Tessera

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON

@ahafoka.bsky.social

NZ / Aotearoa based. Freedive, spearfisher & volunteer crew for Hibiscus unit of Coastguard NZ Tautiaki Moana https://www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz Coastguard stories: https://bsky.app/profile/ahafoka.bsky.social/post/3m3qrgfddx22v

8129 Posts949 Follower 954 Folgt

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 19h ago

Now the English is an official language of New Zealand I expect all posts to use your, you're, there, their and they're correctly.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 23h ago

Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board have put a proposal to Fisheries NZ for changes to the regs around crayfish take around Aotea/Great Barrier. Have a read and make a submission (personally I'm broadly in support) www.mpi.govt.nz/consultation...

A portion of the cover page of the Fisheries NZ consultation doc.

Picture of a crayfish, aka rock lobster, in a rock crevice and below that the title:
"Proposed local rock lobster management measures for Aotea Great Barrier Island
A proposal from the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board "

The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board, who have been supported by the Aotea Ahu Moana Project, have requested these measures because Aotea residents and mana whenua1 are concerned that both commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing effort will increasingly be displaced from the closed areas of CRA 1 (east coast of Northland2) and CRA 2 (inner Hauraki Gulf3 and Hauraki Gulf High Protection Areas4) to Aotea and that this will lead to the localised depletion of rock lobster at Aotea (Figures 1 and 2).
The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have made it clear to FNZ that their aim in requesting these measures is not to prevent rock lobster fishing at Aotea. Instead, they want to develop appropriate local management measures that will ensure enduring sustainability for commercial, recreational, and customary fishers.
In their request to the Minister, the Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have proposed the following Aotea specific management measures that would apply to spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and packhorse rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi):
a) Establish six recreational-only areas where commercial rock lobster fishing would be prohibited (Figure 3),
b) Reduce the daily limit for recreational fishers,
c) Introduce an accumulation limit for recreational fishers, with the limit set at a single day’s catch. This would prevent recreational fishers from accumulating multiple days catch.
d) Introduce a maximum legal size for both commercial and recreational fishers, and e) Introduce a closed season for both commercial and recreational fishers to coincide with autumn and winter mating seasons of these species.
The Local Board and the Iwi Trust Board have proposed that these measures be implemented within a boundary one nautical mile from Aotea (Figure 3). The proposed measures are described in more detail below and in Table 1.

Paul Brislen @brislen.nz · yesterday

You can’t include links in text messages or emails any longer. Service providers all need to stop doing this. Father who thought parking fine text was a scam angry at Ministry of Justice warnings www.rnz.co.nz/news/communi...

Father who thought parking fine text was a scam angry at Ministry of Justice warnings

An Auckland father of three is angry the Ministry of Justice threatened his pregnant wife with arrest over a parking fine.

rnz.co.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d ago

Goat Island does get absolutely chokka on a summer weekend! I'm kind of OK with paid parking there but it's also a huge change from when I first visited frequently (late '80s) www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

Popular Auckland marine reserve Goat Island the next site for paid parking

Paid parking will be introduced Auckland's popular marine reserve Goat Island in Leigh, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.

rnz.co.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2d ago

We're splurging on a bucket list trip to Singapore (3 days), France, Spain and Italy (i.e. Europe for a month). Any recommendations on eSIMs to use? We've got at least a week away from wifi options while in France (self-drive canal boat!) so I guess a fairly decent data pack would be useful.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 3d ago

youtu.be/W5Y8JwEzuvA?...

How The UK Works 🫠.

YouTube video by Jimmy Rees

youtu.be

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 3d ago

No cheating post your lock screen. 😂 it’s the same as my profile pic … I’ve kept this through multiple phone upgrades so I can easily tell which phone is mine …

A phone lock screen. Image is a spearfisher (me) pausing to look down at an NZ fur seal as the seal looks up at me.

