Sea Urchins
How many of us have one or two green kina shells hanging around at home with their pretty spots and segmented surface they make great decoration pieces, but did you know
Sea Urchins, Kina or Sea Eggs are common in the waters around New Zealand. About 70 different species can be found with most living in the deep water while around 11 species can be found at depths of 12-14 meters.
These spherical shaped creatures covered in long and short movable spines resembling an underwater hedgehog have a mouth on the underside with a 5-sided limy structure called Aristotle’s Lantern which acts like a set of jaws grinding up food into digestible pellets.
Kina are omnivorous but prefer to feed on large brown seaweeds and kelp, large groups can eat out whole seaweed sites leaving the area barren. They are male and female, but it is difficult to tell them apart until they are cracked open. Undisturbed a kina can live for as long as 20 years.
Kina have been a traditional part of the Maori diet since before pre-European settlement.
The roe of the kina is considered a delicacy to many people and can be eaten raw straight from the shell or served as sushi or “uni” and depending on how it is prepared are low in calories, fat and quite high in protein. The flavour has been described as combination of creamy, sweet, sour salty and bitter.
When harvesting kina take care they are spiky!! Gloves are recommended.
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.5% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.4% ... It is complicated
Poll: Should complete designs be shared with the public, or should the community help shape the designs from the start?
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
We’d love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
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80.6% Community feedback and transparency is needed.
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19.4% No. This would be impossible in practice.
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