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New interactive seafloor maps to be launched in Akaroa

Friday, March 14, 2025   Posted in: Signatory Notice Board By: Administrator With tags: research, environmental health, biodiversity, waterways

Environment Canterbury media release: 11th March 2025

Join our free event to celebrate the launch of the Iongairo project’s new interactive seafloor maps, revealing what lies beneath the waves around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula.

Iongairo is a collaborative project to deepen our understanding of coastal marine ecosystems around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula. It has delivered the most comprehensive seafloor and habitat maps in Waitaha Canterbury to-date.

Iongairo is a partnership between papatipu rūnanga of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, the Department of Conservation, and Environment Canterbury, with the University of Otago serving as the project’s science partner.

‘Iongairo’ represents the relationship between Papatūānuku and Tangaroa in Te Ao Māori - signifying the special relationship between the whenua (land) and the moana (ocean).

Come along to hear from the project partners about the research and how the maps will support kaitiaki and environmental managers to help look after this special place.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Date: Tuesday 25th March 2025.
Time: 7 to 8.30pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. Presentations begin 7pm, followed by an audience Q&A.
Location: The Gaiety Hall (104 Rue Jolie, Akaroa)

Please RSVP online by Friday 21st March 2025 to help us cater appropriately.

Interactive seafloor maps revealed

After several years exploring marine habitats in this culturally, ecologically and economically important area, the Iongairo partners are proud to launch interactive maps that provide new insights into what lies beneath the waves.

The maps are the result of extensive fieldwork and modelling, and will help rūnanga, communities and agencies make more informed decisions about ecosystem management.

Our chief scientist, Dr Fiona Shanhun, said that this resource represents a significant collaborative effort to help enhance the way we look after coastal marine ecosystems, now and for future generations.

“The Iongairo project has provided incredible insights into marine ecosystems around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, enriching our knowledge of diverse seafloor habitats and offering more information than ever before to enable kaitiaki and coastal managers to explore connections between the land and the sea.”

“Data collected will also help researchers detect and assess possible impacts from climate change and human activities on key habitats and taonga species.”

The interactive seafloor maps will be accessible to the public following the launch event.

About the kaupapa/project:

The team spent 62 days on the water, totalling 474 boat hours and 1,580 people hours, working in depths of up to 70 meters.

In 2021, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) conducted hydrographic survey work around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula for navigational shipping purposes. The survey extended along the coast from Awaroa/Godley Head to Birdlings Flat, including Akaroa Harbour, and out to five kilometres offshore.

Through a financial commitment by us (in the 2021-31 Long-Term Plan) and the Department of Conservation, and with support from rūnanga, the hydrographic survey was expanded to include important shallow water (<10 m) areas of the coastline from Birdlings Flat to Goat Point that would otherwise not have been mapped.

Combining this additional work with LINZ’s survey provided an opportunity to leverage funding to improve rūnanga, community and agency understanding and management of seafloor habitats and ecosystems around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula.

Outputs from the Iongairo project represent the most detailed information on any coastal marine environment in Waitaha/Canterbury. The extensive fieldwork has generated a rich pool of environmental data.

The core project output is an interactive online map that documents the geological and biological characteristics of seafloor habitats around Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula. Information available via the interactive map transforms our ability to make informed coastal planning and environmental management decisions.

Learn more about the Iongairo project