Andy McKay

@korimakoecology

Aotearoa based Restoration/Applied Ecologist. Skateboarding, punk rock and plants. iNaturalist enthusiast

2.735 Folgt1.349 Follower3.735 Posts

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Andy McKay@korimakoecology· 29d

The same goes for the Hauraki Gulf. The Waihou, Piako and other rivers have almost no riparian vegetation and flow through the ecological desert that is the Hauraki Plains. Bottom trawling and commercial dredging have been banned in the inner gulf since the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 14

Old-timey ad for x-ray specs showing a man looking at a woman in a see-through dress.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 14

FADs that incorporate hanging nets can inadvertently have bycatch. www.int-res.com/articles/esr...

The submerged appendages
are mostly made of old netting material, reaching on
average 50 m depth but can reach up to 80 m depth
for some fleets, and are known to entangle non-tar-
geted species (Davies et al. 2014). Due to the com-
plexity of FAD fishing strategy, in which FADs are left
drifting with a geo-locating buoy, it is estimated that
a substantial proportion dFADs that are deployed by
purse seines are lost or abandoned every year (Moreno
et al. 2016, FAO 2018b). Negative ecological impacts
caused by active as well as lost and abandoned
dFADs are numerous (see Gaertner et al. 2015, FAO
2018b). Of particular concern is ghost fishing, whereby
lost/abandoned or derelict FADs and material con-
tribute directly to mortality of non-targeted species
(FAO 2018b, Gaertner et al. 2015). More recent non-
and less-entangling FADs are in commercial use in
some regions (ISSF 2016), as has been required by 3
of the 4 tRFMOs. Research is underway to modify
dFADs with non-entangling and biodegradable ma-
terials in order to minimize the ecosystem-level im-
pacts, and these findings will ideally be incorporated
into RFMO conservation measures in the near future.
Currently, all tRFMOs have management measures
in place aimed to either limit the number of FADs de-
ployed (e.g. via time and area closures of purse seines
or annual limits) and/or use of bio degradable and
non-entangling materials etc. (Restrepo et al. 2019).

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 14

Fish aggregation devices (FADs) recreate natural situations where mainly pelagic fish congregate under floating logs and other natural materials.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 14

I'm a bit confused by this article. It's shows four photos of drift nets, which aren't FADs. Large drift nets have been banned in international waters since 1992 and outright banned in some countries (eg AoNZ). FADs are completely different. news.mongabay.com/2026/07/a-ma...

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 12

Some of the bigger buffalo standing in a paddock. There are trees and hills behind.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 12

My friend was a buffalo farmer for a while and when I went to visit him and the buffalo he said the 2m high electric fences were really just for show. Unless you kept them well fed they could just walk through the fences anytime they pleased.

Man feeding grass to baby buffalo through a 2m high electric fence.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 11

Thinking about this more, I love Professor Douglas Tallamy's concept of Homegrown National Parks. It's hugely damaging that we think of nature being "out there", when our backyards can and do contain huge amounts of indigenous biodiversity. I started the below list with my home garden a while ago:

Spreadsheet showing locally native, non-locally native and exotic plants found in a home garden. One column shows source when known and another column for threat status which still needs to be filled out.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 10

www.nzherald.co.nz/business/eco...

Kiwi workers go backwards, as NZ’s real wage growth is the worst in the OECD

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 10

Highly recommend @dvdhll.bsky.social's Interwoven World. pureadvantage.org/interwoven-w...

Of course, some landowners are already doing this. They are already experimenting with wood lots, carbon sinks, mixed native/exotic systems, riparian margins, silvopasture, and more. Yet many more landowners would probably like to experiment in this way – but can’t. They can’t find the capital, time, capacity, or technical advice. Or they can’t make these land uses financially viable, even when this diversification would create the most value for rural communities, or avoid environmental harms.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 7

A hard limit below which fi sheries should be considered for closure
> The default hard limit is 1/4 BMSY or 10% B0, whichever is higher. 4, 11
> The hard limit will be considered to have been breached when the
probability that stock biomass is below the hard limit is greater than 50%.
> The default level at which the hard limit is set represents a minimum
standard; higher hard limits may be appropriate for some stocks, particularly
those with low productivity.
> The hard limit is the biological reference point at which closure should be
considered for target fi sheries; it may be also be appropriate to consider
curtailment or closure of fi sheries that incidentally catch the species
concerned.
> Fisheries that have been closed as a result of breaching the hard limit will
not be re-opened until it can be demonstrated that there is at least a 70%
probability that the stock has rebuilt to or above the level of the soft limit.12,13
> Hard limits lower than the defaults should generally not be adopted.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 6

Sorry for the LinkedIn post but the video here is worth a watch and you don't have to sign in. www.linkedin.com/posts/moana-...

At Moana New Zealand, we were proud to support to this year’s annual wānanga hosted by Te Ohu Kaimoana — an important opportunity for iwi to come together, engage in meaningful kōrero, and explore the future of Māori fisheries in Aotearoa.

Coming into effect this July and a key focus of the wānanga, the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024 will strengthen iwi authority and provide more direct influence over Te Ohu Kaimoana and Moana New Zealand.

