Shade Smith

Introduction:

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Shade Smith is a Senior Environmental Analyst in the Taiao Unit at Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, where he has worked since 2019. 

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With over 15 years of expertise in environmental and marine science, Shade has led initiatives in selective breeding for Greenshell mussels and Pacific oysters and has coordinated collaborative research with Māori organisations, private sector entities, and government agencies. His work encompasses open ocean aquaculture, environmental impact assessments, and freshwater and marine research. 

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At Ngāti Kahungunu, Shade plays a vital role in fisheries research, policy,strategy development and occasionally provides expert evidence in RMA and environmental court cases. His specialised work on freshwater pests includes managing the eradication program for Lagarosiphon major, an invasive aquatic weed, in Lake Waikaremoana. Driven by a passion for empowering Indigenous communities, Shade is dedicated to advancing Māori leadership in environmental resource management.

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Shade’s Wisdom:

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• ‍Restore degraded environments: Shade emphasises making estuaries less hospitable to invasive species as a way to restore them. “It's about making as much of the estuary as inhospitable to those juveniles as possible.” He notes that areas like Hawke’s Bay are highly degraded and need significant change, which may face resistance from those accustomed to the current state.

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• Economic vs. environmental priorities: He highlights how Hawke's Bay has focused too much on production, often sacrificing the environment. “We were super good at maximising production at the expense of the environment.” He calls for more action and less discussion, “It's a lot of talking, not much doing.”

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• Importance of kaitiakitanga: For Shade, the connection to the estuary is through kai, which embodies the practice of kaitiakitanga (guardianship). He believes that true restoration means ensuring people can safely gather food from the water without concerns about contamination—what he calls “anxiety-free mahinga kai.” He says, “We build our connection through our relationship and love of kai.   We want to be able to set our mullet nets and not be worried that when we smoke the mullet, contaminants will infect our kai”.

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• Long-term commitment is key: Reflecting on past projects like the attempt to remove Lagarosiphon from a lake, Shade highlights that pest management requires sustained efforts over time. “It takes a long time to eradicate it fully. You've got to keep going back.” He warns that giving up on these efforts means starting over. “So I guess the moral of the story is don’t give up. If you do, then you're sending yourself right back to the start.”

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• Collaborative solutions: Shade stresses that restoration efforts can only succeed when everyone is on the same page, with proper funding and clear roles. “You've got to have everyone on the same page. You've got to have the funding, skills and expertise in place.” He believes there are alternative ways to balance economic impacts while restoring ecosystems, suggesting a shift in perspective towards valuing long-term sustainability.

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Tauārai - Barriers:

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• ‍Resistance to change: Communities in highly degraded areas like Hawke’s Bay often see their current state as normal, which makes it difficult to gain support for restoration efforts. People may question the need for action, feeling that since the environment is already damaged, further efforts would be a waste of resources.

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• ‍Challenges in changing mindsets: Local communities may question the value of restoration efforts due to the already degraded condition of their waterways. “I think the issue in Hawke's Bay in general is that people are used to the current state, which is a very highly degraded state... There might be some pushback.” He contrasts this with regions like Te Arawa, where water quality is better, making it easier to push for changes.

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• Critique of government involvement: Shade believes agencies like DOC need to do more than just monitoring; they should be directly involved in physical restoration work and include mana whenua as partners. “DOC are merely doing annual delineation survey... Rather than actively being involved in physical removal.” He points out that frequent changes in government priorities can undermine long-term efforts. “If they've developed a plan with Mana Whenua... And then another team comes in up top and says, ‘No, we're turning a different direction’... What a waste, really?”

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• Need for a long-term commitment: Effective pest management and ecosystem restoration require sustained effort and repeated actions over many years. However, projects often lack the necessary follow-up and persistence, leading to setbacks and allowing invasive species to regain a foothold in the environment.

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Shade Recommends:

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• ‍Engage communities in restoration efforts: Develop outreach programs to educate and involve local communities in the importance and benefits of restoration, addressing resistance to change through awareness.

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• Strengthen collaboration among stakeholders: Create forums or working groups where government, industry, mana whenua, and community members can align on shared goals and strategies for restoration.

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• Balance goals: Identify and promote alternative economic activities that align with ecological restoration, ensuring stakeholders see the long-term benefits of a healthy environment.

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• Ensure consistent government support: Advocate for stable funding and long-term commitment from government agencies, ensuring that restoration projects are not disrupted by changes in leadership or priorities.

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• Commit to long-term pest management: Develop multi-year plans for pest control with dedicated resources, ensuring sustained efforts to fully eradicate invasive species and restore ecosystems.

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In Summary:

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Shade's insights reveal the challenges of restoring degraded environments like Hawke’s Bay. He points out the need for significant change to make estuaries inhospitable to invasive species, even if they face resistance. By prioritising ecological health alongside economic interests, Shade calls for action over discussion and highlights kaitiakitanga through safe food gathering or "anxiety-free mahinga kai." He stresses the importance of long-term commitment in pest management, cautioning that abandoning efforts only resets progress. 

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Photo © NZ Herald