There will be lots of Seaweek 2021 events happening in Auckland and full details will be posted here as we receive them. Contact the Auckland Regional Coordinator if you’d like to organise an event: email seaweek@merc.org.nz
Seaweek Events in Auckland for 2021:
MERC Litter Intelligence Training Workshop – Mon.1st March, 5 PM
Protecting Marine Biodiversity in our Backyard – Wed. 3rd March 7 – 9PM
Friends of Wairaki Stream Clean Up – Sat. 6th March starting 9:45 am
EMR Takapuna Snorkel Day – Saturday 6th March 11am to 4pm
Whau River Catchment “Marine Metre Squared” Session – Sun. 7th March 9am
Seaweek Special Films and Q & A with film-maker Robin Kewell – Tues/Wed. 9th/10th March
Cornwallis Beach Clean up – Wed. 10th March
Bill Ballantine Memorial Lecture: The Good, the Bad & the Prickly – Understanding Kina Barrens in the Hauraki Gulf – Thurs. 11th March 7pm
Litter Intelligence Education Professional Development – Thurs. 11th March 9am
Zoological Society of Auckland Seaweek Talk – Thurs. 11th March 6:30pm
EMR Goat Island Snorkel Day – Sat. 13th March 10am to 3pm
Sea MERC Day – Sat. 13th March 12 – 4 pm
Summernova Waitemata Harbour Clean Up – Sat. 13th March 12 – 3pm
Haere rā Kuaka: Farewell to the Godwits – Sun. 14th March 11am – 2pm
Milford Beach Clean Up – Sun. 14th March 1-3pm
Silent Disco City Clean Up – Sat. 20th March
VIP Kayak Day at Matuku Link – Sat. 27th March
More coming soon!
MERC Litter Intelligence Training Workshop
Date: Monday, March 1, 2021 at 5 PM UTC+13
Location: Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre
Details: Are you interested in taking action against ocean pollution? Do you want to contribute to New Zealand’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goals Reporting?
Join us for a training workshop for Litter Intelligence: a citizen science platform to enable community groups to contribute to a growing national litter database by monitoring their local beaches & auditing the rubbish.
This free workshop will pass on the skills in surveying, data collection, and Health & Safety that will allow attendees to play an important part in this long-term, grassroots effort. Come along to learn how to set up & run a survey, sort & record rubbish in an audit, and add your data into the national database & solutions platform.
Please email sara@merc.org.nz with any questions.
You can register in advance via this form.
Event page on the SC website & Facebook event page
Protecting Marine Biodiversity in our Backyard
Date: Wednesday 3rd March 7-9 PM
Location: Whangaparoa Community Hub
Contact: saraspeaksforthesea@gmail.com
Details: Join us for an evening of discovery and discussion – scientists and students from University of Auckland will give an overview of some of the incredible biodiversity we have in our backyard – the incredible Hauraki Gulf and speak about why we need to act quickly to protect it.
and others to be confirmed!
The speakers would love to answer your questions about marine life – get in touch if there is something you want to know! Check out the facebook event.
Friends of Wairaki Stream – Seaweek Clean Up
Date: Saturday 6th March – 9:45am – 1pm
Location: Lynfield Cove Beach, Unnamed Road, Mount Roskill, Auckland 1041, New Zealand (map)
Contact: kathyneilson@gmail.com
Details: Check out their facebook page and website for further details
EMR Takapuna Snorkel Day
Date: Saturday 6th March 2021 (11am to 4pm)
Location: Takapuna, north of boat ramp (end of Promenade Rd)
Contact: sophie@emr.org.nz Sophie Journee 021 064 5125
Details: Explore the waters of Takapuna by snorkel. Find spotties, parore, goatfish and nudibranchs. Fun for the whole whānau! This event is funded by The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation. Bring your own gear or get free hire of our mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits. Recommended for everyone 5 years and up. All children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult beach observer. Experienced guides and advanced safety procedures will be in place on the day.
Cost: koha donation appreciated
facebook event page / eventbrite page
Whau River Catchment “Marine Metre Squared” Sampling Session
Date: Sunday March 7th, 9am.
Location: Near Rosebank Domain. Meeting place is to be confirmed
Contact: Justine email: justine@whauriver.org.nz or text: 021627864
Details: The Whau River Catchment is holding a “Marine Metres Squared” sampling event at the top of the Whau river. Near the Rosebank Domain (Speedway). No experience or knowledge is necessary. You can learn and have fun at the same time.
If you are interested in participating in collecting data for a good cause and connecting with the Sea at the same time, you are welcome to join us.
On Thursday 11th March, 10am they will also be taking people out to a stream within the Whau River Catchment area for a chance to learn what we are monitoring and why. Contact Justine for more info
Seaweek Special Films and Q & A with film-maker Robin Kewell
Dates and locations:
Tuesday 9th March, Lopdell House, Titirangi (Seminar Room 1st Floor) 10:30am / 6pm and 7:30pm
Tuesday 9th March, SOZO Coffeehouse Cinema 2 Shetland Street, Glen Eden 1:00pm
Wednesday 10th March, The Vic, Devonport 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Wednesday 10th March, Waiheke Community Cinema, Waiheke Island 7:30pm
Contact: Robin Kewell, 09 818 2489 / 0210 222 5558 FLICKS@LOPDELL
Details
A 75-minute presentation of films about our oceans, presented by award-winning cameraman and film-maker Robin Kewell, followed by Q & A session.