This kaupapa represents more than governance reform. It reflects the continued evolution of Māori economic empowerment, intergenerational stewardship, and the importance of ensuring iwi voices remain central in shaping the future of our shared fisheries assets.

The wānanga also created space for open, evidence-based discussions around modern Māori commercial fishing practices — an important conversation for iwi across Aotearoa.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who contributed their whakaaro and leadership throughout the day.

In March, we hosted our annual Wānanga and provided an opportunity for iwi to explore two key kaupapa: the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024 and deepening understanding of Māori commercial fisheries.

The Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024 represents the most significant changes to the Māori Fisheries Settlement infrastructure in 20 years and began as a part of the statutory review process in late 2014.

This July, the changes finally come into effect, enabling iwi organisations to have more direct control over Te Ohu Kaimoana and Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (Moana New Zealand), giving stronger effect to tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake in a fisheries context.

The work programme established to operationalise these amendments has been a huge task over the past two years, led by our programme director Tania Heyrick with support from our wider team. It has also been an equally large exercise for our iwi entities, who have all needed to amend their governance documents in order to be compliant with this Act.

Our second kaupapa for the day was a considered discussion on Māori commercial fisheries, and how that fishing takes place and the methods involved. We understand this is a point of discussion for iwi ,hapū, whānau and hāpori so this served as a useful opportunity for us all to explore the realities of modern day fishing without sensationalism or bias – and instead look at the evidence and data to support informed discussions going forward.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou ngā iwi o te motu mō ōu whakaaro i tēnei tau.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 4

Went orchid hunting but couldn't find them. Found bush kōura instead.

A kōura (freshwater crayfish) in a bush stream.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 3

Stoked that our red kākābeak/ngutukākā is setting flowers for the first time.

Green drooping flowers with red petals just starting to show.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 2

The Western Stock is sitting at 29% of the original spawning biomass and the Eastern Stock is sitting at 7%. Below 10% means a fishery has collapsed. www.mpi.govt.nz/consultation...

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 2

I don't always agree with Raewyn Peart at EDS but apart from the bit about "industry aligned scientists" this is mostly bang on.

“Tarakihi is an iconic fish for many New Zealanders. Most of the catch is consumed here at home and is a staple in restaurants, supermarkets and fish and chip shops across the country.

“New information released by Fisheries NZ shows the stock along the eastern coast of the country has been declining since the 1940s and has been overfished for six decades.

“The western coast stock has also been in long-term decline, but the trend accelerated dramatically after 2017.

“The collapse of tarakihi highlights multiple failures in our quota management system which was tasked with keeping the stock healthy:

There has been a chronic lack of investment in fisheries science. Despite being managed under the quota management system for 40 years, the western tarakihi stock only this year received its first full stock assessment.
There has been excessive confidence in fisheries models based on patchy data and multiple assumptions. Earlier models significantly overestimated the size of the eastern stock.
Previous stock assessments failed to account for the impacts of climate change which have likely reduced tarakihi recruitment. This is despite decades of seawater warming, and a sharp increase in marine heatwaves since 2012, with an extreme event in 2017.
The science peer review process failed to identify errors in the 2022 eastern tarakihi model. The review process lacks independence, with industry-aligned scientists embedded within the process.
Management action has been far too slow. Catch limits for most of the western tarakihi stock have not changed since 1986. It has effectively been a case of setting the Total Allowable Commercial Catch and walking away.
Stock management areas do not align with biological stocks, making effective management difficult. In particular, the TAR 1 and TAR 7 management areas span both the western and eastern stocks. Fisheries NZ is only now consulting on their possible subdivision.
Tarakihi are harvested before they’re old enough to spawn. The…

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jul 2

The current national direction is why Councils are using RCP8.5 Simon... environment.govt.nz/assets/publi...

https://environment.govt.nz/assets/publications/national-adaptation-plan-and-emissions-reduction-plan-guidance-note.pdf

The plan recommends:
• using the best available data for the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5 or RCP4.5) and
the fossil-fuel intensive development scenario (SSP5-8.5 or RCP8.5)
• screening hazard and risk assessments for longer-term coastal impacts up to 2130 (SSP5-
8.5 or RCP8.5).
The national adaptation plan recommends local government should use these climate change
scenarios at a minimum. However, where possible, local government are encouraged to use
the full range of relevant scenarios.
Why these climate change scenarios are recommended
Using these climate change scenarios will help with an understanding of what the future could
look like and support better risk-based decisions for the activity being considered, given the
local context.
Middle-of-the-road scenario
This scenario (SSP2-4.5 or RCP4.5) reflects moderate emissions and implementation of current
global emissions reduction policy settings. It represents limiting the rise in global air
temperature to 2.7°C by 2100.
11 For more information about climate change scenarios, see Climate change scenarios for New Zealand.
12 See Summary for Policymakers for more information on RCPs (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2013).
13 See Summary for Policymakers for more information on SSPs (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2021). National adaptation plan and emissions reduction plan: Resource Management Act 1991 guidance note 13
By 2100, Aotearoa could see air temperature increase by an average of 1.6°C (or a range of
1.03–2.26°C), and sea-level rise by an average 0.57 metres (or a range of 0.44–0.78 metres),
before any vertical land movement is included.14
Fossil-fuel intensive scenario
This scenario (SSP5-8.5 or RCP8.5) broadly aligns with emissions-reduction practice over the
past few decades. It reflects high emissions, limited mitigation measures and no global
emissions reduction policy settings. This scenario represents a rise in global air tempe…

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 29

Rob Taylor, South Wairarapa Deputy Mayor shared these photos. All that sediment from damaged landscapes going into waterways and out to sea. Grass doesn't hold steep land together. The farming lobby has been very successful at keeping the focus on pines... www.facebook.com/story.php?st...

