Member of the team who never shuts up? (6).

ENVIRONMENT

Shags are dying in Panmure Basin

By LAURA KVIGSTAD, Auckland Council reporter, and ZOE GARDEN

Funded by New Zealand on Air

An Auckland councillor is calling for stronger protections for bird species in the Panmure Basin.

At the council’s environment and climate change committee meeting on July 7 a notice of motion was passed allowing councillor Josephine Bartley to advocate for a fishing hook ban in the basin to protect shags.

Bartley was initially looking for council controls to protect the species but was told by council staff the issue was out of council’s hands.

Bartley said limited food sources and fish hooks being caught in shags’ necks was leading to a decline in their numbers.

“Anything is better than the status quo,” she said.

Corina Hooper, who feeds the shags in Panmure Basin daily, spoke to the committee.

“Birds are not getting to breeding age … adult (shags) have a huge amount of pressure to find food that is already scarce,” Hooper said.

“The colony is definity in trouble.”

Councillor Alf Filipaina asked Hooper what the difference between a hook ban and a fishing ban would be.

Hooper said it was a matter of picking your battles.

“Someone with a net fishing for blue crab is not going to effect the colony,” Hooper said.

Howick ward councillor Sharon Stewart called attention to Auckland Harbour Bridge pouring light into the basin.

“Are you aware that breeding of shags is disrupted because of the blue light?” she asked Hooper.

Hooper confirmed the light had impacted the shags.

“Some of the birds are moving further down the estuary because of the light. They are being hit from all sides,” Hooper said.

“Every bird needs to get rest. If you’ve got constant light on them it is not a natural environment.”

Council chief of strategy Megan Tyler said while the council did not have the tools to protect the species, iwi implementing a rahui could be a solution.

Bartley was encouraged to advocate to both iwi and Crown agencies with the help of council staff.

Birds dying from hooks

Defendants on trial over political party election donations

Local bird expert Shaun Lee and Tamaki Estuary Environmental Forum cochair Bruce Kendall observed three or four red-billed gulls under the Panmure Bridge that had died as a result of getting hooked and tangled at the bridge.

“There must be many more,” Kendall says.

Kendall has recently posted several pictures online of autopsies and x-rays of shags with fish hooks inside them.

“I’ve seen they are pretty determined to get bait on hooks or small fish on hooks.”

He notes the proposed fishing ban may be a good step toward helping the shags, but this only helps at hide tide.

“The lagoon completely drains at low tide and so the shags are still at risk from middle tide through low tide for the rest of the Tamaki Estuary.”

Lee said the council has a new responsibility to protect indigenous biodiversity from the effects of fishing.

“It is sensible to ban fishing near seabirds, especially juvenile sea birds that are learning to forage.”

Lee agrees with Kendall the ban should be extended to the Tarapunga / Red-billed Gull colony.

A pied shag hooked with a fishing line.

Photo supplied Shaun Lee

➤ From page 1

He said given the size of the donations the names of the donors would have to be declared to the Electoral Commission, but weren’t. The true donors wanted to conceal their identities from the Electoral Commission and the public, Dixon said.

He said the donation of $100,000 made to the National Party was split into amounts under $15,000 and transferred to the bank accounts of people who had agreed to be “sham donors”.

It was then transferred to the party as if the money was the sham donors’, when it wasn’t.

Dixon said the sham donors were represented to the party as the true donors and the party’s secretary was kept in the dark.

He said Joe Zheng lied and provided false documents in an attempt to mislead during his interviews with the SFO during its investigation into the National Party donations case.

Dixon said Ross was the National MP for Botany at the time the two donations were made in 2017 and 2018.

Ross was in frequent contact with Zhang and Colin Zheng and was one of the people who supported Zhang’s nomination for a royal honour, Dixon said.

“The Crown alleges Ross knew Zhang was the true donor, yet he provided the National Party with a list of names of sham donors and represented to the party that they were the true donors.”

Dixon said the Crown will show Ross “admitted his conduct” regarding the 2018 National Party donation.

The trial is set for 10 weeks.

Welcome to the green

We are pleased to have just welcomed our first residents to Fairway Gardens, a stunning new retirement village beautifully set to the back drop of Pakuranga golf course. We presently have a limited number of brand new three bedroom apartments available and ready for occupation.

For the life you want to live

call Jo Ashby on 0800 600 701 joa@metlifecare.co.nz Corner Cascades Road and Botany Road, Golflands | fairwaygardens.co.nz

FACILITIES FOR COMPLETION EARLY 2023

A spectacular wellness centre including swimming pool, spa, gym and hair salon Enjoy catching up with friends and family in the cafe, bar or dining area Take time out to read a book in the library or unwind in the lounge and activities room Grand entrance with reflection pond Beautiful embankment walkways Stunning three-bedroom apartments with golf course views available now. From $1,550,000^

Only a few left so be quick!

^ Prices are for an Occupational Right Agreement secured by a first ranking mortgage in favour of the statutory supervisor on behalf of the residents. Currently under construction. Select apartments available now, with more available for move in from late-2022.

Apartment image is an artist’s impression.

Note: You must be double vaccinated to attend. Masks are also required and for your safety our staff receive daily testing.

For full Metlifecare COVID-19 guidelines, please refer to our website www.metlifecare.co.nz