Beach burners beware

Neill Gordon’s rather chuffed at what Matariki Mahuika is turning into.

Hawke’s Bay was the proving ground for the event, in July 2023, when an estimated 25,000 people burnt driftwood bonfires from Cape Kidnappers to Mahia.

Now Matariki Mahuika is spreading its wings, with people the length and breadth of the country encouraged to light bonfires along beaches or alongside lakes on June 29, to mark the Matariki long weekend. Those wishing to be involved are asked to register their interest, which will enable organisers to send out the relevant safety information.

“Matariki Mahuika has the capacity to draw in mass participation of all New Zealanders nationwide at a time when the country is struggling to come together,’’ Gordon told BayBuzz.

“It’s the fact that this is a DIY event, where you go to the beach and do your own thing but you’re part of something larger, that really resonates with people.

“In a small way, we’re contributing to Aotearoa’s emerging nationhood.’’

In a press release, to promote the event, organisers Te Rangi Huata and Gordon indicated the 2023 edition came with the support of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC).

Hawke’s Bay Community Risk Manager for FENZ, Nigel Hall, was quoted as saying “FENZ support this event.’’ And there was previous glowing praise from HBRC Climate Action Ambassador Pippa McKelvie- Sebileau. “Celebrating Matariki Mahuika, all New Zealanders, new, old, and older, got to connect with traditions of a people who knew how to prioritise Te Taiao and how to live in balance with our natural systems. We need a human response to the human-created climate problem. We need more humanity-promoting nature-connecting events like Matariki Mahuika,’’ McKelvie-Sebileau said.

Gordon says that quote came from a column the then-HBRC Climate Action Ambassador wrote following last year’s event.

For all the positivity, it seems safe to assume that a nationwide night of bonfires could result in a significant amount of smoke.

“Although the amount of burning at our event seems significant, the actual quantity of wood burned around the coast last year was much less than what you might think,’’ said Gordon.

“This year will be less again, simply because there’s a lot less driftwood around.’’

Gordon says he rode along Napier’s Marine Parade after last year’s event, thinking he might need to collect some rubbish left behind by attendees. “About three glass bottles, from memory, was what I picked up. But what really surprised me was we didn’t seem to have made a significant dent in the amount of driftwood along the parade,’’ Gordon said.

“The big burns that have occurred along there this year, were when the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Napier City Council used heavy machinery to push all the wood into huge burn piles and burned them off. “Their impact would be measured in many truckloads whereas with our event, the impact is measured in armloads.

“We accept that burning fires has an environmental impact and we know it’s a paradox creating an environmental harm in order to create a greater societal benefit. But the heart of this event is people coming together and sharing the warmth around those fires.’’

Gordon’s aware that others might believe there’s a greater environmental impact than he’s suggesting. “As I say, it’s a paradox. But we think the benefits that are created on this one night a year that we do it, far outweighs any negatives,’’ he says. “I don’t know if it’s a flawed comparison, but I wonder how the impact of our once a year beachfires compares to, say, the emissions from Pan Pac, Ravendown, transport or the cruise industry.

“We’re a speck compared to what’s happening daily.’’

That’s not a view shared by Dr Glen Robertshaw. An Environmental Science lecturer at EIT, Dr Robertshaw studied dioxins as part of his masters, before doing his PhD on remediating radioactively contaminated land. He teaches students about air pollution as part of EIT’s environmental science syllabus.

Dr Robertshaw says his issue with the event is the dioxins in driftwood, which he says contain molecules found in the herbicide Agent Orange. He says the dioxins affect humans, the food chain and ocean wildlife. He adds that, in humans, dioxins released by the burning of driftwood can lead to cancer, birth defects, lower sperm counts in boys and affect thyroid function in neonates, which means a newborn child or mammal.

Dr Robertshaw preferred to be interviewed by email and provided scientific papers to back each of his assertions.

He is a fan of Matariki and everything it stands for. He just has reservations whether this is the best way to mark the occasion. Dr Robertshaw says he has similar concerns about Guy Fawkes.

“I have suggested to Neill that maybe instead of burning driftwood, cleaner dry wood would be better (much reduced dioxin and particulate production that way),’’ Dr Robertshaw wrote.

“But how that could come about I’m not sure. I guess either council could provide it or the organisers would have to ask people to bring it with them, but that seems unlikely to happen. “Who would burn good wood on the beach? Especially with the cost of living crisis. 

“Maybe a few big bonfires of clean dry wood (non-driftwood) managed by council would be better if people felt that the burning is something that is critical to the festivities?

“Of course, burning anything will cause some sort of pollution and we have to assess whether the benefits outweigh the costs. There certainly are benefits (psychological and social) from bringing people together around a campfire to celebrate the new year/Guy Fawkes (not to mention the financial aspects of the event with visitors to Napier etc). 

“But if the population doesn’t know about the dioxin production from driftwood burning then they are making that assessment without all of the facts. If the local population decides that the benefits from the festival outweigh the risks from the dioxins (and the harmful PM10 and PM2.5 particulates that are also produced) then that is their prerogative.’’

Again, Dr Robertshaw is at pains to point out his enthusiasm for the opportunity Matariki affords people “to get together to reflect on the past year and welcome the new year in what can be a depressing, cold and dark time of year. After the cyclone last year it was a welcome chance to have something positive to do.’’

He’s just not sure if driftwood bonfires are the best vehicle. “Ultimately, the population has to make the decision of whether the negative consequences outweigh the benefits, but in order to do that properly they need all of the information.’’

Finally, although Napier City Council has a policy that “All fires are prohibited at beaches, parks and reserves at all times,” they punt on the matter, telling BayBuzz: “FENZ is the regulatory body and the lead on this. They have chosen to go ahead, we are supporting them with this decision. We are asking members of the public to be very mindful of wildlife and to ensure they manage and extinguish fires with due caution.”

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