Te Kaahu 2023

Issue December 2023 CONTENTS Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust in 2023

2

Manawa Honey NZ

4

Indigenous Peoples & Climate Change

6

Matariki Ahunganui— Feast Hamper Fundraiser

8

Manaaki Whenua Scholarship 2023

9

Te Whare o Rehua

10

More Birds in the Bush

12

Mānuka and Myrtle Rust

14

Te Ewe Whenua

15

Pest Eradication Research

17

“E ngā pakiaka haere whenua, tēnei te tangi kōrihi a Te Tuawhenua me Manaaki Whenua ki a koutou katoa kia rarau mai ki ōna pūrongo mo te tau 2023.”

2023 was the time to put Covid well behind us and get back into gear going forward. We report in this edition of Te Kaahu on how we have been rebuilding Manawa Honey after Covid chaos and further progress in our projects with Manaaki Whenua and other research partners.

A particular highlight in this year is the development in our project Te Ewe Whenua, which Puke Timoti is leading for Manaaki Whenua and Tuawhenua Trust. This project aims to strengthen the connection of Tuawhenua people to our forest environment, to regenerate ancient learning systems and to establish an immersion-learning initiative, that is, a whare maire. The first stages of this project involved taking scientists and kaumātua into places of significance for the Tuawhenua for wānanga regarding a range of cultural, historical, environmental and socio-economic aspects of our traditional way of life, including the role and principles of traditional whare wānanga.

An annual publication of activities of the Tuawhenua Trust, in particular research undertaken with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

Produced by Tuawhenua Trust, Ruatāhuna, NZ P:+64 7 3663 166 E: office@tuawhenua.biz W: www.tuawhenua.biz Supported by:

Above: Tuawhenua kaumātua in discussion at Ohāua-te-Rangi Marae. From left: Pou Tēmara, James Doherty, Lenny Te Kaawa and Hekenoa Te Kurapa. (Photo by Andrew Gormley)

1

Tuawhenua Trust in 2023 Who’s Involved Trustees of the Tuawhenua: Richard Tūmarae (Chair), Hekenoa Te Kurapa, Puke Tīmoti, Rangi Mātaamua, Hinerau Rameka, Brenda Tahi (Executive Trustee)

Te Kaupapa o Te Tuawhenua The Trust is in its fourth strategic plan covering 2022-24. Our long term goals remain Te Iwi me Te Whenua (developing our land and people); Kaitiakitanga (protection and enhancement of Tuawhenua ecosystems); Te Mātauranga me te Tūhonohono (Knowledge and Networks).

Key matters advanced in 2023 were: •

Moving forward our research project in traditional knowledge systems and transmission.

•

Closing out the field work for the research on More Birds in the Bush

•

Another programme for Te Whare o Rehua on the stars and Māori cosmology

•

Bringing the new food production hub to near completion.

•

Preparations for new projects in te wai Māori and Māori astro-gardening.

•

Contributing where we can to networks in research and other endeavours, locally, nationally and overseas.

The People: Job Creation & Training

In 2023, Karioi White has taken further training in social media marketing and has enjoyed further development through her roles with J R McKenzie Trust and in the same year was approached to attend this Tuia programme which is an intentional,

Networking & Contribution Chair Richard Tūmarae continues to expand networks in Māori agribusiness and other spheres. He also along with Paratene Ripia attended a conference on pest eradication.

Puke Timoti and Rangi Mātaamua are active across mātauranga research networks, including working on particular projects with Ngāi Tahu.

Karioi White expanded her networks through a conference in philanthropic funding and through cultural exchange in a tour of Guatemala. Brenda Tahi joined Karioi in the Guatemala tour, and has worked on network opportunities presented throughout the year by our export and research activities.

Rangi Mātaamua topped a list of achievements in recent years with becoming the New Zealander of the Year in 2023. We say this is fitting recognition of Rangi’s leadership in all matters Matariki, that have re -shaped elements of our national constitution.

Revitalising the Taiao Conference in Wānaka in May 2023.

Governance The Tuawhenua Trustees continue to meet annually with owners through the AGM. They also hold trust meetings throughout the year.

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

Paratene Ripia continues to develop in matters relating to pest eradication in our relevant projects. Paratene has also been learning a range of building skills working on our production shed project.

long term, intergenerational approach to develop the leadership capacity of young Māori in communities throughout New Zealand. This programme involves local Mayors selecting young Māori from their district to mentor on a one-to-one basis, to encourage and enhance leadership skills.

For more information about the programme—visit: https://www.mtfj.co.nz/ourwork/tuia-and-mtfj-rangatahi/

2

Above: Rangi Mātaamua won the mantle of New Zealander of the Year in 2023, a great honour recognising his achievements in the evolution of our cultural heritage as a nation.

