Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON
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ahafoka.bsky.social
Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON
@ahafoka.bsky.social
860 followers 910 following 6.5K posts
NZ / Aotearoa based. Freedive, spearfisher & volunteer crew for Hibiscus unit of Coastguard NZ Tautiaki Moana https://www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz
Coastguard stories: https://bsky.app/profile/ahafoka.bsky.social/post/3m3qrgfddx22v
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ahafoka.bsky.social
Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON @ahafoka.bsky.social · Jun 29
Inspired by a pic Jeremy @floregonian.com posted of the sea I’m starting a thread of sea / water related pictures I’ve taken. Bear with me as I add to it sporadically as I seem to have quite a few pics in my phone. Most were taken in Aotearoa New Zealand. I’ll start with my profile pic.
Tony Freediving with a seal. We are both looking at each other (I’ve got a speargun in my hand but deliberately not pointing it at the seal). Pic taken at the end of Karikari Peninsula, Northland, New Zealand
ahafoka.bsky.social
S and I are planning a trip from NZ to Europe to visit my brother and family in Spain in September. We're also tacking on a week on a French canal boat and a few days in Paris and Rome. It's going to cost several arms and legs.
February 13, 2026 at 1:38 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Entitled idiots in action …

Tutukaka, Northland

www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-adv... Digger works at Church Bay in Northland prompt public outcry and council investigation
Hapū ‘horrified’ by digger works on Northland beach; council investigating
NRC officers halted the 10 to 15 tonne digger after three complaints.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 12, 2026 at 7:03 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
And here is a follow-up reply from the One Ocean Project (the blokes who organised the trailer boats over the Auckland Harbour Bridge protest).

I'm not always a fan of these sorts of edits but this one illustrates how out of touch Shane Jones is.
#nzpol
February 12, 2026 at 5:50 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
This has shades of "don't you know who I am?"

(or in this case ... don't you know who he is? )

#nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Judge Ema Aitken must have known who she was yelling at, NZ First MP Casey Costello says
Judge Ema Aitken is accused of disrupting an event, yelling at Winston Peters and calling him a liar.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 12, 2026 at 1:56 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
This is good news.

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3609...
Fishing charter operator fined $60,000 for illegally serving crayfish to customers
An investigation found the company ran 162 amateur fishing charters, during which 1630 crayfish were taken and served to guests for lunch.
www.stuff.co.nz
February 11, 2026 at 7:42 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
We enjoyed the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival 2 years ago (found out about it the night before) so I've kept an eye out for the next one: 13/14/15 March 2026
www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz/festival-pro...
Auckland Wooden Boat Festival
Connect with maritime history on-shore and on-water. A family friendly event with something for everyone.
www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
I don’t follow American football but there’s a Tongan from Onehunga, Auckland playing in the Superbowl and my cousin Soana wrote about it here:

'Anything is possible': New Zealand-born Tongan to play in Super Bowl LX www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...
'Anything is possible': New Zealand-born Tongan to play in Super Bowl LX
The Seahawks' running back George Holani was born in Auckland and lived in Onehunga before his family migrated to the US.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 9, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON
taramcallister.bsky.social
I will be looking for an RA soon as my amazing postdoc has got a permanent role on our team. I will be looking for an emerging Māori researcher who has a social science background preferably :) dm me if you know of anyone or want to kōrero
January 23, 2026 at 8:32 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
I returned one of the prize boats to Haines Hunter HQ in Penrose, Auckland this morning.
Good luck to all who have bought lottery tickets and if you haven’t there’s still time.

www.coastguardhibiscus.org.nz/lottery
A white fibreglass boat on a trailer with other boats in the background
February 8, 2026 at 11:36 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Tonight’s view. Chamberlins Bay. Ponui Island. (East of Waiheke Is. Auckland)
Lots of yacht and launch anchor lights at night.
February 6, 2026 at 9:13 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Darren Shields (aka the "weekend spearfisherman" as Shane Jones called him) has replied. This reply illustrates how much Shane Jones is disconnected from the New Zealand voter in general.

#nzpol
February 5, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Tony Hafoka Ao NZ TON
fmacskasy.bsky.social
The Atlas Network's satrap here in Aotearoa,the Taxpayers "Union" is calling for nominations for the most wasteful govt expenditure this year.

I helpfully nominated David Seymour's MINISTRY FOR REGULATION,for wasting our money.

Happy to help.

(Lets do it!)

www.taxpayers.org.nz/jonesies_202...
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026 JONESIE WASTE AWARDS
Championing Value For Money From Every Tax Dollar
www.taxpayers.org.nz
February 2, 2026 at 9:39 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
I’m a few days late in posting this.

