Tauranga's living sea wall

In May 2024, 100 strange rocky structures were installed along Tauranga's harbour shoreline. These flower-shaped artificial rockpools, nicknamed 'sea pods', provide prime waterfront real estate for marine life – from colourful sea slugs to sneezing sponges. Justine Murray finds out how 'living sea walls' are bringing back biodiversity to urban harbours around the world, and joins a marine scientist to check out what creatures have moved into Tauranga's sea pods.

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In this episode:

00:49 – What is a sea pod?
06:27 – Living sea walls in Sydney with Dr Aria Lee

10:25 – Sea pods around the world and in Tauranga

13:06 – Monitoring marine life in the sea pods with David Culliford

20:50 – Port of Tauranga

21:48 – Looking for critters in the sea pods
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Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details