How is Life Below Water (Oranga moana) and humans connected?

To answer how the people of Aoteaora are affected by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal - Life Below Water (Oranga moana), I went out fishing. I consider the ocean (moana) to be the womb of the Earth (Papatūānuku). Moana covers 70 percent of Papatūānuku and is the primary reason we breathe fresh air. Moana and the atmosphere work together to transfer heat and fresh water across Papatūānuku. Traditionally Māori believe that humans are interlinked with Papatūānuku and that we are part of a web. Whakapapa means genealogy and links the terrestrial and spiritual worlds.

My quest to learn about life below water began in 2018. A friend and I had hiked from Cape Brett Lighthouse to Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands. Sun beams warmed our skin, and the water was clear, so we decided to go snorkelling. We expected to encounter unique and interesting fishes and aquatic plants, instead we discovered the ocean floor littered with debris – pieces of carpet, plastic, glass, and other waste. I had been confronted by the impacts humans were having on the life below water and I was horrified.

I founded Non-Governmental Organisation Sea Society in 2019, which aims to “Promote practical tips beneficial to Papatūānuku.” I became determined to reduce my personal waste and bought a water bottle, keep cup and reusable straws. Upon my personal products running out, I bought environmentally friendly alternatives, such as a bamboo toothbrush, The ECO Floss, Solid Oral Care toothpaste, B.BOLD deodorant, face bars and hair bars. Producing less waste each week gave me gratification, as I was contributing less waste to landfill and the oceans. I prioritised buying local, to support New Zealander’s and the economy. Buying local also reduces the traffic on the oceans and in turn reduces environmental impacts associated with the maritime sector.

Sharing sustainable swaps on my Facebook, Instagram and website was not enough; I wanted to integrate myself into Southland’s community and educate people on their environmental impacts. I organised my first local rubbish clean up in March 2020 and four people came out, for which I was grateful I was not alone. Six rubbish clean ups followed, and Southland was beautified by dedicated volunteers. We collected the usual offenders – plastic, glass, rope and the unusual – car window wipers, a microwave, and a BBQ. Getting out into nature and witnessing our environmental impacts is the best motivation to alter our lifestyles.

In February 2020, I encountered New Zealand sea lions on beaches in The Catlins. It was love at first sight, at least on my end. Sea Lions are unique to New Zealand and are classified as endangered. Viewing these magnificent mammals sand-bathing, you would not believe that they can run up to 21 km per hour – approximately as fast as Usain Bolt. Female sea lions dive deeper and longer than any other seal species and have a mean dive depth of 142 metres. Sadly, sea lions and numerous other marine species are under threat due to human impacts.

You can do your part to protect life below water by responsibly fishing, purchasing sustainable seafood, reducing your impact, and walking rather than driving on to beaches where endangered wildlife resides. The health of moana and life below water directly impacts our health. We have this New Zealand!