New Zealand's kelp forests are collapsing — devoured by kina with no predators left to stop them. We're turning that problem into a solution: kina waste becomes products that fund the removals that bring the kelp back.
A single kelp forest supports hundreds of species. It absorbs carbon 20× faster than land forests. And in Aotearoa, we've lost vast stretches of it — because the creatures that kept kina in check are gone.
50% of shallow reef kelp around Little Barrier Island is now barren. Snapper and crayfish — the natural kina predators — have been fished out, and the kina have taken over.
Kelp reefs in the Hauraki Gulf store nearly $8M NZD worth of carbon. Losing them accelerates warming. Restoring them is one of the highest-impact climate actions available.
Kina graze kelp to bare rock, creating deserts underwater. Barrens are growing at 1–2% per decade. Without intervention, some regions face ecosystem collapse within 15 years.
43 urchin barren hotspots exist worldwide. Australia, Japan, California, Norway — the same crisis, different species. Kelp Helpers' model is designed to scale.
We don't just remove kina — we extract value from them, so the operation can fund itself. Every coaster sold, every tonne of concrete poured, funds the next removal.
Trained divers work consented barren areas, collecting excess kina. Each diver removes ~600kg per day.
Shells and spines go to KiwiKrete (concrete) and Calcara (ceramics). Nothing is wasted — the "problem" becomes the raw material.
Restoration Coaster Sets, KinaKrete sculptures, ceramic surfaces — each sale directly funds more removals.
Remove the kina, and kelp comes back on its own within 2 years. No planting needed. The ecosystem heals.
Autonomous drones track kelp health and generate natural capital data — unlocking biodiversity credit financing at scale.
Each initiative is a distinct entity designed to work together — roots that generate revenue, leaves that engage the world, and a charitable trust at the core holding it all together.
Backed by University of Auckland research, Live Ocean Foundation science, and international kelp restoration data.
for kelp to return after kina removal (Dr Nick Shears, UoA)
years of regeneration time saved by active kina removal
of Little Barrier Island's shallow reef is now kina barren
carbon storage value of Hauraki Gulf kelp reefs (Dr Caitlin Blain, UoA)
more effective than land forests at capturing carbon per hectare
estimated global value of kelp forests per year