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 28

There is also Heath Kirchart and Jeremy Klein's part in Birdhouse's The End that was released in 1998 that involved them skateboarding in suits. www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/vid...

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 28

Legendary skateboarders like Chad Muska cracked the early 2000s LA celebrity scene and was often seen rubbing shoulders with film and pop culture stars.

Chad Muska with the iconic boom box circa Fulfill The Dream era 1998.

Chad Muska and Robert Downey Jnr at a wedding in 2024.

box
LOS ANGELES, USA. October 22, 2019: Chad Muska at the premiere of AppleTV+'s SEE at the Regency Village Theatre.. Picture: Paul Smith/Featureflash

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 28

A bit later you would see it commonly at weddings, and now everyone is in their 40s/50s and at a certain stage of their careers it's now common in business too. From a 2018 wedding shoot: www.reddit.com/r/skateboard...

Man in a suit with skate shoes skateboarding.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 28

From: Roberts M, Norman W, Minhinnick N, Wihongi D, Kirkwood C. (1995) Kaitiakitanga: Maori perspectives on conservation. Pacific Conservation Biology 2, 7–20. doi.org/10.1071/PC95...

Carmen Kirkwood explains it thus: "Kaitiaki is
a big word. It encompasses atua, tapu, mana. It
involves whakapapa and tika; to know 'kaitiaki'
is to know the Maori world. Everybody on this
planet has a role to playas a guardian. But if you
use the word kaitiaki, that person must be Maori
because of the depth and meaning of the word,
and the responsibilities that go with it. The reason
is that to be a kaltiaki means looking after one's
own blood and bones - literally. One's
whanaunga and tupuna include the plants and
animals, rocks and trees. We are all descended
from Papatuanuku; she is our kaitiaki and we in
turn are hers." .
"The physical kaitiaki system is based on
whakapapa, lineage, and inherited nurtured
responsibility ... and direction of tribal elders.
[It is] traditional and inalienable. Kaitiaki cannot
be filled by a group from anywhere [because] the
status of kaitiaki stems from long tribal associations [tangata whenua, mana whenua, ahi ka].
Only tangata whenua can be kaitiaki, can identify
kaitiaki, can determine the form and structure of
kaitiaki" (Minhinnick 1989).

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 27

Our white kakabeak is just starting to set flowers. Our red one is a few weeks behind.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 24

Cheap loans like this that already exist? www.anz.co.nz/personal/hom...

ANZ Good Energy Home Loan

3-year fixed rate

1.00
%
p.a.
Top up your ANZ Home Loan at a fixed rate for 3 years, up to $80,000, to make your home and transport more energy efficient and better for the environment.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 21

Out hunting winter green hood orchids this morning. Didn't find them, but it was nice to be out anyway. Weirdly warm.

Sunrise over a misty valley of regenerating native bush.

White coral fungus and brown cup fungus.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 20

The beatings will continue until morale improves. Public sector waste: Public servants must remember who they work for - Bruce Cotterill archive.ph/mk0h5

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 19

I get that these people mean well but bottom trawling on the high seas has nothing to do with Māui dolphins. Set netting has always presented a much larger threat to Māui dolphins compared to bottom trawling.

"LUSH and Tāngaro Tuia Te Ora are using soap to raise funds for the 50 Māui dolphins that remain in Aotearoa waters to stop bottom trawling, the biggest threat to the species."

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 16

I think this action has legs, but it also highlights a wider issue with successive governments refusing to fund marine research properly. From a 2017 Nature Conservancy Report: www.nature.org/media/asia-p...

One aspect that is not shown by the graph, due to the amalga-
mation of data, is the specific government investment in fisheries
science after 2009. MPI scientists have observed that govern-
ment funding for fisheries research has decreased considerably,
in real terms, to around 50% of funding levels in the 1990s. At
the same time, the number of species and stocks in the QMS has
increased 3.5-fold, and the need for research on recreational fish-
eries, the environmental effects of fishing, and an ever-increasing
number of international fisheries research obligations has esca-
lated from minimal to substantial (Mace et al., 2013).

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 15

In saying that Sarah Goldberg at Victoria University has done some awesome work in this space and has some great ideas about how it can be applied.

Extract from Kia Ora magazine about drone seeding.

Andy McKay@korimakoecology· Jun 14

It's 2026 and still no published research proving the efficacy of drone seeding for afforestation. The below from 2021: 🌏 www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13...