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TEAM Cloud, a New Zealand-based hyperscale sovereign cloud provider, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking app designed to support Moanamana, a nationwide marine conservation initiative aimed at empowering students to monitor and restore New Zealand’s aquatic ecosystems. As a sovereign cloud provider, TEAM Cloud ensures that all data remains securely hosted within New Zealand, providing a reliable and privacy-compliant platform for environmental data collection and analysis.
Developed by TEAM Cloud, the app is an essential tool within the broader Moanamana programme, which is a collaboration between Yachting New Zealand, the University of Otago’s NZ Marine Studies Centre, the Southern Skies Coastal People Centre for Research Excellence, the Black Foils - the New Zealand SailGP Team, and the Live Ocean Foundation. Through this partnership, the app offers students the technology needed to capture and analyse ocean health data, helping foster the next generation of environmental leaders.
The Moanamana app will provide students across New Zealand with the technology needed to capture and analyse data on ocean health. By integrating the app with the Moanamana initiative, the programme offers a unique educational experience that leverages cutting-edge technology, marine conservation, and community involvement to foster a generation of environmental stewards.
“We are excited to be part of Moanamana, offering technology that supports the next generation of marine conservationists. The app is a powerful tool that helps students collect valuable data that informs their learning and local conservation efforts. We hope it will inspire even more yacht clubs and schools across New Zealand to get involved and take action to restore our coastlines,” said Ian Rogers, co-founder of TEAM Cloud.
A Collaborative Effort to Protect Our Oceans
Moanamana is a transformative module within Yachting New Zealand’s RŪNĀ school engagement and community programme, which connects students, schools, and local communities with their marine environments. Through the establishment of NZL Blue Belt sites, students are actively restoring and monitoring aquatic ecosystems in collaboration with yacht clubs and local organisations.
The first NZL Blue Belt site was launched at the Worser Bay Boating Club in Wellington, where students from local schools have developed a series of impactful projects, including a penguin hotel, an underwater art gallery snorkel trail, a pāua nursery, an anemone garden, and a kelp forest. These hands-on experiences not only empower students to take ownership of their local marine environment but also contribute to a national movement for ecological restoration.
Raynor Haagh, Yachting New Zealand’s Participation and Development Manager, emphasised the programme's broader impact: “For nearly two decades, the ‘Have A Go’ schools programme has given thousands of young Kiwis the chance to experience sailing, inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s vision. With RŪNĀ, we’re expanding that legacy, reaching a broader and more diverse group of students to connect them with the marine environment. Moanamana is an exciting next step in that journey, using school-club-community partnerships to restore aquatic ecosystems and enhance the Mana of Moana.”
Real-World Scientific Engagement for Students
Students participating in Moanamana are using a variety of scientific tools to monitor marine ecosystems, with the support of the University of Otago’s NZ Marine Studies Centre. These tools, developed in collaboration with the Coastal People Southern Skies Centre for Research Excellence, allow students to collect and analyse ‘real’ data.
The data collection tools include:
- Environmental conditions measurements to record temperature, salinity and clarity of coastal water in relation to weather events.
- Marine Metre Squared surveys to monitor biodiversity in intertidal areas.
- Photogrammetry models to create digital 3D representations of the shoreline.
- Underwater transect surveys to record species along designated marine zones.
- Plankton surveys to monitor diversity of microscopic marine life.
- Baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys to monitor subtidal marine species communities.
- Settlement plate surveys to monitor settlement of marine larvae over time.
Dr Sally Carson, Director at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, highlighted the value of these educational experiences: “The strength of this programme is providing students with the opportunity to investigate place-based questions of local significance. They learn how to use scientific equipment, collect and analyse ‘real’ data, and how to be environmental citizens.”
The data collected is not only used for educational purposes but is also shared with national and international research databases, contributing to a greater understanding of ocean health and environmental changes.
A Strong Collaborative Network for Marine Conservation
The success of Moanamana is underpinned by key partnerships with organisations committed to marine conservation and education. The project has received support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Unlocking Curious Minds fund, as well as the Ministry of Education’s Enriching Local Curriculum fund. Sport NZ’s ‘In Our Backyard’ programme has also played a vital role in the development of Moanamana.
Peter Burling, skipper of the Black Foils and co-founder of Live Ocean Foundation, is an ambassador for Moanamana, alongside NZ Sailing Team member and 2024 Olympic Bronze medallist Erica Dawson. Burling stressed the importance of taking action to restore and protect the ocean: “The ocean is critical to our planet’s life support system, providing 50% of our oxygen and absorbing 90% of excess heat. But it is under threat. Aotearoa has a special role as guardians of one of the world’s most significant ocean spaces. As New Zealanders, we must act now.”
Key Partners and Their Contributions:
- TEAM Cloud: Providing the cloud infrastructure and app technology to support data collection and analysis.
- University of Otago’s NZ Marine Studies Centre and Coastal People Southern Skies Centre for Research Excellence: Ensuring scientific integrity in data collection and analysis.
- Yachting New Zealand: Leading the rollout of and promoting the Moanamana initiative across the country, supported by the Black Foils and Live Ocean Foundation.
- The success of the first NZL Blue Belt site at Worser Bay is paving the way for more clubs to implement Moanamana across New Zealand. Yachting New Zealand is actively working with additional clubs, schools, and iwi to expand the initiative and create a nationwide network of marine restoration sites.
For more information about Moanamana, or to request an interview or organise a visit to the prototype NZL Blue Belt site at Worser Bay, please contact:
Katie Gill – Marketing Manager
TEAM IM / TEAM Cloud
Email: katie.gill@teamim.nz
Website: www.teamcloud.nz