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AUGUST 17, 2023
Damn the clams By Mary Anne Gill
Thousands of invasive gold clams were found on Lake Karāpiro’s foreshore during the annual lake lowering on Saturday, 24 hours after they were designated an “unwanted organism.” And the find has confirmed Karāpiro Domain site manager Liz Stolwyk’s worst fears on the eve of a season when user levels at the lake are expected to bounce above preCovid levels. Stolwyk was given permission by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to collect a sample of clams for education purposes. The Waipā deputy mayor bottled them and later showed The News, council colleagues and staff.
MPI declared on Friday the freshwater gold clams, first found at Bob’s Landing in May, are now covered by strict regulations under the Biosecurity Act. They revealed this in a freshwater gold clam newsletter sent out to subscribers. Despite the enormity of the announcement, which threatens Waipā’s biggest visitor attraction, biosecurity minister Damien O’Connor did not issue a statement. Stolwyk said she was disappointed at the lack of interest from national politicians suggesting it showed a lack of understanding at the implications of a gold clam spread. She is working closely with MPI and other local politicians from Waipā, Hamilton and
neighbouring local authorities. The unwanted species status does not prevent people using the Waikato River for recreation. People must not knowingly move or spread the clams or water that may contain them. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy directorgeneral Stuart Anderson said MPI did give Ngāti Korokī Kahukura permission to remove clams for disposal. Lake users must comply with Check, Clean and Dry conditions before moving their equipment or craft. An “unwanted organism” is one that can cause harm to natural or physical resources such as rivers and lakes or human health. The clams, native to eastern Asia, can produce up to 400 offspring a day and are
hermaphrodites, meaning each clam has male and female reproductive organs and can self-fertilise. While Anderson says the clams could have been around for more than two years, treasure hunters on hand for the annual lake draw down on Saturday, say they were not there the same day last year. They come to the lake with their scavenging equipment every year to dig and search for whatever gems lay under the water – lost by rowers, canoeists, water skiers and the myriad other lake users. “The clams are everywhere (now),” said Stolwyk who was at the boat ramp to monitor the annual clean-up of jetties, retaining walls and lakeside equipment.
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Our super cyclists A New Zealand Para cycling track team featuring Waipā riders looks to be gearing up for success at next year’s Paralympics. A little over a year out from the Games, five riders – four from Cambridge one from Ōtorohanga – have helped New Zealand bring home a record 10 medals from the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland last week. Pictured from left is Cambridge Devon Briggs, who won four bronze medals, Cambridge's Anna Taylor with her gold medal, Ōtorohanga's Nicole Murray, who won gold, silver and bronze medals, Cambridge's Nick Blincoe and Cambridge’s Eltje Malzbender, who won two silver medals. Dubbed the ‘Super Worlds’, the championships bring together 13 different World Championships in various cycling disciplines in one event.
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