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) What is Manaaki Taha Moana research project? Who funds MTM and who are the collaborators? What and who guides our efforts? What are the projects within the case study? 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? 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. 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. With a focus on the Horowhenua case study, our Māori researchers and kaitiaki (including elders) meld Mātauranga Māori or aspects of cultural, spiritual and local knowledge of place to help rehabilitate once significant wetlands, groundwater aquifers, streams and rivers to the marine, within significant ancestral or cultural landscapes.

Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for iwi and hapū Māori (MTM) 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. 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 marine, and the degradation processes affecting them.

Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for iwi and hapū Māori (MTM) Who funds MTM and who are the collaborators? MTM case studies and collaborative are funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology from Our Horowhenua case study comes through… Taiao Raukawa Environmental Resource Unit A Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga agency that supports hapū and iwi affiliates in environmental resource management, legal aspects, and cultural heritage matters and projects. School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University, Palmerston North Specialists in ecological economics, a whole-of-system economic valuing of ecosystems and their benefits to human wellbeing. Waka Taiao environmental group Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga hapū and iwi, for Tauranga Moana, Bay of Plenty. Wakadigital, Tauranga Māori IT experts in visual/mapping innovations; developers of Kapowai 3D camera; spatial modeling tables, databases and research repositories for websites. Cawthron Institute based in Nelson Experts in water science, hydrology and water health; freshwater ecology and tidal- zone shellfish population and surveys School of Architecture and Design, Victoria University, Wellington Landscape Architecture staff and Masters students participate in the Rae ki te Rae/Face to Face Bicultural Design Studio. Since 2011, students have been engaging in wānanga on local marae, learning of Māori research methodologies to inspire and visualise projects for the Horowhenua case study.

Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for iwi and hapū Māori (MTM) What guides our efforts? Engaging with Mātauranga Māori or local knowledge systems that have been generated inter- generationally 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. Engaging in transformative collaboration with all participants. 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 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 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 Kahuwera wetland to Lake Waiorongomai and stream to sea, ; MTM ongoing 2010 ; LA students 2011, PHD project for Aroha Spinks 2011; Final approval to fence lake, November 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 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 ( ). 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 Project supported by MTM research as part of the wetland case study.

Rangi Markus Heke talking to LA students overlooking Te Hākari wetland in Nga Whenua Rahui has been supporting Te Hākari Dune wetland since 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 This was the day the trustees of Waiorongomai all agreed to the revitalisation project for the Lake and stream to sea.

Lake Waiorongomai Lake Waiorongomai 2012 Hikoi with research team in 2010.

Manaaki Taha Moana: Enhancing Coastal ecosystems for iwi and hapū Māori (MTM) What is planned for the near future? 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. Kuku Ōhau Estuary frontage revitalisation site preparation starts in June Shellfish and population survey underway from November 2013 and into 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 artists, water scientists, Landscape Architects and designers to work on a large scale water exhibition. Our research team think this is a pretty good idea to disseminate the MTM research findings in innovative ways.

See website for details and views of Tauranga Moana using the Kapowai (dragonfly) technology. See also 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.