Sustainable action of the year award

BEST SUSTAINABLE ACTION OF THE YEAR AWARD –  

This award recognises individual or business that go the extra mile to reduce impact on the environment.  The winner will receive a beautiful walnut wood trophy and a feature article in the Westhaven Marina newsletter.  The award is also proudly displayed in the Westhaven Marina office and at the NZ Marine ITO graduation ceremony. 

What it is: 

‘Best Sustainable Action of the Year’ award recognises boaties and businesses who are leading by example to protect our coastlines.  Submissions or nominations are asked for, this year was the inaugural year of the award.  

Examples could be beach litter collection, hybrid conversions to save fuel, electric boats, taking a lead on responsible waste separation or at sea discharging. 

2023 Winner - Skipperi

Thanks to all those who submitted entries for the 2023 Eke Panuku marinas sustainable action of the year award. We reviewed the submissions and chose Skipperi as the recipient of our 2023 award.

Skipperi became part of the Westhaven community at Z pier in June 2021, offering a subscription-based boat-sharing service that started with just one boat (since then their fleet of Haines Hunter SF 545s has grown to 25 vessels and Aucklanders have done more than 15,000 hours of boating!). Their service not only makes boating more affordable through cost-sharing between users, but also reduces environmental impacts with less boats being used by more users – the manufacture and fit out of just one boat satisfies the boating usage of multiple subscribers.

Our judges are impressed with Skipperi’s approach to environmental care, subscriber education and resource efficiency. Congratulations to the Skipperi team!

2022 Eke Panuku Sustainable Action Award announced

The Kai Ika Project is a nose-to-tail solution to deal with post-filleting fish parts in Auckland. Since 2016 previously unwanted fish offcuts have been collected and distributed to families and community groups who value these parts of the fish.

In 2020, Kai Ika partnered up with Eke Panuku Marinas to install a fish filleting station at Westhaven Z Pier. This service allows fishers to have their catch expertly processed whilst ensuring nothing will go to waste with all offcuts shared with appreciative families throughout Auckland. To date, Kai Ika has repurposed over 200,000kg of fish offcuts which would have been otherwise wasted.

Sustainability

Their mission is to minimise our impact on the marine environment through better utilisation of our natural resources. Kai Ika encourages giving respect to each and every fish caught and ensures no part of the fish is wasted. As New Zealand’s fish populations are being depleted faster than they can rebuild, they not only have to address how we’re catching fish but also how we’re consuming it. 

Their philosophy is ‘utilisation IS conservation’. If we fully utilise each fish we remove from the water, that means we won’t have to remove as many. Doing more with less and conserving fish stocks for future generations.

About The Kai Ika Project

The Kai Ika Project is a non-profit initiative bringing communities together to share previously unwanted fish parts to reduce waste and feed the community while conserving fish for future generations. 

This Kaupapa [project] is a collaboration between the Outboard Boating Club of Auckland (OBC), Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae, Eke Panuku Marinas and LegaSea.

When we strip everything back to the bare necessity, food insecurity is an environmental issue. Kai Ika aim to connect New Zealanders and encourage collaboration with outside communities through the appreciation of all parts of kaimoana. They hope to adjust people’s perceptions that fish heads are a revered food source.

In the first COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, the economic impact led to increased unemployment and a surge in demand for protein from Kai Ika. A call-out was made, and suddenly they went from distributing 250kgs of fish parts a week to over 1000kgs thanks to the support of commercial fishing companies. Fast forward to 2022, the Kai Ika team now repurposes around 2000kg of fish offcuts every week.

Marina Manager Karenza Harris presenting Harken team with the award

2021 WINNER - HARKEN FOSTERS

The Harken Westhaven Marine Village store was nominated for offering an Ecostore Refill Station.  The judges feedback was that offering this refilling service in the Marina  is a great way to reduce plastic pollution and conserve resources, while helping customers save money.  With the added bonus that the product is safe on the environment, and offers a variety of products that are suitable for use on boats.

About Ecostore

Ecostore was founded in New Zealand in 1993, with flagship store opening in Auckland in 1997.  Ecostore products are safe environmentally friendly products for you and your family.  Household cleaners, laundry, body care, skincare, baby care and oral care products, and now their new boat wash product, are cruelty free, and made from naturally derived ingredients, selected because they are safer and more sustainable. 

Using CarboNZero certified factory and renewable sugar plastic packaging, the Ecostore brand is kinder to the planet at every step – and constantly improving their processes to save energy and resources, and reduce waste. They choose biodegradable plant and mineral-based ingredients over petrochemicals. Each product is also compatible with septic tanks and greywater systems.

About Fosters Chandlery

Fosters Chandlery has been in the business of selling marine equipment to the boating industry for over 114 years. From their original iconic location on Fanshawe Street to their new home in Westhaven Marina, the Fosters name has been renowned throughout New Zealand for the supply of high-tech equipment to builders of super & racing yachts through to owners of classic yachts, cruising boats and dinghies.

As well as being a retail store, the Westhaven location is also a technical service centre where the highly experienced Fosters team can recommend, specify and service their extensive product range representing some of the world’s leading marine manufacturers.

Harken Fosters is owned by Harken NZ Ltd and distributes Harken products throughout NZ. They stock well-known brands such as Marlow, Crewsaver, Tylaska, clothing brands Musto and Zhik as well as a range of traditional products such as Oakum, copper nails and roves, brass wood screws, silicon bronze fastenings and brass rubbing strips.

As an extensive sponsor of youth sailing in New Zealand, Harken Fosters are also focused on the future of our environment and are proud to be the first refillery of Ecostore’s boat wash product as well as several their other consumer products in the cleaning and body ranges.

2020 WINNER - RNZYS PARTNER WITH SAILORS FOR THE SEA

This year the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has joined the race to restore ocean health with Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas Program. Leading up to, during and following the Harken Youth International Match Racing Cup  and the Harken 2020 Youth Match Racing World Championships, organizers will be working with Sailors for the Sea to minimize the impact the event will have on our shores and the seas. This includes everything from keeping the site clear of debris and to reducing reliance on plastic bottles and cups and recycling. 

We are off to a great start, but we need your help. As a sailor in this event, your actions will be important as we work to reduce our environmental impact. Your choices will make a difference. Here are a few ways you can help during the race:

Help by properly sorting all recycling and compost so we can minimize the amount of waste headed to the landfill.
- Clean your boat using water only. Deck soaps contain phosphates and nitrates that can dramatically affect water quality, especially in a closed harbor. 
- Reduce your carbon footprint by walking, bicycling or carpooling to the sailing site everyday. 
- Use a refillable water bottle at the event.

We invite you to learn more about Sailors for the Sea by visiting their website www.sailorsforthesea.org.

About Clean Regattas

Clean Regattas is the world’s only sustainability certification for water-based events. The program enables sailors to protect their local waters by empowering them with tips and resources to implement sustainability initiatives. Since 2006, more than 2,000 Clean Regattas have been run in 36 countries and in over half of all the United States.

 About Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana

Sailors for the Sea is the world’s only ocean conservation organization that engages, educates and activates the sailing and boating community toward restoring ocean health. Since its start in 2004, Sailors for the Sea has worked towards building a community of ocean stewards by offering tools, education and inspiration so that sailors may become change agents, and harness the power of their passion to heal the ocean.