Te Roopu Taiao

“Mana Ahuriri Trust stands as kaitiaki of our whenua and moana, from Te Whanganui ā Orotu to Ahuriri Station. Our Te Taiao work weaves history, restoration, and hope—join us in caring for our taonga.”

Looking forward to 2025, Mana Ahuriri Trust is poised to build on a year of significant environmental progress and resilience, guided by a deep connection to Te Taiao—the natural environment—as the foundation for the spiritual, physical, and cultural wellbeing of their people and rohe. The past year marked a shift from planning to action, with the finalized Taiao Strategy Plan and Te Muriwai o Te Whanga (TMOTW) Masterplan now serving as clear roadmaps for kaitiakitanga (guardianship). Efforts in cyclone recovery, biodiversity restoration, and cultural advocacy have strengthened their role as mana whenua, despite challenges like Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation and rapid development pressures.

In the coming year, the focus will be on scaling up restoration across critical ecosystems, enhancing cultural monitoring, and deepening community engagement. The taiao team will tackle emerging challenges like fast-track consent processes while advancing ambitious goals. Key initiatives include developing a Mana Ahuriri GIS mapping system, leading water monitoring across the takiwā with a comprehensive system rooted in cultural and scientific principles, and securing funding to amplify mana whenua leadership in environmental care. Biodiversity efforts will continue, building on successes like pest control in Kaweka and Heipipi and collaboration with DOC and councils in the Ruahine, Kaimanawa, and Kaweka Ranges.

Success in 2025 will hinge on relationships—with whānau, councils, and stakeholders—bringing fresh energy to protect wāhi taonga (treasured sites) and align land use with cultural values. With the support of hapū, kaumātua, and partners, Mana Ahuriri aims to ensure a sustainable, vibrant future for their mokopuna (grandchildren), reinforcing their commitment to a thriving Taiao for generations to come.

Find out what the weather is doing in Ahuriri at the Met Service.

Check to see if your favourite swimming spot is safe to swim at.  Land and Air Aotearoa.

Make sure your kai moana is safe to eat at the Ministry of Primary Industries.

MANA AHURIRI TAIAO STRATEGY

Mana Ahuriri’s environmental strategy for Te Whanganui-ā-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary), centered on the vision that the estuary’s health supports the health, wellbeing, and culture of the people. It is guided by core values: Whanaungatanga (relationships), Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), Pono (integrity), Whakapakari (enhancement), and Kotahitanga (unity). The strategy is organized into five key pillars (Pou), each with objectives, indicators, and priority actions to achieve sustainable environmental management.

Wai (Waterways):

    • Objective: Restore and manage waterways for ecosystem health, water quality, and traditional practices.
    • Indicators: Land and freshwater management practices are recognized, enabling kaitiaki participation and customary practices.
    • Priority Actions: Stocktake the environment, reduce point source pollution, plant native species, and develop flood protection schemes aligned with cultural values.

Moana (Ocean):

    • Objective: Ensure water quality supports abundant and diverse kaimoana (seafood) sustainably.
    • Indicators: Marine ecosystems are healthy, supporting kaitiakitanga and access to kaimoana.
    • Priority Actions: Manage marine health, monitor coastal environments, and address issues like boat discharges to enhance connectivity and cultural practices.

Biodiversity:

    • Objective: Preserve and restore native habitats to support resilient biodiversity and customary practices.
    • Indicators: Taonga species are abundant, supporting harvest and inter-generational mātauranga (knowledge) transfer.
    • Priority Actions: Restore habitats, monitor biosecurity risks, and enhance connectivity for native species like birds, wai, and moana.

Waahi Tapu (Sacred Sites):

    • Objective: Protect and restore waahi tapu, ensuring their history and significance are respected within the community.
    • Indicators: Increased awareness, education, and knowledge transfer within hapū and the community about sites of significance.
    • Priority Actions: Map sites, fence waahi tapu, and promote awareness through community engagement.
Te Pakanga o Pakake

Mātauranga & Capacity/Capability:

    • Objective: Ensure Mana Ahuriri are connected to their environment, proactively participating in management and decision-making as kaitiaki.
    • Indicators: Decision-making is informed by mātauranga Māori, with environmental knowledge recorded and adapted to changes.
    • Priority Actions: Identify and collate mātauranga sources, secure access to sites, and develop quarterly mātauranga reports, fostering partnerships with iwi, hapū, and external stakeholders.

