Hawke's Bay marine revival

Seventeen months after a rāhui was placed on Hawke's Bay's artificial reef system, the team behind the marine revival say they are cautiously optimistic that the 1.4km reef is set to flourish, with mussels already showing positive signs.

Kuku (mussel) spat is critical for filtering and enhancing water quality and providing habitat for other species, and mussel ropes made from natural resources has been key to their success, says Cameron Ormsby, Napier Port Cultural and Environmental Advisor.

“Our method has involved picking tī kouka (cabbage tree) leaves and weaving them into 15m long ropes that we’ve been hanging atop the new reef just below the surface to capture and grow spat,” explains Ormsby. “It was awesome weaving the spat ropes as we were able to run a series of wananga (workshops) alongside rangatahi (young people) arranged by Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui-a-Orotū to weave the ropes. It was great teaching the practices of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whānaungatanga (togetherness) to the next generation coming through. Tī kouka leaves are ideal for kuku spat as they’re incredibly strong as our lawnmowers often teach us, and they have lots of surface area and attachment points for mussel spat to connect to. 

“We’re now at the point that the first spat ropes are full of kuku, and we’re now planning to lower them to the highest points of the new reef, where we’ll tie them off to it in order for the adult kuku to colonise the reef in early summer 2025.”