Page 7 Maungaturoto Matters

Electromagnetic fields, Ecologyand Economics

Few people understand the importance of electro-magnetic fields in nature. At school we all learntfrom watching iron filings changing their positionwhen the switch is turned on that a magnetic fieldoccurs around a wire carrying a current. Some of usmanaged to come to terms with the generation ofelectricity resulting from a turning metal object in amagnetic field. This is why we have turbines in hy-dro electric power stations, wind turbines and nowtidal turbines. So it is irrefutable that once you talkabout electricity you are talking about magneticfields.Most biological research in this area has been cen-tred on fish and bird migrations. They are able todetect minute differences in the earth’s magneticfield and use these differences to navigate. For ex-ample, salmon use the earth’s magnetic field to mi-grate to the right harbour or estuary mouth and thenthey use chemical cues to find the exact river theywere spawned in.Research has shown that if magnets are placed inFyke nets 70% to 90% more salmon enter the netsthan nets without magnets. Magnetic material hasbeen found in the bodies of a number of migratingfish species, thus local changes in magnetic fieldscould confuse migrating snapper. Godwits use acombination of visual and magnetic cues for their in-credible migration from Siberia to New Zealand. Thismay become a relevant fact if we are consideringusing our coastlines for wind turbines. How muchare we willing to sacrifice to our power entrepreneursand our own greed for power?Invertebrates also use magnetic cues for migra-tion. Northern Hemisphere lobsters will navigate us-ing magnetic cues when 12 to 37 Km from unfamiliarlocations. New Zealand crayfish have one of themost amazing migrations in the world; they walk allthe way from Northland and everywhere in betweento Fiordland to reproduce. Local fishermen say theyregularly see them walk across the entrance to theKaipara Harbour. Would changes in the magneticfield associated with the tidal turbines at the entranceto the Kaipara Harbour affect our crayfish migration?There are two other aspects of biology that are af-fected by magnetic fields. Exposure of fertilizedeggs of a sea urchin to electromagnetic fields leadsto a dramatic loss of synchronization in cell cyclesproducing abnormal embryos. Most interestingly thiseffect is mediated by the behaviour of an enzymewhich loses 50% of its activity in electromagneticfields. If this enzyme behaves abnormally in achanged magnetic field it would seem there existsthe potential for very far ranging effects among ma-rine organisms in general as this enzyme will alsoexist in other species.Finally, for sessile organisms or nearly immobile or-ganisms in a marine environment (e.g. oysters, cor-als, sea anemones and barnacles) sexual reproduc-tion can be a problem. Some solve the problem byhaving very long penises (e.g. barnacles) but formany others the synchronization of reproduction bymoon or tide is critical. The progeny from these or-ganisms become part of the zooplankton for theirearly life stages and the zooplankton feeds every-thing from juvenile snapper to whales. Past researchhas shown that these rhythms may be upset by localelectromagnetic events.I would like the people of Kaipara to consider the lo-cal economics of the proposed tidal turbine develop-ment at the entrance to the Kaipara Harbour A re-turn of about $600 million per annum from the tidalturbines based on current power prices is probable ifthey fuel the equivalent of 250 000 homes. Althoughthis is calculated on retail rates it is a good return asCrest’s investment is only $600 million over 10 yearsand they want resource consent for 35 years. Notone of their shareholders lives in Northland, somelive overseas and the shareholding had a very limitednumber of subscribers. I would like to ask the En-vironment Court and the New Zealand Govern-ment if the destruction of the Kaipara harbour fishery,the West Coast snapper fishery and possibly all ma-rine life in the area is worth it. There are rumours inmarine research circles that a significant proportionof East Coast snapper use the Kaipara at some timein their lifetime as well. What will become of North-land’s tourism and fishing industry?Finally, reproductive effects can be difficult to detectin trials as most researchers are inclined to dismissthese effects as a consequence of a bad season. Ashort term trial of 3 years (the time it takes snapperto become reproductive if reared in the Kaipara)could miss everything.

- Colleen Jamieson

Page 8 Maungaturoto Matters

Page 9 Maungaturoto Matters

The New Vicarage

- Rodney O. Dunlop

As most in the community now know, I havemoved into the New Vicarage on Hurndall Street.Prior to Christmas we held a special gatheringwhere we expressed our thanks for all who hadmade this grand home possible and asked Godto bless both the building and all the people whowould benefit from its presence and the ministrywhich we trust will flow from it. While the Angli-can Church is at present a small group of faithfulChristians in this community, the presence of thenew Vicarage is a sign that we wish to serve thiscommunity and its people for a long time to comeand that we believe strongly in the Christian mes-sage, that God’s love made known to us in JesusChrist, still changes and transforms lives to allwho open themselves to it. We long to see othersexperiencing this “amazing grace” and are keento help anyone and everyone find for themselveswhat the power of God’s love can do, as weshare in a living relationship with the Son of God.

The move from the old Vicarage to the new wasa relatively easy task. But moving is said to beone of the most stressful activities of life, andhaving had quite a number in my life, I am awarethat it involves lots of sorting, packing, re evaluat-ing resources, off loading what’s not needed, pri-oritising things and making necessarychanges. Its often the time for a good “shakeup”. Some people hate the thought of ever hav-ing to move, because the process appears to betoo stressful, so they try to avoid it at all costs.While any ‘move’ is very challenging, it invariablegives new opportunities to make the newhouse into a new and better home than we haveever had before, and to develop new opportuni-ties of hospitality and service to others.In many ways, life is like living in a house, and forall of us, there are times when we should ‘make amove’. Life can become cluttered; we accumulatedirt and rubbish that’s unhealthy and harmful; wehoard memories that should be cleaned out; westore ‘stuff’ from the past that we no longer need;we outgrow what we have always done, andthere is a need to make a “fresh start”. The Chris-tian Message says that Jesus has come into theworld to help us through this traumatic move weall need to make. We can’t ‘fix it’ by ourselves, sowe need outside help, which only the Son of Godcan supply. A ‘spring clean’ just doesn’t do it, weneed a completely new move, where we movepriorities, values and expectations. Jesus comesby his loving spirit, to help us do the sorting,cleaning out the jealousies, bitterness and hurtsof the past. He comes to show us what old habitsneed to be discarded all together, and will helpus to build into our lives ,what will make life botheasier and fulfilling.

Every house or home is of course built for peopleto live in. Who we live with is very important. Je-sus says that he is knocking on the door of ourlives and desires to come in and live with us. Hesays that whoever opens the door and welcomesHim in, will experience his power and grace.Many can testify to the effect Jesus has when Hetakes up residence at our invitation. Like anymove , in can be traumatic, but it’s a move nooneever regrets, He helps us to begin again and dis-cover a whole new way of living and loving. Is ittime you “made a move ?”