Pic was taken toward the end of Karikari Peninsula, Northland NZ

Dr Sarah Hendrica Bickerton 🏳️‍🌈@sarahhbickerton.bsky.social · 3d ago

No cheating post your lock screen. This is a promotion image from Zero Motorcycles of the Zero S (the lower spec version of my own Zero SR/F) which I think has a gorgeous colour scheme, and I test rode one myself in February 2025 in Melbourne.

Louise Hutt @saycheeselouise.bsky.social · 3d ago

As some of you might know, my mum was diagnosed with Parkinson's late last year. I'm looking for film, TV, books that have characters who have Parkinson's, feature Parkinson's etc. [Not interested in pseudoscience, "alternative" medicine, or unsolicited advice.]

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 3d ago

I don't know this person but I'm happy to help. If you see a seal, please email photos or videos to Tineke at leopardsealphd@gmail.com (ideally while the seal is present, but older sightings also welcome). New Zealand is blessed with a wonderful big blue backyard that we need to learn more about!

Picture of a Leopard Seal with text around it asking for sightings to be reported to: leopardsealphd@gmail.com

Post from Tineke Joustra that reads:

Not whale or dolphin related...but keen to hear from you if you see a leopard seal while scouring the seas for cetaceans!
I'm looking for leopard seal sightings around the country as part of my PhD project.
If you encounter a seal, please email photos or videos of the sighting to me at leopardsealphd@gmail.com (ideally while the seal is present, but older sightings also welcome).
Feel free to share post with friends/groups.
Thank you 😊 🦭

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 4d ago

Spearfishing New Zealand is collecting info on close calls between boats and spearos in the water. Complete the form here if you’ve had this happen to you (I’ve responded with a couple of close calls myself). spearfishingnz.netlify.app/near-miss

A boat with a spinning propeller passing overhead on the surface of the water. Pic taken from below the surface.

Have you had a close call with a boat while diving?

We want to hear about it — even if it was years ago, even if nothing happened, even if you never told anyone.

Here's why. Every time a boat comes through a dive site at speed, the response is the same: it's treated as a one-off. A bad apple. Bad luck. And the reason that argument keeps working is that there's no data. Almost nobody reports a near-miss, so officially, they barely happen.

We know that's not true. Most of us have a story. Some of us have several.

SNZ is collecting them properly. Three minutes, mostly tick-boxes. We're taking the results — anonymised and aggregated — to harbourmasters, Maritime New Zealand and decision-makers, to show what this actually looks like from the water.

What we especially want:
• Close calls where nothing happened. These are the ones that never get counted, and they're the whole point.
• Incidents from years back. The pattern matters more than the date.
• The location. If the same points and bays keep coming up, that's an argument for markers and signage at those specific places.

• Whether you had a flag or float up. If most of us were fully visible and it still happened, that ends the "divers should be easier to see" argument for good.

One entry per incident. If you've had a few, fill it in a few times.

Please don't name individuals or boats — in the form or in the comments. We're building a case about a pattern, not about any one person, and naming people undermines that.

https://spearfishingnz.netlify.app/near-miss

Rob Harrison
President, Spearfishing New Zealand

Rod Emmerson @rodemmerson.bsky.social · 5d ago

In today’s Weekend Herald

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 5d ago

At Coastguard Hibiscus we have unit meeting and training nights fortnightly. Here’s an example from a few weeks ago.

Overview of some of the training we do at Coastguard Hibiscus. This scenario involved the whole unit. Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa

(If you look you may see me in both the pictures)

Pops Paul 🇳🇿@peecee65.bsky.social · 5d ago

If you live in Aotearoa New Zealand now is a good time to check your enrolment details (or enrol for the first time)… Make sure you can vote at: vote.nz/enrolling/en...

vote.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 6d ago

Given the push by some to get back to English (and now English is an official language of New Zealand) we could run with bilingual signs ... (or drop the Maori altogether for some) ...