‘Plastic Ocean’ (1 min) Animation created with plastic waste collected from the streets of Bangkok,
‘Bottle’ (5mins) An award winning animation about a transoceanic conversation between two characters via objects in a bottle.
‘Niugini-Islands of Eden’ (24mins) Filmed in the pristine waters of Papua New Guinea and shows the incredible diversity and wealth of marine life that flourishes when distanced from human contact.
‘Coastal Waters’ (45mins) Experience our planet’s natural beauty and examine how climate change impacts all living creatures in this ambitious documentary of spectacular scope
Cost: Free admission
Cornwallis Beach Clean Up
Date: Wednesday 10th March 2021
Location: Cornwallis Beach, Waitakere, Auckland
Contact: 0226911864, merrilee.desimas@aka.org.nz
Details: We are going to encourage Laingholm Kindergarten children and their parents to bring pickers to the beach to clean up rubbish.
Bill Ballantine Memorial Lecture: The Good, the Bad & the Prickly – Understanding Kina Barrens in the Hauraki Gulf
Date: Thursday 11th March 2021, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Owen Glenn B Lecture Theatre 5 (OGGB5/ 260-051), University of Auckland City Campus, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland CBD
Contact: Dr Nick Shears, n.shears@auckland.ac.nz
Details:
The University of Auckland’s Institute of Marine Science presents the annual Bill Ballantine Memorial Lecture. This year it features lectures presented by Dr Nick Shears and PhD student Kelsea Miller focusing on understanding kina barrens in the Hauraki Gulf.
More details about other speakers to come soon!
Cost: Free
Auckland Litter Intelligence Education Professional Development Day
Date: Thursday 11th March 2021, 9am – 3pm
Location: Sustainable Coastlines Flagship Centre
55 Madden Street, Auckland CBD 1010
Contact: becky@sustainablecoastlines.org Becky Taylor
Details: Join us for a Professional Development workshop on March 11th, 2021 at the Flagship Education Centre, Auckland, to take you through an in-depth look into our Litter Intelligence Education Programme. Over the course of the day, you will participate in this experiential learning approach through the eyes of the learners’, connecting with like-minded educators to complete mini environmental challenges.
Our Litter Intelligence Education Programme (LIEP) is an intensive programme which focuses on building learners’ connection to nature by first engaging them in our citizen science project (involving beach litter surveys and audits), and then, through a learning journey, implores them through go on to create action to help combat some of the marine litter issues their community face.
This is an action-packed workshop to develop a practical understanding of our programme and the supporting resources involved. We have limited relief-teacher funding and spaces available so get in quick by registering at our event page.
Cost: Free – Visit website for further details
Zoological Society of Auckland Seaweek talk
Date: Thursday 11th March 2021 (6:30pm)
Location: Auckland Zoo, Western Springs
Contact: willowvanas@yahoo.co.uk Willow Vanas
Details: Our talks start at 6:30pm and usually consist of a 40-45minute PowerPoint presentation with time for questions afterwards, and are held in the lecture theatre at Auckland Zoo.
Laura Torre, Auckland Regional Coordinator at Whitebait Connection will be talking about native fish (whitebait species and eels) including life cycle information, habitats, threats they face and how we can help them to survive.
EMR Goat Island Snorkel Day
Date: Saturday 13th March 2021 (10am to 3pm), back-up day is Saturday 27th March
Location: Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh
Contact: sophie@emr.org.nz Sophie Journee 021 064 5125
Details: Explore the waters of Goat Island by snorkel. Find huge snapper, silver drummer and elusive crayfish. Fun for the whole whanau!This event is funded by the The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation. It is part of Seaweek. Meet at grassed area on the way up to Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre. Please park at top car park and walk down. Note, NO DOGS allowed at the marine reserve. Bring your own gear or get free hire of our mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits. Recommended for everyone 5 years and up. All children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult beach observer. Experienced guides and advanced safety procedures will be in place on the day.
Cost: koha donation appreciated
facebook event page / eventbrite page
Sea MERC Day
Date: Sat. 13 March from 12 – 4 pm
Location: Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre
Contact: sara@merc.org.nz
Details: Join us at Sir Peter Blake MERC to Celebrate Connecting with our Seas for Seaweek 2021! We will have a range of ocean activities on offer dependent on conditions.
Summernova Waitemata Harbour Clean Up 
Date: Saturday 13th March 12 – 3pm
Location:
Te Atatu Peninsula, station at Harbourview Beach Reserve
Tamaki Estuary, station at Point England Reserve
Shoal Bay/North Shore, station at Milford Reserve
Contact: Dan, dan@sustainablecoastlines
In partnership with Auckland Unlimited, we’re proud to present the Summernova Waitematā Harbour Clean-Up! Join us in cleaning up the Waitematā Harbour at one of our three locations: Shoal Bay in Bayswater, Harbourview Beach Reserve in Te Atatu, or Point England Reserve.
