The National Biodiversity Strategy Announcement on Te Mana o Kupe
On Wednesday 20th April 2022, a group from Ngāti Toa, our CEO and ELT team, the Conservation Minister Hon Kiritapu Allan along with local government representation and community groups, announced the National Biodiversity Strategy for Aotearoa on Te Mana o Kupe.
The implementation plan for the National Biodiversity Strategy aims to provide direction for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity over the next 30 years. This biodiversity protection requires iwi, crown and the community implementation.
The key objectives of this plan are:
That governance, legislation and funding system are in place to enable delivery of the strategy outcomes
Treaty partners, whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations are Rangatira and Kaitiaki
Biodiversity protection is at the heart of economic activity
Improved systems for knowledge, science, data and innovaton inform work
Matauranga māori as an intergral part of biodiversity research and management
Aotearoa New Zealand is making a meaningful contribution to biodiversity globally
Resourcing and support are enabling connected, active guardians of nature
Collaboration, co-design and partnership are delivering better outcomes
Eco systems and species are protected, restored, resilient and connected from mountain tops to ocean depths
Biological threats and pressures are reduced through management
Biodiversity provides nature-based solutions to climate change and is resilient to its effects
Natural resources are managed sustainably.
Overall it was a very successful day, and was a time for Ngāti Toa Rangatira to share and reflect on our future aspirations as mana whenua for Te Mana o Kupe which holds great cultural and historical significance to us as an iwi.
Significance of Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa (Mana Island) to Ngāti Toa
Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa is a site of great historical and cultural significance. It was discovered by Kupe and bears his name as Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa. The name refers to the ability of Kupe to cross the ocean to Aotearoa and also to commemorate his defeat of Muturangi.
Ngati Toa Rangatira have a strong historical and cultural association with this site as it was regarded as the principal kainga of Te Rangihaeata who established his claim to the island following the battle of Waiorua in 1824. The island was the site of his renowned carved whare, Kai Tangata, and the tomb of his mother Waitohi. It was also from Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa that Te Rangihaeata controlled much of Ngati Toa Rangatira's maritime trading networks through harakeke harvested from the swamps of Heretaunga and Ohariu. There are a number of Ngati Toa Rangatira wahi tapu on the island, including: pa sites; urupa; gardens; pits and middens.
Our Treaty Strategic Relationships Team
Since the Treaty Settlement in 2014, Ngāti Toa are now able to access their mana whenua rights and obligations in relation to Mana Island. While DOC and community groups, have worked towards restoration over past years, we now have the ability to express our kaitiakitanga over Te Mana o Kupe. To date our Taiao team are undertaking a number of activities to help establish the significance of reconnecting our people to our whenua whilst protecting and nurturing the biodiversity of Te Mana o Kupe for future generations.
For more information about our Taiao mahi, please visit: www.ngatitoa.iwi.nz/taiao