Free fish head initiative to expand to Wairoa this month
Kai Ika launched in Hawke's Bay in December 2024 and has distributed 2025kg of fish parts to 489 families in Hastings and Māhia and counting.
ISSUE 4: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Reducing fisheries food waste and redistributing free fish heads
An initiative established two months ago that collects fish heads and frames from Hawke's Bay fishery companies to giveaway for free is expanding its Wairoa outreach this month.
Kai Ika Hawke’s Bay launched at the beginning of December with the support of Sustainable Hawke’s Bay and LegaSea Hawke’s Bay. They have been distributing fish heads and frames in Māhia fortnightly for free. And this month they will be adding a Wairoa town distribution pop up.
Sustainable Hawke’s Bay operations manager Sam Paterson is thrilled with how much fish parts they have distributed in Hawke’s Bay. He says preventing food waste is one of the most effective changes individuals can make towards climate change resilience.
He and Kai Ika Hawke’s Bay project coordinator Helen Joros have been coming to Māhia every other Tuesday with support from Te Ruruku Pā and LegaSea Hawke's Bay - distributing the fish heads and frames sourced from Saltwater Seafoods and Star Food Outlet.
The Kai Ika Project started in Auckland in September 2016 as a project that utilised fish heads, frames and offal which were previously going to waste. Since then, more than 385,000kg of previously discarded fish parts have been collected from various sources and redistributed to families and community groups all over Auckland.
The project has since expanded to include satellite operations in Wellington and now Hawke’s Bay.
The Kai Ika team collect from the local fisheries organisations and then distribute the heads and frames to an appreciative local community, while the offal is used as fertiliser in marae gardens.
There are three focuses for Kai Ika, says Paterson and Joros: “One is biodiversity, restoring the natural order and making sure we don't use more than we need.”
The project aspires to minimise our impact on the marine environment through better utilisation of our natural resources.
Second is waste minimisation: “we encourage giving respect to each and every fish harvested and ensure no part of the fish is wasted.”
“Creating a Hawke's Bay where we don't create unnecessary waste and respect our resources,” Paterson says.
“Third, community resilience. So that's about communities and people having what they need to flourish and prepared for climate change and any future that might unfold in front of us.”
The project also addresses food insecurity in a big way which they say, when you strip everything back, is also an environmental issue.
“We aim to connect New Zealanders and encourage collaboration with outside communities through the appreciation of all parts of kaimoana. We hope to adjust people’s perceptions that fish heads are actually a revered food source.”
And they have been really well received, especially with the help of whānau like Grace Ormond and Te Ruruku Pā in Māhia helping with the local distribution, especially for kaumātua who cannot easily get down to the beach to pick up themselves.
Joros says in the less than two months they have been active in Hawke’s Bay, they have distributed 2025kg of fish parts to 489 families in Hastings and Māhia.
In Māhia alone they had distributed between 200-300kg of fish heads.
“It's been really good, we've really only been doing Māhia for three weeks,” she says.
They are looking forward to expanding their distribution in the Wairoa District with a distribution point in the Wairoa township launching this month.
Lowe wins heaviest snapper at Wairoa Club surfcasting comp.
RAIN and wind did not deter the hardiest of fisherman from going for their chance at the cash prizes in Wairoa Club surfcasting competition at Whakamāhia beach on Sunday.
The show went on for the club's 26th surfcasting competition despite the rain with 373 entries this year. The top prize everyone was vying for was $1500 for heaviest snapper as well as $1000 each for the heaviest gurnard and kahawai.
The much sort after prize for snapper was won by Gordon Lowe who weighed in a 3.57kg fish.
A total of 54 fish were caught and tagged on the day including 16 snapper, 19 kahawai, 10 gurnard.
I AM THE RIVER congratulates all those who took part and all the winners outlined in the results to follow, including 323 senior entries and 50 junior entries.
Results:
Junior section: Jeff Joseph Culshaw-Kaisa, 1.53kg, 1; Daniel Chapman, 1.52kg, 2; Keisayez Culshaw-Kaisa, 0.94kg, 3.
Senior section: Gurnard: Jono Culshaw-Kaisa, 1.17kg, 1; Bret Bullivant, 0.91kg, 2; Willie Brown, 0.78kg. 3. Kahawai: Jimmy Ash, 2.79kg, 1; Treyson Te Amo Karangaroa, 2.23kg, 2; Crom, 2.16kg, 3. Snapper: Gordon Lowe, 3.57kg, 1; Keri Roper, 1.94kg, 2; Doug Bassett, 1.63kg, 3.
Waitangi Day Celebration - The Wairoa District Council has a festive whānau day planned for Waitangi Day commemorations at the Wairoa Community Centre tomorrow (February 6). From 9am to 1pm this includes market stalls, speakers, bouncy castles, Māori digital art and more.
Te Mātāwaka o Māhia-Nūhaka presents Rangatahi Beach Hustle - Waitangi Day, Thursday, February 6, 11am-3pm. Blue Bay, Opoutama. A full fun day of activities and kai including sandcastle competition, tug of war, scavenger hunt and horse leading. All proceeds from this event go towards future events to inspire local youth to develop a business mindset.
The East Coast Farming Expo - February 19&20, Wairoa Racecourse. For sheep and beef farmers on the East Coast. Two days of interactive exhibits and seminars, providing a rare opportunity for East Coast and Hawke’s Bay farming communities to interact face-to-face with industry innovators and experts.
Roller Disco Wairoa - Wairoa Community Centre, Saturday, February 22, 6-8.30pm. First time in Wairoa. All ages and all levels of skating welcome. Roller skates and blades available. Lesson + Disco Combo $20, lesson or Disco only $15, skate hire.
Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Earth Pēpi Reloved, sourcing and reselling quality secondhand children’s clothing sizes newborn to 10 years, and encourage families to shop secondhand first. We offer free delivery within Wairoa township - use the discount code LOCAL when you check out.