The turnout at the scaled down Raglan’s Māui dolphins’ gathering recently may have been on the smaller side, but organisers remain upbeat and hope to bring back the full event next year.
Children and their parents came and went at the venue, the Union Church hall in Stewart St, some playing games and winning prizes with Pare Kore educator Paul Murray while others made origami dolphins which were then crafted into an installation by environmental artist Peggy Oki.
The day was all about community engagement, Katie Lowe of Whaingaroa Environment Centre told the Chronicle of the 100 or so through the doors. Given the good weather WEC was expecting 300, she added, although it was also aware of competing interests that weekend.
WEC traditionally holds its Māui Dolphin Day – to raise awareness of a species on the brink of extinction – in conjunction with Xtreme Zero Waste’s annual raft race down at Papahua reserve.
But Covid has got in the way these past few years, leading to the decision to keep things smaller this time round.
An online event was organised last year, Katie adds, because of restrictions on the size of gatherings; and there were some well-supported “pop-up” events like local Science Nights in-between times.
Doing something rather than nothing is important, she insists. “Or there’s silence.”
As WEC’s core community event – run now for 15-odd years – Māui Dolphin Day is about educating and enabling the community to take care of its marine environment, says committee member June Penn.
WEC is now focused on researching the health of local waters to see what factors may be contributing to Whāingaroa’s loss of the smallest and rarely seen dolphin, she adds.
“We want to come up with recommendations to engage the community to take action.”
Californian-based artist and surfer Peggy Oki who returns to Raglan most summers has long lent her energies to the cause, creating thousands of origami dolphins over the years to draw attention to the demise of Māui dolphins.
There are believed to be fewer than 50 and they inhabit only the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
More than 1000 of the origami variety – made by supporters, including local school students – make up Peggy’s mosaic-style installation which will now be on show downtown at the library.
By Edith Symes
