CHADDY'S CHARTERS Eco-tourism and Marine History

One of the most interesting ventures that involves the Marine Park is run by a guy called Dave Chadfield his is a company called Chaddy's Charters.
Dave is an ex-fisherman that runs an old lifeboat "Rescue 3" which takes groups on a tour of the Marine Park. This has got to be one of the most entertaining and interesting trips that I know of.
Dave himself, nicknamed Happy Chaddy has a wealth of knowledge on the Marine park and its history, throughout the tour he does a narrative on the many points of interest as the trip meanders around the inner and outer island groups.One of the exciting parts comes right at the beginning, when the boat is launched from the boatshed down the slipway into the ocean as you will see in the image.
Some of the highlights are the seal colony, the history of Dicky Barret a whaler of years gone by and all the interesting history that makes up Port Taranaki and the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park. There are many other bonuses that come with the trip that I'll leave you to find out for yourself if you ever get the chance.

RAINBOW ABALONE Paua pearls: a new industry
This is a virtually new form of aquaculture producing from their own stock of Abalone (or Paua) a pearl, which is being sold on the local and international market.
When the Abalone reaches partial maturity a seed is implanted and from that a pearl is grown. The beautiful colours and texture of the inside of an Abalone shell is reproduced in the pearl making it very desirable for jewelry.
Left over shells are turned into handcrafted jewelry, Abalone is also a delicacy so small quantities of the meat is marinated and sold

.Paua shell