A ‘modest’ start to Hawke’s Bay whitebait season 29 Aug 2014
Related articles
Media Release
29 September
2014
A ‘modest’ start to Hawke’s Bay whitebait season
http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/News-Events/Media-Releases/Pages/default.aspx
Hawke’s
Bay rivers are in excellent condition for whitebaiting, with
plenty of keen anglers out trying to net a meal of the
slippery delicacy.
The season began on 15 August and so far the reports suggest ‘modest’ catches. The season runs until 30 November.
Each year Hawke’s Bay Regional Council issues around 200 resource consents to ‘erect whitebait stands’ on council-owned land. The consents cost $45 plus GST. This fee covers everything from issuing keys and changing locks to allow whitebaiters access to restricted areas, as well as inspecting and monitoring stands and the surrounding areas to minimise damage. Dispute resolution is a major part of management, with police regularly called over complaints and arrests are periodically made.
HBRC Operations - Engineering Officer Vincent Byrne says the majority of whitebaiters are supportive of the consenting system as it guarantees them exclusive rights to a “piece of river bank” for as long as they continue to pay their annual fee.
“We see a real sense of community develop on sections of the river. Many meet up each year with the same people. In fact some have been fishing alongside each other for decades,” says Mr Byrne.
Weed boating
Mr Byrne says
another issue HBRC manages around whitebaiting season is
weed boating on the Clive River.
“Weed boating is vital to the Heretaunga Flood Control and Drainage Scheme because without constant maintenance to our rivers and drains the service provided by this scheme would rapidly decline.”
He says this year weed boating finished two days before the whitebait season opened, with further weed boating undertaken prior to Christmas to allow for rowing events. In total the Clive River is weed boated three times a year.
“During low flows it can often take weeks for the residue weed to flush out to sea. Between tides this weed ebbs and flows only gradually working itself out to sea. Understandably this can cause concern among some whitebaiters.”
He says this year the weed has been particularly bad in the Clive River. The Karamu Stream is a tributary of the Clive and is relatively slow flowing, shallow, with a high nutrient loading. This combination promotes heavy weed growth. Consequently this stream is weed boated 8 times a year.
Mr Byrne says even though the Karamu Stream flows into the Clive River it does not come under the same date restrictions as the Clive.
“The vigorous weed growth in the Karamu requires a more regular schedule of weed boating and most of the weed collects on the Whakatu sewer bridge before entering the Clive, where it is mechanically removed by long reach digger. Some weed will still bypass this bridge.”
He says HBRC staff work hard to balance sound river management with the needs of recreational users. “We try to work with groups to mitigate adverse affects to their activities. Sometimes weather conditions and circumstances rule out a perfect outcome.”
Whitebait Spawning
Enhancement
The Waitangi (Tutaekuri, Ngaruroro,
Clive) and Tukituki Estuaries are regionally significant
whitebait spawning habitats. They have been degraded over
the past 100 plus years through wetland loss, modification
of riparian margins, stock grazing and inappropriate
recreational use, in particular from vehicles.
Since the early 2000’s HBRC and the Department of Conservation have joined forces to protect and enhance existing spawning habitat, as well as create new ones in and around the Waitangi and Tukituki estuaries. This work has included extensive riparian fencing (e.g. Grange Creek), the creation of wetlands and whitebait spawning channels, the exclusion of cattle grazing from certain sites, restricting vehicle access to some areas and the planting of appropriate vegetation in places.
HBRC is keen to raise awareness and promote the ecological significance of these estuaries and their whitebait habitat through improved informative signage.
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more