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A Northland iwi has given up waiting for the government to do something about the invasive caulerpa seaweed and started its own eradication programme.
Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust chief executive Nicola MacDonald says it’s using local boats and divers to remove the seaweed by hand from around Kawau Island.
What’s been called the foot-and-mouth seaweed because of its toxic effect on other marine life is already well-established around Aotea-Great Barrier.
Ms MacDonald says the iwi paid for experts to fly out from California – and their advice was act fast or face disaster.
“We’ve activated the entire coastline, so we’re feeling a lot more optimistic – whereas before the advice we were receiving was monitor, observe, and watch. While we’re doing that, that pest-weed is growing and growing in epic proportions,” she says.
Ms MacDonald says BiosecurityNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries are now supporting their efforts – but it took Maori to force action.
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