precious soil is lost to the harbour each year. A high rainfall, sometimes locally up to three metres in the Kaimais; steep terrain, tumbling down from 900 metres through the narrow plain to the coast; and the young, highly erodible volcanic ash soils, make catchment management particularly important. This is particularly the case as pressure is put on the land to make it more productive.

Evidence of stress is everywhere. Aside from losing soil to the ocean, it affects water quality. Water tested by children at Kaimai School as it flows off the ranges, and before it even reaches the plain, was only fair. When the waters reach the harbour increased nutrient levels from town sewerage and country fertilizer affect natural systems that have to cope with higher nutrient levels. Research by Bay of Plenty environmental science students, led by Dr Michael Morris, has indicated the infestation of sea lettuce in the harbour is ‘almost definitely' due to the presence of fertilizer and sewerage. Measuring the levels of nitrogen in sea lettuce, it was found that higher concentrations of the element were found at the shoreward side of the harbour.

Controlling run-off
It is hoped a new initiative between Kaimai School and Kate Akers, co-ordinator of the Kaimai Catchments Project, Landcare Trust, will be the first of many. It aims to help landowners access available funding for fencing and enable the planting of streamside areas, with the help of the school and local community. This will protect soils by significantly decreasing the run-off into streams. In town, The Environment Centre can also help with the Urban Greenspace project and other initiatives.

The Greens are a strong advocate for healthy streams, waterways and catchments. They are an essential resource and community asset that need constant care for economic reasons as well as for conservation and recreational activities such as fishing and swimming.

Local body update
There has been a great response by candidates to answering the Questionnaire mentioned last week ion ‘Green Scene'. All the local election candidates' answers to the Questionnaire are on www.votebop.org. This will help you when the voting papers shortly plop through your mailbox.