Ngāti Mutunga Taiao team and whānau members collaborate on a wide variety of conservation and biodiversity initiatives across our rohe. Following our Wai Connection mahi with Wild for Taranaki we had the opportunity for a whānau volunteer to attend the Mountains to Sea wānanga in Kaipara during June.
For Teremoana Porter-Rawiri, the four day wānanga was a valuable opportunity to learn about the freshwater and taiao mahi being led by mana whenua and communities in Kaipara.
“I was particularly inspired by the mahi led by Ngāti Rango hapū of Ngāti Whātua to reconnect people with their awa, engage rangatahi, and document mātauranga and whānau histories of the kai, whenua, and waterways. The research with whānau about how they have engaged with the awa, what it was like growing up alongside it and the changes they have witnessed throughout their lifetimes highlighted the importance of capturing these rich histories while they are still held by our whānau.
A key point emphasised was the importance of considering how this information is made accessible and how the knowledge documented can be meaningfully shared and presented back to whānau and future generations, which I strongly agree with.
This resonated with me as an uri of Ngāti Mutunga, particularly as we continue to think about how we can facilitate wānanga, engage our rangatahi, and strengthen connections to our own rohe. I see opportunities for this kind of mahi to support Ngāti Mutunga in documenting our own histories, mātauranga and relationships with our whenua and awa, while ensuring this knowledge is not only recorded but actively shared and brought to life to strengthen connections across generations.”
There was also opportunity to learn about īnanga spawning and local catchment mahi, and to gear up for her first snorkel at Te Hawere-a-Maki / Goat Island.
“I loved that their kaupapa is about making these experiences accessible and less intimidating for young people. I never thought the Tamure would come so close to us or be so friendly!
Ka nui te mihi ake ki a koutou. I am so thankful for this experience.”
Teremoana Porter-Rawiri
