Te Whare Māta o ngā Kīrearea - Predator Free Wānanga for Māori
Wednesday 18 October 2023
Christchurch (in-person and on-line)
Protecting our ngāhere is central to who we are as kaitiaki. This hui aims to showcase what Māori are doing to eradicate predators, introduce whānau to cool science and tools, and importantly discuss how tangata whenua contribute to the goal of becoming predator free by 2050.
The health and wellbeing of our ecosystems directly impacts the health and wellbeing of us as people. In Aotearoa New Zealand possums, stoats, rats, deer and other predators are having a devastating impact on our native species, reducing the mauri of our taiao and therefore its ability to support life. The loss of biological diversity impacts not only the air we breathe and the water we drink, but also the food we eat, the medicines we create, and our ability to handle or recover from natural disasters.
The Predator Free 2050 initiative, which is one component of addressing biodiversity loss, aims to eradicate key predators by 2050. The success of this initiative relies heavily on a coalition of the willing that includes communities, scientists, decision makers and investors. It also relies on Tangata Whenua, for whom the success of this initiative could mean the survival of many of our key taonga and much of our culture and language.
At this hui, the current state of the Predator Free 2050 initiative was discussed, as we heard from key people in the Predator Free system. We also heard whānau talk about what they are doing at place to eradicate predators from their whenua, learned some pest control methods and talked to researchers about their work.
Please take time to review the recorded presentations. This kaupapa would benefit Māori working in the biosecurity, biodiversity, and conservation spaces, who want to learn more about pest management.
RECORDINGS AVAILABLE BELOW:
Te Taiawatea Moko-Painting
Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou, Waikato, Tūhourangi, Kūki ʻĀirani
Pou Whakahaere Kaupapahere | Policy Manager at TTW
Co-Chair | Predator Free 2050 Kaitiakitanga Collaboration Rōpū
and
Tame Malcolm
Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ngāraranui, Tapuika, Ngāti Ruanui
Deputy Director-General Treaty Partnerships | Department of Conservation
Te Taiawatea introduced the Kaitiakitanga Rōpū and its work, and she outlined the goals of wānanga. Tame shared the whakaaro behind the name of the wānanga, introduced the upcoming Kura Reo o te Taiao, and gave a brief context re DOC's Predator Free approach.
Their talk is here: "Scene Setting, as part of the Te Whare Māta o ngā Kīrearea - Predator Free Wānanga for Māori"
Mananui Ramsden
Kāti Huikai te hapū, Ko Ngāi Tahu te Iwi
Chairman | Te Rūnaka o Koukourarata
Mananui was the world's first ever council-appointed advisor on Indigenous land management. Mananui is a very engaging speaker and was pivotal to ground our conversation in te rohe o Ngāi Tahu.
In his talk, Mananui draws on whakapapa from Te Waipounamu and the origins of kupu to the whenua.
Karla Akuhata
Ngāti Awa
Kaiwhakaere Whakapā | Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
With almost two decades experience in journalism and communications, Karla joined the team at Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa initially as the Senior Communications and Engagement Advisor to its possum eradication project, Korehāhā Whakahau. The project is the first Iwi-led Predator Free 2050 Limited large-scale project and it seeks to eradicate possums for more than 4000 hectares in the Ngāti Awa rohe. However, the central focus of Korehāhā Whakahau is to build the capacity and capability of Ngāti Awa to be kaitiaki on their whenua and, as a result, the aspiration is to create a biodiversity workforce grounded in the tangata whenua and ready to take a lead role in protecting and enhancing our country’s natural resources. Earlier this year, Karla worked to establish the first Communications and Engagement Team within Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and continues to support Korehāhā Whakahau through this role.
See Karla's talk here: "Korehāhā Whakahau - an exemplar of how Iwi can support the future of predator free".
Rawiri Walsh
Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
Trustee | Taranaki Kiwi Trust
Protecting our native manu and our native taonga, is what Rawiri is determined to do. Rawiri is a Trustee of the Taranaki Kiwi Trust and presented in his role as part of Capital Kiwi. His talk is here: "Kiwi Protection".
Kirihi Nohotima-Hunia
Kaitiaki Ranger | Hem of Remutaka Project - Jobs for Nature
Kirihi is a Kaitiaki Ranger working on a Jobs for Nature project called 'The Hem of Remutaka', a coalition of four major partners, including Taranaki Whānui, DOC, Greater Wellington, Conservation Volunteers NZ and multiple stakeholders.
Access Rawiri's talk here: "The Hem of Remutaka".
Mahuru Wilcox,
Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Ranginui
Kairangahau Māori | Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Mahuru is passionate about supporting Iwi and hapū to engage in research that supports wellbeing of communities and their taiao. She and her fellow presenters would like viewers to note that the lure trial data spoken about in this presentation has yet to be analysed or published. Therefore, the results presented for visual lures in this video should be considered preliminary.
Hear Mahuru and her colleagues talk here: "Eradication Science: getting the last 5% and supporting Iwi and hapū to achieve their aspirations."
Tammy Tauroa
Ngāti Kuri
Centre Director and Trustee | Te Ara Whānui
Tammy's hopes and dreams for her whānau and tribe is to live within thriving kāinga settings with access to meaningful resources and opportunities that are directly driven by her community and their aspirations.
Hear Tammy talk here: "Ngāti Kuri".