On the day there will be sign-in stations set-up where volunteers will sign-in, pick-up gear, be. given a briefing and then head out to an assigned local beach. This multi-station approach ensures we can cover as many beaches as possible for maximum impact.
Everything will be provided including equipment, health and safety briefing, Phoenix Organic drinks and kai!
Cost: Free
https://sustainablecoastlines.org/event/summernova-waitamata-harbour-clean-up/
Haere rā kuaka – Farewell to the Godwits
Date: Sunday 14th March 2021, 11am – 2pm
Location: Ambury Regional Park, meet at the Barn near the main carpark.
Contact: Maddie White, maddie.white@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Details:
Help us celebrate the departure of our long-distance traveller’s as they get ready to fly 11000km nonstop to Alaska. Birds New Zealand is hosting ‘haere rā kuaka’ at Ambury Regional Park. This will include a talk from Adrian Riegen about the amazing kuaka, a guided walk and bird observation (approx. 1km each way).
You will also be treated to other shorebirds of the Manukau Harbour, such as dotterels, wrybills, royal spoonbill and many more!
Who: Suitable for adults and older children with an interest in the environment.
When: 11AM-2PM Sunday 14th March
Where: 43 Ambury Rd, Mangere Bridge. Meet at the Barn near the main carpark.
What to bring: Appropriate shoes and clothing for walking and a water bottle.
Cost: Free, RSVP to maddie.white@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz by the 10th of March
Milford Beach Clean Up
Date: Sunday 14th March 2021
Location: Milford Beach, Craig Road. Meet on the sand in front of the car park by the toilet block.
Contact: Emma Wingrove, thecleanupcrewnz@gmail.com
Details:
It’s our birthday! 6 years ago, this month we held our very first beach clean-up at Milford Beach. Join us from 1pm to 3pm to celebrate this special occasion by doing what we do best – clean up beaches!!
Auckland’s storm-water discharges were examined for a year and it was found that each day 28,000 pieces of litter, much of it plastic, ended up in the Waitematā Harbour. Picking up rubbish for a couple of hours might not sound like fun but we always have a great time and you can’t beat that feeling of knowing you’ve made a tangible difference.
Bring a bottle of water with you, some family and friends, and sun block just in case. We’ll provide everything else (but if you do have your own gloves please do bring them along), including a few good laughs.
Website link: https://fb.me/e/4K1cKoCEg
Silent Disco City Clean Up
Date: Saturday 20th March 2021 (Rain date Saturday 27th March) 9am – 11am
Location: TBC
Contact: Yana Kirakovskaya papayastories@gmail.com
Details: Papaya Stories, Conscious Action, and Seaweek teamed up to bring awareness, hands-on activity, and empowered community action in Swanson. Let’s show our love with action during this Fun City Clean Up.
Show up, gear up with cleaning essentials, switch on your headphones and let’s take a walk with purpose! All materials and equipment will be provided by our team. We meet up at 9am for meet & greet, health & safety briefing, technical setup.
Then we tune into the natural habitat and into one of the music channels:
Music channel #1 – greatest hits, your favourite songs from 70s, 80s, 90s
Music channel #2 – eclectic mix full of great electronic and indie tunes
During an hour or so, we walk, dance, listen to great tunes as you can switch between 2 channels. Pick up rubbish along the reserve, Swanson and Waiomoko streams, front, and backstreets of Swanson.
Then we offer you to tune into the inner world as we are going to enjoy the 30-min guided meditation by Brian Berneman.
Cost: $3 per spot. Limited Spaces are available. Online pre-booking is essential.
BOOK HERE
WHAT TO BRING? Bottle of water, comfy shoes or gumboots, clothes that can get dirty work done.
ANY QUESTIONS: email info@silentdisco-citywalk.com
VIP Kayak Day – Matuku Link
Date: Sat. 27 of March
Location: Waitakere Valley
Contact: matukulink@gmail.com
Details: A once-a-year opportunity to of a one-off paddle to raise funds for Matuku Link.
Matuku Link is a conservation and education project in Bethells/Te Henga, restoring the wetland with plants from our own nursery, protecting the wildlife and rebuilding an old barn into a Wetland Education Centre. The Waitakere River flows through Matuku Link and into the unique Te Henga wetland.
The navigable part of Waitākere River is accessible only from private land and on this one day, access will be allowed. Limited tickets available for only $60 each, all gear (kayaks, paddles, life vests etc) and training provided. Suggested minimum age is 12 years. Please indicate your preference for the start time of your two hour paddle: 9am, 11am, 1pm or 3pm.
Bring cash for the bbq, home baking, locally roasted coffee and drinks afterwards.
Bookings required, no door sales! More info via www.matukulink.org.nz or 0212207136