A ute towing a trailer driving between two road signs. The signs have the speed limit and are bilingual with the place name original Maori place name Urenui below the english translation "Big Penis".

( I swiped this from elsewhere)

Rod Emmerson @rodemmerson.bsky.social · 6d ago

In today’s NZ Herald

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 7d ago

Image of a classic Nokia phone sitting in a chair with 2 smart phones at its feet.

The Nokia is saying “When I fell nothing would happen to me. I wasn’t delicate like you kids. “

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

More on the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, Nuku'alofa, Tonga that dad designed and my grandfather built Mike's family found their invitation to the opening in 1980. Dad and grandad etc. were all there. Dad talked about this just before he passed & he was proud he was entrusted with designing it.

Scan of cover page of the invitation to the opening. It is yellowed with age, includes a picture of the basilica, Tongan royal coat of arms

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON@ahafoka.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I’ve just been talking to Mike and he’s asked if they can include dad’s plans for the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, Nuku’alofa in the Uni of Auckland library Special Collections. Of course we said yes. Here’s a sample. It’s great to have dad’s work recognised! (And several years of effort)

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

This is what happens when there are no mammalian predators ... (rats etc.) on Tiritiri Matangi Is.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

Ever wondered what it's like to be a Coastguard NZ wet crew volunteer? Read my periodic posts - or go here: volunteers.coastguard.nz/before-you-a...

Before you apply | Coastguard Volunteer Recruitment

volunteers.coastguard.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

Auckland's CRL ... It'll look a a bit different when full of commuters!

Daryl DC 🚅🚇🚡🚍@daryldc.bsky.social · last wk.

The architecture of the Auckland City Rail Link (soon to open) looks so stunning 😳 Modern, contemporary entrances and passages for a new downtown subway and 3 stations, transforming the regional rail system of a city that is smaller than Vancouver 🚇 youtube.com/watch?v=RZlc...

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

I've recently seen a few posts with the name of the Christchurch Mosque shooter. Apologies to anyone who shares the same surname but I've muted that particular word now.

Marama Davidson @maramadavidson.bsky.social · last wk.

Yeah Zoe!!!! www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/29/g...

Gold for Zoe Hobbs in 100m at Commonwealth Games

The 28-year-old finished with a national record time of 10.93s.

1news.co.nz

Sarah @nzclover.bsky.social · last wk.

My response to Erica and the person she passed my email to. Calling them a pack of delusional c*nts is what I really wanted to say, but I resisted. 😮‍💨

Thank you for your reply. I’m genuinely disappointed. I thought I’d made my points clearly, but your response misses them somewhat.

You say assessment design is “still being developed.” The structural decision, that Years 12 and 13 students will need to study five subjects and pass four of them, was confirmed by Cabinet in March 2026. Losing the ability to accumulate credits across subjects and areas of learning anppears to be already settled policy, and in practice, that’s a decision to exclude a student like my son.

You also list the Special Assessment Conditions available, extended time, a reader, rest breaks, as though I don’t already know them. I do. I told you why they don’t work for him. Exams are already too anxiety filled for him, and making them longer makes that worse. He is not sitting any external exams this year as his teachers and myself have discussed and believe that the best option is to withdraw him. What your letter doesn’t address is why students like him can’t rely on an internal assessment pathway instead. If exams and passing four subjects entirely are the only route to a pass, he isn’t being accommodated, he’s being excluded.

On PE, you say schools will “work with students, whānau and specialists to support participation.” That assumes one size fits all, which was the entire point of my email. The Minister’s dodgeball comment wasn’t a throwaway remark. It was insulting and ignorant of what that curriculum means for a child who experiences physical and mental trauma having to participate in such activities. My son gets bullied because he’s no good at sport, and every kid like him gets picked on in a game like dodgeball. It is pure hell for them, not the fun, engaging activity the Minister described that kids love going to school for.

Finally, you cite $746 million from Budget 2025 and $286 million from Budget 2026, and say most specialist roles funded for 2026 are in place. No extra support has reached my son as a result of any of this funding.

