• Active project

Hawke's Bay regional study

This collaboration in Hawke's Bay is mapping environmental stressors, their interactions, and providing guidance for reducing their impacts.

Project Leader Duration Budget
Carolyn Lundquist (NIWA/University of Auckland) August 2019 – June 2022 $300,000

Overview

We are working with stakeholders and iwi partners in Hawke's Bay to take a holistic approach to local marine management. Our focus is on implementing ecosystem-based management (EBM) in a real-world example by combining science and mātauranga Māori with the tools and resources from our previous research.

Stage 1 of this project is now complete. Stage 2 is now underway.

Based on scenarios identified by HBMaC, we are now working to adapt EBM tools to identify and prioritise potential management or policy options, and/or fill gaps in both scientific and mātauranga knowledge identified by the conceptual systems map of the two marine stressors.

About stage 1

In collaboration with HBMaC, stakeholders and iwi, we mapped two environmental stressors in the Hawke's Bay marine environment: freshwater sedimentation and loss of benthic (seabed) structure, and their interactions. These are presented in systems maps. We also compiled a list of metadata for existing environmental and socio-cultural datasets that could be used populate model scenarios based on the systems map. The systems maps, summary and webinar recording are available below.

Why Hawke's Bay?

Hawke’s Bay has a diverse coastal marine ecosystem with sandy beaches, inter-tidal reefs, dunes and estuaries. The region has large river systems, fisheries, productive lands and ocean outfalls which can add stress to the marine system and impact on people’s values for the coastal area.

Anna Madarasz-Smith on the Hawke's Bay coastal environment

What are marine stressors?

Marine stressors include contaminants or sediment from the land, climate change, habitat loss and fisheries activities. 

Who are HBMaC?

Hawke's Bay Marine and Coastal Group (HBMaC) is a multi-stakeholder group that includes recreational and commercial fishers, tangata whenua and government agencies, and is chaired by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council science staff.

Research Team

Carolyn Lundquist (NIWA/University of Auckland)
Justin Connolly (Deliberate)
Anna Madarasz-Smith (HBRC)  
Becky Shanahan (HBRC)  
Ellen Robotham (HBRC)  
Barry Lynch (HBRC)  
James Whetu (Whetu Group)
Richard Bulmer (NIWA)
Andrew Allison (NIWA)
Ian Tuck (MPI)

Related News

Location

Timeline

  • December 2020
    Systems map report summary and public webinar. Stage 1 complete.
  • October 2020
    Systems map and systems map report
  • March 2022
    Final iteration of model scenarios developed using seafloor disturbance-recovery tool
  • June 2022
    Report including guidelines for application of three Sustainable Seas tools to inform EBM