Today, the 22nd of March, is the International Day of the Seal! This special day is about promoting the conservation of seals worldwide. Did you know Aotearoa has three indigenous seal species? – New Zealand sea lions/pakake (Phocarctos hookeri). Pakake are otariids or eared seals; males are brown/black, and females are cream/grey coloured. Males can …
Thank you Forest & Bird! It is a privilege to be published in your Magazine Autumn Edition! A tremendous amount of volunteer hours, passion, persistence, petrol (to meet interested parties and monitor the New Zealand sea lions/pakake in The Catlins) and networking went in to building the ‘Protect Endangered New Zealand Sea Lion’ campaign. Mine …
In celebration of Seaweek, and one of Aotearoa’s taonga species New Zealand sea lions/pakake, the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust gave an excellent presentation about ‘Living with Pakake’ at Otago Museum. Before human colonisation, pakake resided throughout Aotearoa and after being almost wiped out by Sealing, they fled to the inhospitable Subantarctic Islands. Since 1993, …
On a warm day, there is nowhere better than the sea/moana. The moana has long been a part of the Kiwi culture; bring the sun or a decent swell, and the beach will be rhythmic with energy. In Dunedin Ōtepoti, it is not uncommon to see surfers carving up the waves (potentially in competition with …
If you were waiting for a sign, this is it. On the 3rd of March, people across Aotearoa will be congregating in designated areas to demand meaningful global warming action from Parliament. The time to enact positive change is now. The time to turn off the global emissions tap is now. We cannot wait for …
Whether you are a climate change/global warming believer or denier; we share Papatūānuku with many other beings, all of whom rely on it. The impacts of a warming and changing planet is all around us and natural disasters are becoming more frequent. The most recent examples are the tragic flooding in the North Island and …
Rā Whānau / Happy Birthday to this guy! Luke Suen is SEA SOCIETY’s first supporter and now the Vice-President. He hails from Vancouver, and at the age of 26 set off to explore the world. He and I met in Paihia in the Bay of Islands in 2018 and became fast friends. Luke is a …
My heart has been heavy. I am lighting my Poet Botanicals candle and sending so much aroha to everyone across Aotearoa affected by the flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle. Keep helping one another and Kia Kaha! If you are able to, please donate to the New Zealand Red Cross at https://www.redcross.org.nz/…/new-zealand-disaster-fund/
On the 6th of February 1840 (183 years ago), an agreement: the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi was made between the British Crown and about 540 Māori Rangatira. Te Tiriti o Waitangi was intended to unite the British Crown and Māori; however, different versions and understandings of the Treaty and breaches of …
“The greater the biodiversity, the more secure will be all life on Earth.” – David Attenborough On the 2nd of February it was World Wetland Day. Did you know? Wetlands support more wildlife than any other habitat in Aotearoa; including plants, birds, fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Despite wetlands sadly only covering two percent of Aotearoa’s …