I appreciate your response but I would prefer if my original points were actually engaged with and not talked around. I hope my feedback is truly considered and changes are made that will stop this exclusionary policy.

Yours sincerely, Sarah

Sarah@nzclover.bsky.social · last wk.

Two months ago I emailed Erica Stanford letting her know how the new qualification and curriculum changes are going to fail neurodiverse learners like my boy. Today I got a response that addressed none of my points.

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

We have huge gaps in our knowledge of Freediving physiology and the changes in PaO2 and PACO2 as well as the impact those changes have. In 2021 Tom Scott from Auckland Uni wen to Lake Taupo with Dave Mullins and took blood samples at 60m & they've just published more: youtu.be/bB0d2Wz0HQ8?...

Dominica Freediving Documentary

YouTube video by Inkfish Expeditions

youtu.be

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Someone with zero contextual clues in their profile etc. asks Rob to add a flag to his post so they could get context. (and of course Rob says he's from NZ in his profile ... )

Andy McKay @korimakoecology.bsky.social · last wk.

"Emeritus professor and the study's lead author David Norton said deer populations have grown back to levels seen in the 1950s and 60s. He told RNZ the decline might not be visible straightaway. He said deer were hollowing out forests of food sources which support forest ecosystems."

Rising deer numbers drive decline in native forests - research

Ecologists are calling for a deer management strategy, as a new report finds the pests threaten native forests' regrowth.

rnz.co.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · last wk.

Give Steve a call if you see orca in northern New Zealand and he'll have a crack at getting more material for the documentary he's producing (this is a snip of what he filmed last week) 0800 FILM UW (0800 3456 89)

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON@ahafoka.bsky.social · 2w ago

New Zealand really does have a big blue backyard! (yes, the stingray is trying to shelter under Steve while the orca drops in ) Give Steve a call if you see Orca in the Northern part of NZ - he's filming for his doco. 0800 FILM UW (0800 3456 89) 🦑 📷 🐳

Post from Steve Hathaway:
Peekaboo! Orca checking out an eagle ray as it swam in to hide under me... this ray had just watched its mate get snatched by another orca. Just wanted to give a tiny glimpse into an epic day filming orca on Sunday for my doco.
If you see orca or hear of them in Northern NZ, please call me immediately on 0800 FILM UW (0800 3456 89), so we can get out to him them. Thanks!

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2w ago

12 years ago Coastguard Hibiscus took delivery of the current Hibiscus Rescue 2 - an amphibious vessel (the prior HIB2 was similar but a bit shorter).

12 years ago today, Coastguard Hibiscus took delivery of our second Sealegs vessel – Hibiscus Rescue Two.

Our 7.7m amphibious rescue vessel has become an invaluable part of our fleet, giving us unique capabilities that traditional rescue boats simply can't offer. From bringing patients directly ashore to waiting ambulances without the need for a marina or wharf, to safely towing trailer boats straight onto boat ramps, and carrying out rescues in shallow water by lowering the wheels and driving to those who need help, Hibiscus Rescue Two has helped us respond more efficiently when every minute counts.

Over the past 12 years, she has played a vital role in countless rescues, training exercises and community events, helping us keep people safe on the water around the Hibiscus Coast.

Here's to 12 years of outstanding service—and to many more missions ahead.

HIB2 crossing a large wake with spray flying

HIB2 after she’s driven up a sandy beach

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is sad news. I worked with Roger around 1998/99 and he was always a knowledgeable gentleman who was happy to share and debate. internetnz.nz/news-and-art...

In memory of Roger Hicks

We were very saddened to hear of the passing of InternetNZ Fellow and life member Roger Hicks last month.

internetnz.nz

Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · 2w ago

Hmmm this is correct about the Chatham Islands but wrong about Tonga.

Ethan@ethankomoroski.bsky.social · 2w ago

This should come with the trigger warning. What the fuck!!