News

Save the Date! Coastal Restoration Trust Conference 2027 - Tauranga

We’re delighted to share that the 2027 Coastal Restoration Trust Conference will be held in Tauranga from 9–11 March, in collaboration with Tauranga City Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Next year’s gathering will bring together the collective knowledge, experience and latest research from across Aotearoa’s coastal restoration community. It will be an inspiring opportunity to connect, learn and explore new ideas for protecting and restoring our coasts.

We’ll be sharing more details in the coming weeks and months as planning progresses — including speakers, field trips, registration information and programme highlights. It’s shaping up to be an exciting event, and we look forward to welcoming you there.

Posted: 19 October 2026

Our Coast - Tō Mātou Takutai Spring 2026 Newsletter

Our Spring 2026 newsletter (Our Coast - Tō Mātou Takutai - Spring 2026) is full of interesting articles. It showcases the incredible breadth of work happening around Aotearoa, from coastal marae restoration initiatives and threatened species conservation, through to the achievements of Coast Care groups making a real difference on the ground. We’re also delighted to announce the 2027 Coastal Restoration Trust Conference will be held in Tauranga from 9–11 March, in collaboration with Tauranga City Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

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Posted: 19 October 2026

Saving Our Coastal Cultural Heritage: A New National Project Begins

The Coastal Restoration Trust is now embarking on a major new initiative to support coastal marae across Aotearoa to restore their taonga ecosystems, strengthen cultural plant resources, and protect vulnerable heritage sites. The Saving Our Coastal Cultural Heritage Project brings together mātauranga Māori and ecological expertise to develop a national Coastal Marae Planting and Management Plan—a practical blueprint that marae can use to guide long‑term restoration of dunes, estuaries, wetlands, riparian zones, and surrounding Māori land. This has been made possible through funding from the New Zealand Lottery Grant Board.

Three marae—Tikapa (East Cape), Hinetamatea (Anaura Bay), and Wai Ora (Far North)—are partnering as case‑study sites. Each will help shape the plan, and host demonstration areas (in the project next stage) that showcase biodiversity restoration, cultural‑plant resources, and protection of archaeological sites such as urupā and middens.

This project aims to support marae-based ecological restoration and provide Māori with practical guidance and tools to develop their own planting and management plans.

What the project will deliver

Over the next eight months, the project will produce:

• A national blueprint for coastal marae restoration
• Guidance for planting taonga species used for weaving, rongoā, carving, kai, and construction
• Advice on protecting urupā, middens, and other cultural sites
• Schematic Design Plans for each case study marae, showing restoration opportunities and climate‑resilient planting zones
• A final project outcomes report summarising achievements and next‑stage readiness.

These outputs will support marae, iwi, and hapū to plan, design, and implement restoration activities that reflect cultural priorities and local ecological conditions.

Key steps

Listening and Learning:

The project team will work closely with marae communities to gather mātauranga, cultural priorities, and restoration aspirations. This phase includes confirming project partnerships, establishing communication pathways, and reviewing archaeological protection and climate‑adaptation guidance.

On-the-Ground Engagement:

Workshops, hui, and field visits will be held at each marae to assess ecosystems, cultural sites, erosion risks, and restoration opportunities. Early design ideas for demonstration areas will be co‑developed with marae whānau.

Drafting the Plan:

The overarching Coastal Marae Planting and Management Plan will be drafted, including planting guidelines, species lists, biodiversity zones, and practical work programmes. Draft Schematic Design Plans for each marae will be prepared and shared for feedback.

Finalising and Sharing:

All plans and design packages will be refined, finalised, and prepared for publication. The Project Outcomes Report will be completed, outlining achievements and recommendations for national roll‑out.

Why this work matters

Coastal marae are guardians of cultural heritage, biodiversity, and community identity. As climate pressures increase, so does the need for practical, culturally grounded restoration tools. This project strengthens cultural resilience, supports biodiversity, protects heritage sites, and empowers Māori communities with resources to care for their coastal landscapes.

The work undertaken over the coming months will lay the foundation for long‑term restoration and sustainable cultural‑plant resources across Aotearoa.

Posted: 18 October 2026

Tuangi Take Centre Stage: Scholarship Sparks Community Momentum for Estuary Restoration

The Coastal Restoration Trust is celebrating the inspiring achievements of Dr Natalie Prinz, recipient of the 2025 Postgraduate Scholarship, whose work is shining a national spotlight on the power of nature‑based solutions in Aotearoa New Zealand’s estuaries.

Dr Prinz’s research explores a simple but transformative question: Can tuangi (New Zealand cockles) be the heroes of Aotearoa’s sandflats? Her thesis – now successfully defended – shows how these endemic shellfish can support the recovery of degraded estuarine ecosystems, particularly in Te Awanui / Tauranga Moana.

Academic Success with Real‑World Impact

Dr Prinz submitted her thesis in November 2025 and defended it in May 2026, earning praise from both national and international experts (see Tīmata whakaora, kickstarting recovery - Using bivalves to bioremediate degraded estuarine sediments ). The Coastal Restoration Trust is proudly acknowledged on the thesis cover as a key supporter of the research and its outreach.

Community Engagement that Resonates

A highlight of the scholarship year was a public event hosted at Envirohub Tauranga on 4 March 2026. As part of both Sustainable Backyards and Sea Week, the event drew 15 enthusiastic participants who explored how tuangi can act as “marine superheroes” in estuary restoration.

Attendees included community leaders such as the Vice President of the Zonta International Club and a teacher from Mount Maunganui College—both of whom have since collaborated further. Zonta is even exploring opportunities to fund additional outreach, demonstrating how Dr Prinz’s work is sparking wider community investment in marine restoration.

Building Bridges with Iwi and Regional Partners

The second planned event (a wānanga with local iwi and hapū of Te Awanui Tauranga Moana and representatives from the Tauranga Moana Customary Fisheries Trust) will also bring together representatives from different institutions and interest groups, including researchers from University of Waikato, University of Auckland, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Marine Ecologist (and others) is in preparation. This will provide a platform to further explore a potential tuangi restoration project opportunities, among other things.

Guidance for Communities

A practical, community‑focused guidance document—summarising the benefits of shellfish‑based restoration and offering hands‑on advice on ‘how to’ restore estuarine systems using native shellfish —is currently in development. Natalie will share this with the wānanga participants and also make it available for wider use.

Scientific Contributions

Dr Prinz’s research has already produced three scientific papers: one has been published (see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.70393), and the remaining two (at various stages of the submission-review process) will also be made available in due course. These publications will help strengthen the scientific foundation for estuarine restoration across Aotearoa New Zealand.

A Lasting Legacy

Throughout her outreach, Dr Prinz has consistently acknowledged and celebrated the Coastal Restoration Trust’s support. Her work exemplifies how CRT scholarships empower emerging researchers to connect science, community, and culture—creating restoration pathways that endure long after the scholarship year ends.

With the next CRT conference scheduled for 2027, Dr Prinz looks forward to sharing further updates, insights, and stories from the ongoing mahi.

Posted: 8 July 2026

Our Coast - Tō Mātou Takutai Summer 2025 Newsletter

Our Summer 2025 newsletter (Our Coast - Tō Mātou Takutai – Summer 2025/26) is full of interesting articles! It acknowledges the 2025 recipients of CRT’s Pīngao and Toheroa Trophy, celebrates the achievements of the Tuhaitara Project (involving the restoration of a native coastal sequence in North Canterbury) and highlights the amazing nature-based restoration work supported by the Coast Care community in Tasman District.

If you didn’t receive a copy, contact [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] or check your spam folder.

Posted: 24 December 2025