During Aotearoa New Zealand Conservation Week we will be presenting this talk at the Whangarei Library. Come and join us if you can for a ‘watery journey’ spanning the Universe and exploring the evolutionary story of water that is the reason for Life on Earth – the fundamental role water plays in our very existence..
“We are Water We are One”
Glenn is on the Regenerative Cultures panel at this online event – check it out!
Saturday 25th and Sunday 25th July.
A really interesting organisation whose values and philosophies align with Ocean Spirit’s.
The event was : “Born as a call for unity to bring you messages of the Water and its lessons from indigenous leaders, representatives of the scientific community, musicians, artists, and YOU, our global family!”
Ecological concerns over North Port expansion in Whangarei Harbour
Here is an article from NewsRoom reporter, Farah Hancock, about the proposed move of Ports of Auckland to Whangarei.
Glenn was interviewed along with Orca researcher, Ingrid Visser and Rochelle Constantine from Auckland University. Conservation advocates worry rerouting some of Ports of Auckland ships to Whangārei’s Northport might come at a cost to the harbour’s ecosystem.
Survey Report: Te Wai O Taniwha/Mermaid Pools
On 12th June Te Wairua O Te Moananui-Ocean Spirit Trust conducted a Hauora Moana survey at Te Wai O Taniwha/Mermaid Pools to check on the recovery of the pools under the Rahui, put in place by Te whanau a Rangiwhakaahu on May 1st 2019. You can read our report here.
World Ocean Day
What does the Ocean mean to you?
For us at the Trust she is a Living Being – the cradle of our existence, the heart of our blue home – deserving of our respect and gratitude.
We paid our respects with a gift of a nikau waka filled with flowers!
Ocean Race Summit replay
For those of you who couldn’t make the Ocean Race Summit on Wed 27th / Thurs 28th – Use this link to get direct access to the individual sessions of the Summit – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWO8hWaPuxmplfE5MGFSEwqM6ewKxXxJU
Glenn’s contribution is found on videos nos 11 and 24.. Enjoy!!
The Ocean Race Summit Agenda
The Ocean Race Summit #2 agenda is out!! ….. and …..Glenn is on just before and just after HSH ALBERT II Sovereign Prince of Monaco…
Wed 27th May 2pm – 6pm (Central European Summer Time)
Thurs 28th 12am – 4am New Zealand time
Livestream with curated elements of the event: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/live
More information and speaker list: https://www.theoceanrace.com/…/the-ocean-race-…/02/the-hague
2.00pm OPENING WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
3.10pm NATURE-BASED RIGHTS
Humberto Tan with Jessica den Outer (Youth Ambassador for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature) and Olivia Swaak-Goldman (Wildlife Justice Commission, The Hague)
Liz Bonnin with Glenn Edney (Ocean Spirit New Zealand) and Dr Daniel Hikuroa (University of Auckland, Earth System Scientist)
3.25pm HSH ALBERT II SOVEREIGN PRINCE OF MONACO
3.30pm ACTION LABS SESSION 1
Action Lab 1 Winning Strategies
Action Lab 2 Behavioural Science Deep Dive
Action Lab 3 Time: Telling the Story of Oceans under Threat
Action Lab: 4 Nature-based and Ocean Rights
Action Lab 5 Nature inclusive and climate neutral design for the North Sea
The Ocean Race Summit
Ocean Spirit is extremely excited to announce that Glenn is a panellist in the Ocean Race Summit, streaming Live from The Hague on 27 May 2020, 14:00 – 18:15 (Central European Summer Time https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html).
The Ocean Race Summits bring together leaders, top experts and other change-makers to share solutions and winning strategies to accelerate the restoration of ocean health, inspired by the spirit of ocean racing. Their goal is to identify solutions and to facilitate meaningful action.
The Summit, ahead of the 2021 – 2022 race, has Glenn in conversation with Dr Daniel Hikuroa – Senior Lecturer and Earth System Scientist at Te Wānanga o Waipapa, University of Auckland. Together they present the case for “Personification of the Ocean”.
Glenn and Dan are joined on their panel in Session 3, Nature-based Rights, by:
Jessica den Outer – Youth Ambassador for The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature
Olivia Swaak-Goldman – Wildlife Justice Commission, The Hague
They will then participate in Action Lab 4.
Other Summit speakers include:
Peter Thomson – United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Minna Epps – Director of IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme
Dr Wallace J Nichols – author, Blue Mind
The Summit comprises 6 unique Sessions in which the speakers present their cases in an interactive TV show, followed by break-out Action Labs and online networking sessions. Innovation Workshops either side of the Summit make for a three-day focus on protecting our blue planet.
More information and a speaker list can be found here: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/the-ocean-race-summits/02/the-hague
You can watch a live-stream featuring curated elements of the event starting at 1400 CEST/0800 EDT on May 27 here: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/live
SeaBin goes back to work!
Level 2 – the SeaBin has been turned back on after 8 weeks!

Like the rest of us, the SeaBin has been in ‘lockdown’. On Friday 15th we were able to start it up again. First, we brushed clean the submerged casing and then dropped in the catch-bag. The power was turned on and off she went!
Three days later we returned to empty the contents. There were a lot of micro-plastics – many in the form of foam pieces <5mm in size; several bits of soft, clear plastic wrapping/bags and the usual cigarette butts. The exciting find was a SEAHORSE! She was healthy and we were able to return her to the marina along with a large number of shrimps, a beautiful flatworm and a baby parore!
The marina water was clearer than we’ve ever seen it – a result of no boat activity. Obviously the sea creatures have been enjoying the peace of the last couple of months as much as we have!
SeaBin turned off
We’ve had to turn the Tutukaka Marina SeaBin off during this time of uncertainty. When we did the last sort on Sunday 22nd March it was rather full!!
We are staying home during our ‘lockdown’ or rāhui ( a temporary ritual prohibition) which is what we prefer to call it, and getting lots of projects done!

Last rubbish collected by the SeaBin….