Ngāti Pāoa leads Waiheke moana restoration through rangatiratanga and local initiatives

Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust is calling for a collaborative approach to marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf, emphasizing that environmental restoration must be led by mana whenua. As political discussions regarding a proposed marine reserve off Waiheke Island continue, the iwi has shared the success of its own practical conservation initiatives within their rohe moana. Trust chair Herearoha Skipper stated that protecting the moana is about more than just drawing boundaries or prohibiting fishing. According to reports from RNZ, the iwi has been actively working on solutions to tackle marine degradation, including the implementation of rāhui and the removal of kina to improve local biodiversity. These efforts have yielded measurable environmental outcomes, with the iwi successfully re-seeding 40,000 baby paua around the island. Skipper emphasized that the trust’s focus is on restoring the mauri of the water and protecting customary relationships. She expressed a preference for a High Protection Area (HPA) over a conventional marine reserve, as an HPA would allow iwi to lead restoration efforts while recognizing their rangatiratanga. This approach ensures that management decisions are grounded in tikanga and local data gathered by the iwi themselves. While community groups have been waiting for decisions on marine reserve applications, Ngāti Pāoa has remained focused on active kaitiakitanga. Skipper noted that the iwi is ready to work with the next government to develop protection arrangements that empower mana whenua rather than locking them out of their ancestral waters. By managing the moana through a lens of rangatiratanga, the iwi aims to achieve both biodiversity growth and the maintenance of essential cultural connections.