17/09/2026
What an incredible day of learning and conversation at our Whangateau Harbour Edge Workshop on Sunday.
We brought together coastal science, marine ecology, coastal engineering, local knowledge and community experience to explore how we can care for the Whangateau Harbour edge, adapt to change and build resilience.
A message that came through strongly: we need to think about the harbour and catchment as one connected system.
Sea-level rise is changing the backdrop against which we make decisions, while storms, groundwater, sediment, structures and coastal habitats all interact. Decisions made in one place can have consequences elsewhere, so we need to think about the health and functioning of the harbour and catchment as a whole.
We heard about the extraordinary productivity of the estuary and the importance of seagrass, shellfish, saltmarsh, mangroves and other fringing habitats for water quality, wildlife, shoreline stability and the wider ecosystem. We also learnt about the drivers of mangrove expansion and the role of sediment and coastal processes in shaping the harbour.
We explored the different choices available as shorelines change, from setback and accommodating change to nature-based and hybrid approaches, seawalls and other engineered responses. There is no single answer for every location. Context is everything, and each option has different benefits, limitations, costs and consequences.
In the afternoon, community conversations strongly affirmed many priorities already identified through our community-led Hills to Harbour Action Plan, including healthy ecosystems and water quality, reducing sediment, biodiversity, revegetation, community collaboration and sharing of knowledge and information.
Some important principles emerged through the day, such as: think about the whole harbour when making decisions about its edge; be careful about solving one problem by creating another; bring science, technical expertise and local knowledge together; and take a long-term, collective view of the future we want for Whangateau Harbour.
Many participants also joined a harbour-edge observation walk, guided by Prof Conrad Pilditch and Prof Karin Bryan, continuing the conversation in place.
A huge thank you to Prof Conrad Pilditch, Prof Karin Bryan, Richard Reinen-Hamill, Dr Megan Carbines and Sage Vernall for so generously sharing their expertise, and to Annette Lees for expertly facilitating the day.
And of course, massive thanks to everyone who attended. You brought so much energy, local knowledge and love for the harbour. We really do have an amazing catchment community. ๐
Ngฤ mihi to the Rodney Local Board for supporting the workshop.
