A major business initiative is being launched to help save Tikapa Moana, the Hauraki Gulf.

The three-year GulfX programme will be led by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), supported by funding from the Gulf Innovation Fund Together (G.I.F.T) - a Foundation North initiative. It will this evening be officially launched at SEALIFE Kelly Tarlton’s, set to be attended by progressive business leaders and Hon Eugenie Sage, minister for conservation and land information and associate minister for the environment.

SBN Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Brown ONZM, says the Hauraki Gulf is in a sad state. Its degraded condition is not only concerning from an environmental and community enjoyment perspective, it also sends a powerful and negative message to the rest of New Zealand – and the world.

“The Hauraki Gulf is vital for Auckland and, in many respects, it is Auckland. It is this city’s and – in many instances – this country’s showcase to the world. Yet it is going downhill quickly because we as a society are choking the life out of it,” she says.

The Hauraki Gulf is beset with problems. These include water pollution, litter, diminishing fish stocks and increasing threats to sea-bird species. While these things are all issues in their own right, Ms Brown notes that in 2021 the Hauraki Gulf will be on the world stage for the America’s Cup and the APEC Summit of world leaders.

“If we don’t do something now, then the problem will be even worse by then; it’s not a good look for New Zealand’s image.”

GulfX has three core goals, which involve working with businesses to:

• Reduce marine plastic pollution. This will be done by promoting the installation of litter traps to filter plastic waste out of storm water drains that run to the sea, and a programme to reduce and redesign plastic packaging, to begin to tackle plastic pollution at source.
• Cut transport pollution through promoting copper-free brake pads to cut down on heavy metals in storm water polluting the Gulf, and also supporting intiatives that help speed up Auckland’s transition to an efficient zero carbon transport system.
• Boost the restoration of waterways in the Hauraki Gulf catchment through the acceleration of SBN’s established Million Metres Streams project, planting native plants and trees along the banks of rivers, streams and lakes.
Ms Brown says the GulfX programme will encourage businesses to think about how what they do on land can affect the Hauraki Gulf. For example, even if they are nowhere near the sea run-off into the stormwater system quickly finds its way out into the Gulf.

Minister Sage says it is encouraging to see this business-led initiative: “This Government has taken on the challenge of responding to the recommendations in the Sea Change/ Tai Timu Tai Pari plan, which central government agencies are responsible for. We’re committed to working collaboratively with manawhenua and stakeholders to restore the health of Tikapa Moana/the Hauraki Gulf. I am delighted to see business people stepping up to this challenge, in which all of us have a role to play.”

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