Young Marlborough marine team vow to 'stay strong' on Sounds protection

Tuesday, 7 May 2019

The marine team fighting for protection have come along way, from left, Siobhan Hemingway, Holly Wills, Baylee McConaghey, Hannah Dickson, Demi Fearn.

Young people pushing for marine protection in the Marlborough Sounds say they will 'continue to stay strong'.

They have written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern again, reminding her of their passion and commitment to protect the Marlborough Sounds marine environment.

The young people, many of which are former Marlborough Girls College students, pressed Ardern on the Government's plans to protect the Sounds.

'We are interested to know where the Marlborough Sounds is now placed among your priorities?' the letter said.

The letter, which was sent on April 12, said they had received 'overwhelming support' from the New Zealand marine science community and support from the local community.

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'Our marine environment lies in your Government's hands and we urge you to empower our community with the statutory tools to look after the fabulous and ecologically unique Marlborough Sounds.'

The letter, which was sent on April 12, said their team had received 'overwhelming support' from the New Zealand marine science community and support from the local community.

Marlborough Girls' College students, from left, Stacey Wilkey, Baylee McConaghey, Demi Fearn, Holly Wills (centre front), Siobhan Hemingway, Julee Pillans, Hannah Dickson, Oceania McClelland-Petersen, on the rocks near Monkey Bay in June 2018.

'We have started to explore with iwi, the concept of statutory Kaitiaki for the Sounds, but this needs Government leadership as the Treaty partner,' it said.

The Prime Minister's office confirmed it received the letter and would respond. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage would also respond as she has responsibilities for marine protection.

What started as a school project has grown well beyond that, as six of the eight students have graduated from Marlborough Girls College, but their passion shows no sign of waning.

The team won a Cawthron Environment award in March.

The team are calling for 'bespoke' legislation to set up a marine guardian body for the Sounds, similar to one set up in Kaikōura.

Their idea is to have marine guardians in Marlborough, with the power to make a suite of marine orders, such as 'no take' areas, line-only fishing areas, no seabed disturbance and traditional Māori fishing reserves.

The team won a Cawthron Environment award in March, and in April the students' work was published in the Resource Management Law Association journal.

Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg had been a 'huge inspiration' to their team.

Year 13 student Baylee McConaghey said marine protection shouldn't be such a lengthy process.

'Our whole team's passion is with the ocean and we don't want to give up on that.

'We know that our marine ecosystems are in ecological trouble and we've actually reached tipping point, we know that time is precious.

The marine team from left, Siobhan Hemingway, Hannah Dickson, Holly Wills, sustainability teacher Melynda Bentley, Baylee McConaghey, Demi Fearn with Hon David Parker.

'We're in fact running out of time to change our ways and how we manage our resources more sustainably.'

Some issues they were concerned with included dredging and trawling of seabeds, sedimentation and marine bird life and mammals being threatened.

They planned to make further connections with with Te Tau Ihu iwi, the eight top of the south iwi, this year, McConaghey said.

'Our call for protection will continue to stay strong. We truly believe that the Sounds are in dire need of protection.

Their proposal for bespoke legislation for the Marlborough Sounds was 'just an outline' for protection, she said.

'We know changes will be made following the consultation, but we truly believe that it's the beginning of a solution and it holds great potential to protect and recover our unique marine environment.'

McConaghey said Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg had been a 'huge inspiration' to their team.

'Knowing that her voice is being heard internationally, it has given us a lot of hope that as youth we can be empowering and that we can implement change and protection.'