Dr Huhana Smith
Manaaki Taha Moana:
Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for iwi and hapū
Māori
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
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What is Manaaki Taha Moana research project?
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Who funds MTM and who are the collaborators?
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What and who guides our efforts?
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What are the projects within the case study?
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What is planned for the near future?
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
What is Manaaki Taha Moana research project?
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MTM is a dynamic, iwi and hapū led-action research
project, which works collaboratively with five other entities.
Manaaki Taha Moana means “caring for natural, coastal systems to sea.
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MTM has two case studies within Te Ika a Maui /North Island,
a 17 km stretch of coastline between Hokio and Ōtaki,
Horowhenua, and Tauranga Moana, Bay of Plenty.
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With a focus on the Horowhenua case study,
our Māori researchers and kaitiaki (including elders) meld
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
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As the Research Leader for the Horowhenua case study,
our team works with local Māori kaitiaki and non-Māori landholders;
all entities with an interest in the region including two Regional
Councils; two Local Councils, the Department of Conservation;
Royal Forest and Bird Society; other local environmental groups;
PhD and Masters students; and other experts in ecology,
coastal processes and hazards, landscape architecture design
and archaeo-seismology.
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The key research aim of MTM is to:
Restore and enhance coastal ecosystems and their
cultural services of importance to iwi/hapū, through
a better knowledge of these water bodies into the
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
Who funds MTM and
who are the
collaborators?
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
What guides our efforts?
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Engaging with Mātauranga Māori or local knowledge systems that have been generated intergenerationally and over time by local hapū resource gatherers. Their tikanga or customary protocols
and knowledge underpins and supports the hydrological, technological and ecological sciences.
Exercising kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship) through hands-on rehabilitation projects for
dune systems, dune wetlands and lakes, rivers, streams and ground water systems to sea.
Using Māori Methodologies such as: Whakapapa or genealogical reference systems that explain
intricate human/nature relationships; Hikoi or walking and talking hui; Oral narratives or local
knowledge of place (with guidance from kaumatua) and rae ki te rae or face to face dialogue with
our Māori farming boards for best practice sustainable dairying. We return also to tikanga that
guided sustainable resource use in the past, more vital than ever, today.
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Engaging in transformative collaboration with all participants.
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Being solutions focused despite the complexity.
What are the projects within the case study?
Waiwiri Stream microbial source tracking for effluent contamination in
water and shellfish
2010 ongoing; LA students 2011; He Tini Awa start up funding for Waiwiri mouth in March 2013
Ōhau River Loop rehabilitation for water and inanga/whitebait health
Initial reports 1996; riparian planting 2006; MTM report 2011; fish friendly flood gate 2013; Cawthron
2013-2014 for Phase 2 rehabilitation, with ongoing support from Horizons Regional Council
Kuku Ōhau Estuary frontage rehabilitation
Support for kaumatua, LA students 2011; locals, MTM, Tahamata and have He Tini Awa start up funding
in March 2013
Te Hākari Dune Wetland restoration and buffer wetlands towards Waikawa River
2002-2013 support from Nga Whenua Rahui and MTM, 2013; ongoing support with other entities; LA
students 2011;
Factors Affecting Toheroa-Tohemanga (Paphies ventricosa) from Hokio to Waitohu Streams
MTM and Cawthron, 2010 ongoing
Health and population of shellfish survey
MTM, Mandated Iwi Organisation for Raukawa Fisheries, Cawthron from November 2013-2014
Kahuwera wetland to Lake Waiorongomai and stream to sea,
1992-1994; MTM ongoing 2010 ; LA students 2011, PHD project for Aroha Spinks 2011; Final approval to
fence lake, November 2012.
MTM supports Hokio projects for Muāūpoko and Ngāti
Pareraukawa for Hokio Stream from Lake Punahau
(Lake Horowhenua) at Levin
Manaaki Taha Moana and Taiao Raukawa
support Hokio Stream to beach projects,
coastal dunes protection and enhancement
and shellfish monitoring for health and
population for Hokio A Trust, hapū/whanau of
Muāūpoko and Muāūpoko Tribal Authority.
Waiwiri Stream
mouth, near Levin
Waste Water
treatment plant “The Pot”.
A coastal Māori land
block straddles the
waterway, which
has received start
up funds for riparian
buffering and
revitalisation of its
mahinga mataitai
values.
Sampling locations for microbial tracking effluent in the Waiwiri
Stream. Red markers indicate shellfish samples; cyan and blue
markers indicate surface water samples from the Waiwiri Stream or a
direct tributary; and white markers indicate surface water samples
taken from Lake Waiwiri (Papaitonga).
Lake Waiwiri and Stream to sea rehabilitation
project. MTM team working with all landholders and
entities.
Click icon to add picture
Results: Presence / Absence of faecal markers,
whether human, bovine or ruminant markers found.