The Taiao Strategy also lists enablers to support these efforts, including the Deed of Settlement, Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga, Regional Planning Committee, Mana Whakahono a Rohe, Cultural Impact Assessments, and Transfer of Powers (s33 RMA), ensuring a structured approach to environmental stewardship and community collaboration.

 

MANA AHURIRI STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS

Ahuriri Strategic Relationships outlines the collaborative framework for Mana Ahuriri Hapū and Marae to fulfill their kaitiakitanga (guardianship) role for Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui-ā-Orotū, guided by values of Whanaungatanga (relationships), Pono (integrity), Whakapakari (enhancement), and Kotahitanga (unity). It identifies key stakeholders and their roles in supporting environmental stewardship within the rohe:

Ahuriri Hapū and Marae:

    • Facilitate effective, productive working relationships with stakeholders.
    • Advocate for hapū and marae rights and interests as kaitiaki.
    • Support hapū and marae to lead their own kaupapa taiao (environmental initiatives).

Te Taiwhenua o te Whanganui ā Orotū:

  • Work with Taiwhenua to build capacity and capability of whānau, hapū and marae to progress their taiao aspirations.
  • Support and advocate for workforce development for nga uri o Ahuriri Hapū to carry out kaupapa taiao within their takiwā

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

    • Manage natural resources, climate change, and natural hazards.
    • Engage with Mana Ahuriri using principles and processes determined by Mana Ahuriri.
    • Endorse or prepare planning documents like the Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga Master Plan.
    • Collaborate on regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms, including environmental monitoring.

Local Territorial Authorities (Napier City Council and Hastings District Council):

    • Provide local services, urban/rural planning, and waste management.
    • Engage using Mana Ahuriri principles and processes.
    • Endorse or prepare planning documents and collaborate on regulatory/non-regulatory mechanisms.

Department of Conservation (DOC):

    • Confirm actions for the Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga Master Plan and Conservation Management Strategy.
    • Engage and collaborate on management and restoration efforts.

Private Sector:

    • Engage with Mana Ahuriri using their principles and processes.
    • Conduct Cultural Values Assessments and Cultural Impact Assessments.
    • Support cultural and environmental monitoring and collaborate on restoration projects, capacity, and capability building (e.g., training, mentoring).

Research Partners:

    • Develop and fund research programs.
    • Build capacity and capability through partnerships (e.g., training, mentoring, internships).

Education Providers:

    • Build capacity and capability through partnerships (e.g., training, mentoring, scholarship programs).
    • Develop mātauranga-based curricula, education, and outreach programs.

NGOs:

    • Engage and collaborate on projects.
    • Build capacity and capability through partnerships (e.g., training, mentoring).

The strategy emphasizes a collaborative, values-driven approach to ensure hapū and marae can progress their taiao aspirations, advocate for workforce development, and lead environmental initiatives within their takiwā, supported by strong partnerships with regional councils, local authorities, conservation bodies, private sectors, researchers, educators, and NGOs.

 

Te Muriwai o te Whanga

The Ahuriri Hapū Claims Settlement Act 2021 and Deed of Settlement established a new joint committee called Te Komiti Muriwai o te Whanga (Te Komiti). Te Komiti has representatives from Mana Ahuriri, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and the Department of Conservation.

The purpose of Te Komiti is to promote the protection and enhancement of the environmental, economic, social, spiritual, historical and cultural values of Te Muriwai o te Whanga for present and future generations.

Te Komiti has many functions, including establishing a vision for Te Muriwai o te Whanga; promoting understanding of and advocating for Te Muriwai o te Whanga; monitoring and reporting on the health of Te Muriwai o te Whanga; working alongside stakeholders; and seeking funding opportunities to support the health and wellbeing of Te Muriwai o te Whanga.

In the early establishment of Te Komiti, the primary focus is on the preparation of Te Muriwai o te Whanga Plan. Whilst an official vision, objectives and desired outcomes have not yet been finalised, it is clear from early korero that Te Komiti are fixed on a future that sees the restoration of the mauri of Te Whanga, and a return to the days when Te Whanga provided for its people. 