A week late …
Burnum Burnum with the aboriginal flag Transcript: "The Burnum Burnum Declaration England, 26th January, 1988 I, Burnum Burnum, being a nobleman of ancient Australia do hereby take possession of England on behalf of the Aboriginal people. In claiming this colonial outpost, we wish no harm to you natives, but assure you that we are here to bring you good manners, refinement and an opportunity to make a Koompartoo - 'a fresh start'. Henceforth, an Aboriginal face shall appear on your coins and stamps to signify our sovreignty over this domain. For the more advanced, bring the complex language of the Pitjantjajara; we will teach you how to have a spiritual relationship with the Earth and show you how to get bush tucker. We do not intend to souvenir, pickle and preserve the heads of 2000 of your people, nor to publicly display the skeletal remains of your Royal Highness, as was done to our Queen Truganninni for 80 years. Neither do we intend to poison your water holes, lace your flour with strychnine or introduce you to highly toxic drugs. Based on our 50,000 year heritage, we acknowledge the need to preserve the Caucasian race as of interest to antiquity, although we may be inclined to conduct experiments by measuring the size of your skulls for levels of intelligence. We pledge not to sterilise your women, nor to separate your children from their families. We give an absolute undertaking that you shall not be placed onto the mentality of government handouts for the next five generations but you will enjoy the full benefits of Aboriginal equality. At the end of two hundred years, we will make a treaty to validate occupation by peaceful means and not by conquest. Finally, we solemnly promise not to make a quarry of England and export your valuable minerals back to the old country Australia, and we vow never to destroy three-quarters of your trees, but to encourage Earth Repair Action to unite people, communities, religions and nations in a common, productive, peaceful purpose.
February 2, 2026 at 7:04 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Looks like it was a busy day on the water all around Aotearoa New Zealand …
538 trip reports between 6am and 7am
Coastguard NZ operations centre - where most of the radio operators are ⏱️ New hourly record for trip reports and our busiest day of 2026 so far! 👏 Between 6am and 7am, our National Operations Centre and volunteers across the country logged a huge 538 trip reports - nine every minute and a brand‑new hourly record, beating our previous highs of 487 (7 Feb 2025) and 483 (30 Jan 2022). And we’re not done yet. With a few hours still to go, today is already our busiest day of 2026, with close to 4,000 trip reports. We have also recorded more than 700 bar crossing trip reports, only the second time in history we’ve ever hit that number. Thanks to everyone who checked in today before heading out, and a special shout‑out to our volunteers on and off the water who gave up their own day in the sun so others could enjoy theirs. 👍 If you were out on the water and have photos to share, we’d love to see them in the comments! ☀️🚤
February 1, 2026 at 12:12 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Yesterday, while S & I were at a birthday, the Coastguard pager went off at 2:30pm. I tapped “Unavail” as I was too far away.

It was “Rescue 2 skipper please call Ops” which usually means there’s something unusual - and Hibiscus Rescue 1 was already on the water.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/army-bomb...
Watch: 'It shook our house' - Bomb squad blows up device at Auckland beach, rattling locals
A resident said their house shook after an explosion at Okoromai Bay just before 6pm.
www.nzherald.co.nz
January 31, 2026 at 7:44 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Looks like half of Westhaven has come to Bon Accord tonight …

I think there’s some Yacht Squadron weekend thing

Hardly any room here so I contacted the Auckland Coastguard unit and borrowed their mooring at the head of the harbour.
January 31, 2026 at 7:29 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
@snugbucket.bsky.social and @ninjakitty.bsky.social this may interest you.
January 30, 2026 at 7:42 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
This is good news … although we don’t know what’s driving the change

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Caulerpa makes dramatic retreat in areas but 'sure as hell, this beast will be back'
Carpets of caulerpa, described as the world's worst marine pest, have mysteriously disappeared on a massive scale in Northland and the Hauraki Gulf.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 30, 2026 at 6:21 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Shane Jones is doing his best to lose the votes of the recreational fishing sector.

This clip is being posted all over various platforms and the reactions are 99% bad for Jones and New Zealand First

#nzpol
January 30, 2026 at 12:05 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
We had a Coastguard tasking late this afternoon and it was so calm on the way back to Whangaparaoa that I messaged S and suggested we take the boat out for a BBQ dinner …

Currently anchored between Tiritiri Matangi and Wooded Is. (it’s a fair bit windier but we are tucked in a calm spot)
January 29, 2026 at 6:04 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Feels like changes are happening for my very elderly neighbour.

He’s had an old school Trans Am in his garage since I moved here 5 years ago and a flat bed tow truck is here loading it as I type. (It’s looking a bit dusty)
January 28, 2026 at 11:47 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Someone spent a bit of money on signage and forgot to proofread…

(Either that or Spary Taning is a new cosmetic treatment)
A sign outside a cosmetic business in Auckland, New Zealand that lists various treatments: Waxing Facials Skin Care Tinting Gel Nails Spary Taning Threading LiLash
January 26, 2026 at 8:35 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
I don’t do the herald daily quizzes very often so was surprised at today’s result.
Screenshot showing 10/10 result for the morning quiz
January 25, 2026 at 7:09 PM
ahafoka.bsky.social
Rachel Hessey, who was until recently President of Coastguard Hibiscus (Whangaparaoa) and one of our 6 skippers was on Radio New Zealand this morning talking about what we do and water safety in general.

www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Safety update from Coastguard Hibiscus
Coastguard is asking everyone to be prepared before hitting the water.
www.rnz.co.nz
January 25, 2026 at 3:06 AM
ahafoka.bsky.social
This is awesome! I've seen black coral at the Poor Knights (east coast of Northland) while on SCUBA at over 35m depth and freediving in Fiordland at around 10m (where the freshwater layer on the surface creates similar conditions to being below 30m).
January 22, 2026 at 2:51 AM