Predominant faecal contamination results in poor water quality
and inedible shellfish. Cattle effluent is the main culprit.
Click icon to add picture
Water sampling
teams at sampling
sites at at Lake
Waiwiri
(Papaitonga), at
drain and at Waiwiri
stream between
June and September
2011 and 2012.
First shellfish sampling of tuatua at Waiwiri mouth, and lessons where not to drive!
Subsequent shellfish testing later in 2011 and 2012 far more successful with customary
fisheries
and other kaitiaki, pictured below. Samples couriered to Cawthron Institute in Nelson.
A section of Waiwiri Stream is currently fenced, with riparian planting. The project by Horizons
Regional Council began in 2011 and was completed in 2012. This should happen for the entire
length, and for tributaries or drains flowing into it.
Ōhau River Loop. The tide has been
returned to the cut off meander (19721974). This will help replenish a once
revered whitebait habitat within Tahamata
farm. Our 2011 MTM research report and
recommendations are now supported by
the farm board.
Horizons Regional Council paid for fish
friendly flood gate and will provide winter
riparian planting for 2013.
Te Hākari Dune Wetland in Tahamata
Incorporation, with neighbouring
Incoporation of Ransfield wetlands
towards Waikawa River, adjacent to
Taratoa Pekapeka Ahuwhenua Trust
lands to sea.
Taratoa Pekapeka Ahu Whenua Trust Block, looking to sea.
Significant rare plant biodiversity within.
Looking to Te Hakari and Ransfield’s dune wetlands, that adjoins
the Taratoa Pekapeka block
Ransfield’s dune wetlands, and part of Taratoa Pekapeka block
Te Whitinga Aroha Pumau Bridge, built by
Nga Whenua Rahui Kaitiaki Cadets in September 2012.
Project supported by MTM research as part of the wetland case study.
Rangi Markus Heke talking to LA students overlooking Te Hākari wetland in 2011. Nga
Whenua
Rahui has been supporting Te Hākari Dune wetland since 2000. Today we benefit
from the Nga
Whenua Rahui training and up skilling in all matters kaitiakitanga for these young
Māori land
managers and future leaders.
Waikawa dune systems and areas for
Shellfish replenishment.
Working with local kaitiaki, resource
gatherers and Cawthron Institute adjacent to
Waikawa Beach settlement.
This area will also be part of shellfish health
and population survey starting November
2013 and summer of 2014.
Toheroa hui with Cawthron Institute, kaitiaki and MTM team researcher Moira Poutama from Kuku
and Manakau/Waikawa, 7 November 2011.
James Fischer’s poster design
for MTM.
Landscape Architecture student
2011
In March 2013 he won a
national award for the fuller
enhanced design of this idea.
Kaitiaki teams, Aroha Spinks (PHD
Student and MTM researcher) working
with kaumatua, TWOR, specialists and
Landscape Architecture students over
rehabilitation of Lake Waiorongomai, its
stream to sea and neigbouring Kahuwera
Wetlands.
Aroha Spinks, MTM researcher and PhD student for Lake
Waiorongomai talking to local kaitiaki, environmental groups and
local residents in region on MTM research project, 24th November
2012. This was the day the trustees of Waiorongomai all agreed to
the revitalisation project for the Lake and stream to sea.
Lake Waiorongomai 2012
Hikoi with research team in 2010.
Lake Waiorongomai
Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for
iwi and hapū Māori (MTM)
What is planned for the near future?
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Waka Digital, Tauranga will help Horowhenua case study with use of the Kapowai 3D
camera for our coastal region. We can fly over coast and up streams to get full visual
coverage of projects.
Detailed banner sized maps by Graduate Landscape Architect, Jaime Macfarlane are being
completed for coastal Hokio to Waitohu and to the foothills region. The visual map will be
used to discuss health and economic benefits for people, lands, waterways and stock, and
future planning with all entities.
A cost benefit analysis by Masters student Tene Tangatatai (Ngāti Kikopiri) for Waiwiri
catchment will combine with the map to show what 5,10 and 20 metre riparian retirement
looks like to landholders and what the calculated costs might be.
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Kuku Ōhau Estuary frontage revitalisation site preparation starts in June 2013.
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Shellfish and population survey underway from November 2013 and into 2014.
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Initial discussions are underway with leading institutions in New Zealand such as Museum
of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa; Massey University’s Toioho ki Āpiti, Palmerston North
and Creative Art Schools, Wellington campus; Victoria University’s School of Architecture
and Design. A small team is creating a concept description for key experts, contemporary
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See www.mtm.ac.nz website for details and views of Tauranga Moana
using the Kapowai (dragonfly) technology.
See also www.taiaoraukawa.co.nz for other projects in region, however
this site is undergoing redevelopment at present.]
Whakakotahitanga:
Manaaki Taha Moana is all about entities, kaitiaki and local communities
coming together with common purpose, for environmental rehabilitation, human health
and wellbeing of all communities.