Letter to the Editor - Tuesday July 17, 2012

Hokianga heartache

Firstly, many thanks to The Offsider for the wonderfully descriptive account of his hikoi to Hokianga (Shades of light in the Hokianga, July 12). However problems lie below the surface of our awa.

Oysters once lined the shores of Hokianga, being a reliable source of kai moana. These are now dead, wiped out by an invasive virus most likely brought here by the illegal dumping of infected bilge water from the tanks of ships that travel down our precious coastline. There are no signs of juvenile oysters so recovery is still far away.

What really concerns us is the exploitation of our harbour by commercial gill netting. Fishing boats have been observed netting off whole bays leaving little chance for any fish to escape. Being able to spear half a dozen flounder for Friday Fish Day are now just a distant memory.

Hokianga people are poor; do locals now have to buy fatty fish and chips from the local chippy on Fridays? Risking an increase in heart disease and missing out on vital omega 3?

It is about time that local marae (the guardians of Hokianga) joined together to place rahui on commercial gill netting during spawning time for mullet and flounder (the main fish here) and at special times such as before and during Easter and Christmas, when family and friends migrate home to be with whanau.

Not only is netting a big problem inside the harbour but outside as well. A large run of kahawai came in the harbour one day, the next day it was gone, lo and behold two trawlers were moored just outside the heads. What do they do with kahawai? Turn it into cat food.

Finally, on another note which is connected, would tangata please stop throwing your rubbish down the sides of banks, into streams and sides of roads of our whenua as it ends up in our awa.

We, as guardians of this country, are here to protect our precious place, not pollute.

ANAHERA MANUHIRI

Kohukohu