Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

JUNE/JULY 2000 Napier Reefballs [1/06/2000] Two reefballs have been deployed in Napier as a means to restore and protect the marine and coastal ecosystems. Reefball New Zealand (RBNZ) would like to express appreciation to the Napier businesses, Firth Concrete and Dive HQ. Without their generous contributions of time, facilities and materials the deployment would not have been possible. Also essential to the success was the presence of Todd Barber, the co-inventor of the reefball concept from Florida USA. Reefballs have been developed over the last 10 years and to date around 100,000 have been deployed around the world. Another 17,000 are planned for this year in the Philippines alone. A realistic expectation is for another 900,000 in coming years. Based upon testing each reefball has an anticipated life of 500 years. The Mission of RBNZ is to restore and protect the marine and coastal ecosystems through the deployment of natural and ecologically sound reefballs. Already there has been a high degree of interest generated in the use of reefballs around the New Zealand coast. At last there is a real and meaningful mechanism available for individuals and groups such as schools, Iwi, clubs and councils to become involved in our marine environment.

Reef balls, a positive payback, The Havelock North Village Press,Thursday March 23, 2000, " As the reef balls attract marine growth they end up looking really good" A Group of Napier people has sought and gained permission from the Hawkets Bay Regional Council to conduct a six month reef ball trial in the water from Westshore to Bayview, between the beacons. Effectively designed to mimic a natural reef; the concrete reef balls are increasingly being used around the world to salvage imperiled reefs and while artificial reefs can't eradicate the causes of reef destruction, they can help to restore the balance of the reef system by creating new habitats for marine populations. We spoke to Dave Head who, with half a dozen others, has registered the company Reefball NZ Ltd, and he says the idea of reef balls is really starting to take off in this country with a team from Waikato University building an artificial reef at Mount Maunganui as a research experiment and interest being shown by other groups throughout New Zealand. So what are reef balls exactly and why are they gaining so many fans in the marine world. Firstly, we have to say that artificial reefs are not an entirely new concept. For years people have been creating reefs from tyres, sunken ships, old cars, concrete culverts and assorted rubble. But these can often do more harm than good through leaching harmful chemicals into the ocean, and damaging natural reefs when currents dislodge these objects and toss them around the sea floor. Reef balls, on the other hand, are ecologically friendly things made from stable, non-toxic concrete with a textured surface and nooks and crannies for marine life..........

Reff Balls, a positive payback PAGE 2

Boating New Zealand, June 2000 Captain Asparagus goes AWOL Big balls in Napier In the January issue I wrote about a system for enhancing the fishing around the coastline - planting artificial reefs called reefballs. ALL PICTURES: Making mud pies: the outer mud is removed while the inner inflatable mould remains to help with floatation. The first I heard of the repercussions was a call from a guy called Dave from Napier, waxing enthusiastically about reefballs, and blaming me for the whole thing. It seems a group of Napieronian greenies and divers had formed Reef Balls New Zealand and had.....