Te Muriwai o te Whanga Website

Mana Ahuriri Trust’s (MAT) strategic plan for managing and restoring Te Whanganui-ā-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary), guided by the vision: “Ko te hauora o Te Whanganui-ā-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) e tautoko ana i te orangatanga me te ahurea o te iwi” (The health of Te Whanganui-ā-Orotū supports the health, wellbeing, and culture of the people). It is structured into five key areas (Kaupapa)—Wai (Waterways), Moana (Ocean), Biodiversity, Waahi Tapu (Sacred Sites), Mātauranga (Knowledge), and Capacity & Capability—and organized into three phases with associated costs and responsibilities.

 Phase One: Initial Assessment and Planning

  • Wai: Conduct a state-of-the-environment stocktake, establish monitoring for cultural and ecological indicators, and initiate Mana Whakahono a Rohe (MWR). Responsibilities: MAT, Te Komiti, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC).
  • Moana: Review coastal discharge consents, develop a Taiao Management Plan (Moana), and inventory rohe for restoration and partnerships. Responsibilities: MAT, HBRC, Napier City Council (NCC), Hastings District Council (HDC).
  • Biodiversity: Take stock and monitor taonga species, develop a Conservation Management Strategy, and identify knowledge holders. Responsibilities: MAT, HBRC, DOC, NGOs.
  • Waahi Tapu: Identify knowledge holders, map sites with correct names and mātauranga, and launch the Mana Ahuriri Discovery Protocol. Responsibilities: MAT.
  • Mātauranga: Collate existing mātauranga sources, conduct quarterly wānanga, and identify key taiao aspirations. Responsibilities: MAT.
  • Capacity & Capability: Establish a Taiao Unit and networks for processing consent applications. Responsibilities: MAT.

Phase Two: Development and Engagement

  • Wai: Identify and negotiate sites for restoration, develop the Taiao Management Plan (Freshwater) and Ahuriri Catchment Plan, and engage on freshwater issues. Responsibilities: MAT, HBRC, Te Komiti.
  • Moana: Develop a cultural monitoring regime for coastal discharges, engage on regional coastal submissions, and create an Environment Plan. Responsibilities: MAT, HBRC, Te Komiti.
  • Biodiversity: Support restoration projects, identify biodiversity connectivity needs, and design ecological corridors for species movement. Responsibilities: MAT, DOC, NGOs, Developers.
  • Waahi Tapu: Conduct cultural values assessments for subdivision consents, create cultural impact assessment templates, and establish monitoring for earthworks consents. Responsibilities: MAT, NCC, HDC, Developers.
  • Mātauranga: Disseminate mātauranga resources, develop a data repository system, and establish an information-sharing protocol. Responsibilities: MAT.
  • Capacity & Capability: Identify iwi and hapū collaboration opportunities, develop cultural impact assessment templates, and explore research partnerships. Responsibilities: MAT.

Phase Three: Ongoing Implementation and Leadership

  • Wai: Continue cultural and environmental monitoring, audits, and implementation of plans under Mana Whakahono a Rohe. Responsibilities: MAT, HBRC, NCC, HDC.
  • Moana: Offer hapū training programs (e.g., environmental monitoring, diving, boating), and lead a marine cultural health program. Responsibilities: MAT, Tertiary Education Providers, Research Institutions.
  • Biodiversity: Conduct ongoing biodiversity audits, restoration projects, pest monitoring, and education led by Mana Ahuriri. Responsibilities: MAT, DOC, NGOs, Developers, Consent Holders.
  • Waahi Tapu: Fence and revegetate waahi tapu, promote sites of significance within the community, and protect sites under Mana Whakahono a Rohe. Responsibilities: MAT, Te Komiti, HBRC, Consent Holders, NGOs, Developers.
  • Mātauranga: Manage environmental key issues identified by Mana Ahuriri, support mātauranga Māori research programs. Responsibilities: MAT.
  • Capacity & Capability: Foster iwi and hapū collaborations, develop research partnerships, and offer internships, scholarships, and programs. Responsibilities: MAT.

Costs & Responsibility

  • Costs and responsibilities are shared across MAT, HBRC, NCC, HDC, DOC, NGOs, developers, consent holders, research institutions, and tertiary education providers, depending on the phase and kaupapa. The plan emphasizes collaboration to achieve sustainable environmental management and cultural preservation.