Inaugural Endangered Species National Hui to Unite Iwi and Scientists in Kirikiriroa

Leaders in conservation, mātauranga Māori, and environmental advocacy are gathering in Kirikiriroa Hamilton this week for the inaugural Endangered Species National Hui. The event, titled Taonga Tuku Iho: Restoring Māuri Through Collective Action, is scheduled for 2 and 3 September at The Atrium, Wintec, as reported by Waatea News. The two-day gathering aims to address a critical biodiversity crisis, with data from the Endangered Species Foundation highlighting that 89 percent of indigenous freshwater fish species are currently threatened or at risk. Organisers emphasize that for Māori, the decline of these species impacts mahinga kai, whakapapa, and the ongoing exercise of kaitiakitanga. By bringing together iwi, scientists, and rangatahi, the hui seeks to integrate scientific research with traditional mātauranga Māori to protect vulnerable ecosystems. Tāngaro Tuia te Ora – Endangered Species Foundation Chief Executive Natalie Jessup noted that the hui will examine policy changes affecting environmental safeguards while focusing on practical, collaborative actions. A key session, Action for Endangered Taonga, will specifically address the plight of the critically endangered Māui dolphin. This discussion will involve tangata whenua leadership and explore the importance of data sovereignty and the role of indigenous knowledge in conservation efforts. Other focal points include the restoration of native freshwater fish and the protection of the matuku-hūrepo, or Australasian bittern. Wendy Ambury from the Love Bittern Project will present on how community action and technology are being used to save one of the country's most threatened wetland birds. The hui reinforces the message that protecting Aotearoa’s taonga species requires a unified effort between government agencies, local communities, and tangata whenua.