Mangroves' beachhead raises debate

By BRIDGET CARTER

Northland's strict rules on removing mangroves may change next year, following research that suggests they are spoiling parts of the region's coastline.

But Forest and Bird is concerned about the proposal and claims that the removal of mangroves will contribute to environmental problems.

Northland Regional Council chairman Mark Farnsworth said the council wanted to bring in new and more flexible regulations that would allow people to apply for resource consent to pull the plants out or to cut them back.

At present, the council's rules say the plants can be touched only if they are blocking drains or access to a beach, waterway, boat ramp, or jetty.

"It is in a phase of rapid growth in Northland estuaries," Mr Farnsworth said.

"We want a rule [that is] much more flexible to recognise the reality of the situation."

Mr Farnsworth presented a paper, Sustainable Management of Mangroves, at a geography conference last week.

The paper, written by ocean engineers Andre and Robin Labonte and Mr Farnsworth, who holds a masters degree in geography, describes the problems mangroves cause in Northland rivers and estuaries.

Mr Farnsworth said they were evident at Whananaki, northeast of Whangarei, further south at the Matapouri estuary and at Mangawhai.

The plants' sturdy roots trapped sediment, and were blocking these harbours, preventing sand being flushed out to sea and spoiling views.

"They have just taken over."

Mr Farnsworth said other councils north of Tauranga and Kawhia in the mangrove-growing area were a lot more liberal with their rules about the plants.

"Our planning regime is the toughest without a doubt."

Forest and Bird senior researcher Barry Weeber said the society was fighting a mangrove removal project in Whangamata, which was partly under way, through an appeal to the Environment Court.

Any scientific research relating to mangroves, which were the home for many fish species, was dubious.

The plants were there because of bad land management and removing them seemed short-sighted.

But Mr Farnsworth said any new rules would need public support and take at least a year to introduce.

Requests to remove mangroves would be heard case by case and the benefits that they provided to the environment would still be taken into account.