In Local News… by Sean McCabe
Commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab.
PROTECT OUR FISHING RIGHTS
by Rose Cassius
Locals of the town of Arekaukau are today mourning the loss of a beloved local activity.
Fisheries New Zealand today announced a ban on fishing along 80% of the town’s coastline.
According to a Fisheries spokesperson, ‘the ban is to protect the local ecosystem.’
But residents are outraged.
“My father and grandfather would fish from this wharf every weekend,” reminisced apple-cheeked Larry Diver, 71, tearfully.
‘“They’d teach me how to catch dinner and I’ve been doing that for 57 years. All I wanted was to teach the grandkids, and now the government says I can’t.’”
Fishing has been a cherished local tradition, dating back over 140 years.
Mr Diver recalled spending his weekend mornings with his parents out on the wharf.
‘“We’d wave to the deep-sea ships as they went out each morning. We could get seven or eight on a good day. Now we can’t because some lady in a skirt says so. Says we can’t feed our families.”’
“It’s control, is what it is.”
The ban comes as a result of recommendations made by tangata whenua and the Arekaukau District Council, led by mayor Maryanne Taumata, who was elected with a slim majority.
Jill Gapper, 80, who lives near the wharf, said the ban was the beginning of government control.
‘“It always starts small,” Mrs Gapper said.
‘“A fishing ban here, inspecting catch there. Then the boats will have to be painted a regulation colour. Next thing you know, everyone will have to be photographed and patrol boats will be asking for your papers.”’
‘“My uncles didn’t fight in North Africa for this.”’
An Enfield rifle, a memento of her uncles’ service in the battle of El Alamein, is mounted on her living-room wall of the waterfront homely cottage on the waterfront where she lives with her grandchildren.
‘“It makes you worried for the kids, government coming and taking away their rights. We can’t let them have their way. They’ve lost me and my friends votes in the next election.”’
With many families in the area surviving on low income, most people living by the wharf depend on fishing for their dinner.
But Fisheries New Zealand called that “ridiculous.”
Arekaukau is no stranger to fishing bans.
During the past two years, the government has tightened the noose on locals, first by restricting how many fish a person could take and even what qualified as a fisher.
Residents have gritted their teeth and carried on.
‘“My mum loves fishing here,”’ said Matt Lawrie, 55.
‘“She used to take us out as kids. She lives in the hospital now. All I wanted was to take her out so she could see the ocean and the fish. Suddenly, this Fisheries officer comes storming up, accusing her of being a fake fisher. I thought he was going to slap the cuffs on me. It’s absolute madness.”’
‘“Bloody corruption as well,”’ Mr Lawrie said. “The council and iwi are all in Neptune Tours’ pocket. That’s why they want us out.”
Neptune Tours is an American based marine tourism company, operating out of seven countries.
The company has a poor record with marine conservation, with the company’s tour boats being attributed to pollution and habitat destruction in the United States, Australia, and the Dominican Republic.
The company was recently awarded a 30-year lease on the Arekaukau waterfront, including the popular fishing wharfs.
The new fishing bans came into effect last week.
-Turituri Times, 1 May 2023
ENDANGERED SPECIES UNDER THREAT
By Ben Melville
A native marine ecosystem is under threat as local fishers flout protective measures.
The coastal town of Arekaukau is home to some of the oldest and most pristine marine ecosystems in the world.
Warm waters combined with currents brings species from across the South Pacific and even as far Central America.
Internationally renowned, the town draws in hundreds of tourists and researchers every year, to see the rare species that reside in the warm waters.
But the town has long had a problem with overfishing, threatening the marine ecosystem.
To combat this, Fisheries New Zealand has imposed an 18-month ban on recreational fishing within 100 metres of the shore.
The move comes after recommendations were made by the local tangata kaitiaki to protect species under threat, which had the full support of the Arekaukau District Council.
Most of Arekaukau’s coastline is a mataitai reserve.
But local fishers have decided that the ban is not for them and are ignoring the rules.
‘“My grandfather and father would fish from this wharf every weekend,”’ howled Larry Diver, who was found in bloodstained overalls on the wharf next to a bucket was piled high with grouper when he spoke to reporters.
Diver’s family has a long history with overfishing.
“We could get seven or eight on a good day,” leered Diver. “Now we can’t because some lady in a skirt says so.”
Other residents are paranoid that the ban will somehow lead to Arekaukau becoming a police state.
‘“Patrol boats will be asking for your papers,”’ wheezed Julie Gapper, speaking from her dilapidated shack on the waterfront.
Behind Gapper were two children in bedraggled clothing.
Gapper was hostile to local government.
‘“We can’t let them have their way,”’ she said.
On the wall behind her, a rifle was mounted.
In a statement, Arekaukau mayor Maryanne Taumata said, ‘“We have some of the most well-preserved underwater environments right on our doorstep. It is the government and citizens’ responsibility to protect this rare and valuable treasure.”’
Miss Taumata worked previously as part of the Department of Conservation rangers and holds a Bachelor of Marine Science from the University of Otago.
A spokesperson from Fisheries New Zealand said the ban was ‘“common sense.”’
‘“I mean, we’ve seen people try to walk away with 15 or 16 grouper each day. The idea that you need all that for your family is ridiculous.”’
‘“We tried putting in a catch limit for each fisher. Three adult bass per fisher, we said. So everyone loaded up their cars with uncles, aunts, cousins, children, mums, dads, even babies. Last week, I even caught one who dragged his 80-something year old mother from the rest home in her wheelchair and stuck a rod in her hand. He tried to tell me she caught the five snappers in the bucket, while she was slumped over with the rod halfway off the wharf.”’
