The term sustainability appears in almost every article, paper or political statement one sights these days. Wisely, the President of Engineering New Zealand, Dr Tim Fisher, highlights a vision for New Zealand based on 'resilient, sustainable economies and communities' (EG, September, 2022). For over 30 years the New Zealand Coastal Society has brought much needed focus to the huge and diverse shoreline of Aotearoa. Ecologists and engineers, especially, hold the key that can continue to translate this vision and focus into pragmatic reality; for what is needed most of all today are ways to measure sustainability and case studies of sustainability in action.