‘“It’s absolute madness. Hopefully this will give the area time to recover. We’ve already got Neptune Tours to worry about.”’
Penalties for breaching the fishing ban range from a warning to fines up to $500. Repeated or serious breaches can even see jail time.
Further details can be found on Fisheries New Zealand website.
-Arekaukau Weekly, 3 May 2023
Opinion: Neptune Tours won’t kill our town, here’s why
By Matt Murdock
Odds are that you’ve seen the news that Neptune Tours, the California-based ocean tour company, has been awarded a 30-year lease on the empty Arekaukau waterfront.
The move will see a thriving terminal and tourist centre operating out of the picturesque coastal town, which is set to be the latest chapter in the town’s revival.
Some noise has been heard about how it will ‘destroy the waterfront,’ but before I dive into how Neptune Tours is actually a good thing for Arekaukau, let’s take a look at where it all started.
Neptune Tours was the brainchild of CEO Mark Murdoch in 2004. He envisioned a low cost, wide reaching marine tour company with a focus on family. From humble beginnings in California, the business was an overnight success.
With nothing but his determination, and some support from his parents, Mark quickly built an empire spanning 12 states by 2008.
In 2011, the company won in the Travvy Awards.
How Neptune Tours will help us
Infrastructure
The Arekaukau waterfront is falling apart. The concrete is cracked and crumbling into the se., and the whole stretch is dilapidated. Described by visitors as an eyesore, the town is wasting prime real estate.
Neptune Tours has the resources to redevelop and revitalize the entire stretch.
Arekaukau will be brought into this century with a sleek, clean, stylish new look. Incorporating traditional Aboriginal designs, the new terminal will become the centrepiece of Arekaukau tourism.
2. Value
Those claiming that the new terminal will kill the waterfront don’t realize that their property values will go sky-high once Neptune Tours redevelops the area. A new modern waterfront will draw businesses from around the country.
The dingey guano covered wharf will be replaced with a modern tourism centre. With eyes from all over the world on this prime real estate, values are estimated to climb as much as 200% over the next decade.
3. Visitors
A new tourism centre won’t just bring new businesses, it’ll bring new visitors to the town.
Most visitors to Arekaukau stay for one or two nights and spend, maybe, $200 the whole They can’t provide the money.
A proper tourism centre will bring altogether better tourists with cash to spend. Visitors capable of spending thousands of dollars per day will flood into the town. And by the replacing the stringy, bearded travellers with stylish influencers and retired couples, the property values will increase as well.
4. Environment
You might have seen rumours that Neptune Tours has had adverse effects on the environment. But research has shown that Neptune Tour’s environmental practices are above reproach, as residents where Neptune Tours operates will tell you.
“I have no complaints about Neptune Tours,” said an unnamed Dominican Republic resident. “Their practices adhere to all known local regulations.”
“I am glad Neptune Tours chose to operate here,” said a second resident. “They have improved our quality of life in ways we never could on our own.”
“Neptune Tours is an exemplary company,” said a California resident. “Their boats do not breach maritime standards in any way, and their CEO’s business practices and hygiene are above reproach. I fully encourage all local towns to give free reign to how the company operates.”
Cleary, Neptune Tours can only bring good things to the town. The next few years will be an exciting time for Arekaukau residents.
-Washington Post, 10 May 2023
Council once again fails the citizens
by Witi
The Arekaukau Reef Council has once again failed its citizens with the announcement of an upcoming swim ban near the shoreline.
It comes after it was discovered that the humans of Arekaukau plan to bring a large-boat company the area next year.
News of the company was overheard by a shoal of tarakihi, who reported it immediately to the council Yellowtail officers.
The next day, the council announced the swim ban along the Arekaukau shoreline.
‘“It’s ridiculous,”’ said mackerel Hemi, 15. “My grandfather’s day saw far worse than this. This generation can’t take any hardship. Where am I supposed to take my grandkids now?”
‘“They’re trying to keep us trapped in one place,”’ said 9-year-old flounder Manaaki. ‘“They’re all in the Great White’s pockets.”’
A blue cod representative of the council had this to say to our reporters.
‘“Of course, we’re not trying to keep fish trapped, don’t be stupid,”’ said the exasperated spokeperson. ‘“We’re trying to keep our residents from choking on motor oil or being blended by propellors. I mean, for Tangaroa’s sake, just listen to the stories of our refugee citizens from across the ocean who were driven from their homes by Neptune Tours.”’
At this point, he retreated under a hail of shell fragments and rotten seaweed.
The ban is clearly a desperate play by Mayor Ikaroa to live up to his campaign promises of improved traffic out in the bay.
The 19-year-old giant trevally came to power, promising to improve swim traffic for businesses outside the reef.
The plan was to open the doors to workers from New Caledonia and Tonga.
But after the Great Barrier Reef opened the doors to migrants, fish from across the South Pacific flocked there, leaving Ikaroa flailing.
This is clearly an attempt to increase swim traffic by force.
‘“They tried pulling this nonsense during the last fishing scare,”’ said manta ray Sione, 23. ‘“Scare-mongering that humans were pulling up over 150 of us a day and told us to stay away from the pontoons. Well, I said to that tuna officer ‘it’s not a problem for me, I’m a protected species, so don’t come in here with all that power trip.’ And he bloody arrested me!”’
‘“It’s our right to swim wherever we want and not have council try to restrict us in the name of ‘public safety’.”
-Reef Weekly, 14 May 2023