Right: Paratene Ripia, dressed for the occasion of a conference on pest eradication where he, along with our Chair Richard Tūmarae, represented the Tuawhenua Trust. (Photo Credit: Paratene Ripia) Photo below: Karioi White with rangatahi from all over New Zealand participating in the Tūia development programme, at Tāheke Marae, near Rotorua. The Tuia programme involved a number of wānanga in different parts of the country throughout 2023. This programme at Rangitihi focused on the connecting with the environment. (Photo Credit: Jacinta Ormsby)

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 3

Manawa Honey NZ Who’s involved Hekenoa Te Kurapa (Trustee and Beekeeping Operations); Brenda Tahi (Trustee and Marketing);

Beekeeping Operations We kept our hives at low numbers in 202223 season. As it turned out, the season was a wet one and the harvest was one of the poorest on record. But we continue to get some rare honeys from the mountains here in the heart of Te Urewera with some rātā and rātā blends coming in to the hives.

In late 2023, we started building hive numbers back up to expand our operation in the coming years.

Marketing Manawa Honey We continue to rebuild Manawa Honey markets after decimation by Covid impacts in 2020-21. We are still looking to grow our exports and have made some progress in 2023 on this goal.

In 2023 we brought Maunga Honey and Cinnamon to market. This infusion combines health-giving cinnamon with our Maunga Honey, which is a blend of hīnau, tawhero and rātā honeys from Maungapōhatu, a place of great significance for Tuhoe.

We won international awards again for your honeys in 2023. The highlights were: •

Our Mānuka MGO 400+ Honey won our first Platinum at the London Honey Awards in 2023.

•

At this same event, our Raw Kānuka Honey won a Gold award, and it was very rewarding to have our Maunga Honey also winning Gold.

•

In 2023, at the 12 th Black Jar International Honey Tasting Contest held in Ashville, USA, our Rewarewa Honey showed it can consistently gain results as the World’s Best Tasting Honey when it reached the Top 30 as a finalist.

We had positive media coverage in the latter part of 2023 as a founding member of a network of Māori businesses that are seeking or have gained B Corp certification.

Manawa Honey also took a stand at the Christchurch Food Show in 2023 to promote our honey in that region.

Contact: Brenda Tahi, Executive Trustee E: brenda@manawahoney.co.nz P: 07 3663 166

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

We continue to grow our online store, serving mainly Aotearoa New Zealand but also in Australia and other countries across the globe. For Christmas 2023, we launched the Ruatāhuna Tee, the first in our line of Merch by Manawa. The design for the teeshirt is inspired by artwork in Te Whai-a-temotu, the historic meeting house at Mātaatua, Ruatāhuna.

4

Charitable Activities of Manawa Honey In 2023, we undertook a range of charitable activites including: •

The holiday programme for the youngsters of Ruatāhuna on bees, honey and the business of Manawa Honey NZ.

•

Koha of honey for the Puwhakamua programme of Rotorua.

This programme works with ‘hard-end’ exprisoners and involves cultural immersion, taking responsibility, brotherhood, and living a positive life.

•

Koha of honey for all homes and 10 marae of Ruatāhuna and Maungapōhatu region.

Above Right: The Ruatāhuna Tee initiates a new development of Merch by Manawa for our online store.

Below: Brenda Tahi visits the Pūwhakamua programme of ex-prisoner development in Rotorua to present a koha of honey and to hear how well the programme works for the participants.

Contact: Sarah Richardson

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 5

Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Who’s involved Brenda Tahi; Karioi ki Tahuaroa White (Tuawhenua Trust); Staffer Karioi White is a member of the Kāhui Rangatahi Māori advisory group with the J R McKenzie Trust. This group advises Te Kāwai Toro (the Māori funding committee for the trust) with a rangatahi perspective/ voice to guide and inform decisions.

The group is also given opportunities for the rangatahi members to develop leadership skills, learn about the philanthropic sector and eventually take a seat at the decisionmaking table.

In February 2023, Karioi along with other members of the group, attended the International Funders for Indigenous People (IFIP) Global Conference in Mérida, Mexico to learn and share with other Indigenous Peoples from around the world.

IFIP is a global network of foundations and philanthropic organisations that support Indigenous peoples and their communities worldwide. IFIP seeks to promote Indigenous-led solutions to the challenges facing Indigenous communities, including cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and environmental protection.

This year’s conference theme was ‘Indigenous Peoples' Resilience, Innovation, and Action in the Face of Climate Change.’ We would have to agree that this pressing issue unites all

These were the key takeaways the Kāhui Rangatahi identified from the conference: •

Climate change is a pressing issue for Indigenous communities worldwide.

Indigenous peoples are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing the least to it.

•

Indigenous communities hold valuable knowledge and solutions to address climate change. Indigenous leaders are implementing innovative solutions that prioritise environmental protection, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment.

•

Philanthropic organisations and funders must prioritise supporting Indigenous-led solutions to the challenges facing their communities.

They must recognise the value of Indigenous knowledge and leadership and work in partnership with Indigenous communities.

•

Collaborative approaches are key to creating positive social change.

Partnerships between philanthropic organisations, funders, and Indigenous communities can amplify impact and create sustainable change.

•

The voices and perspectives of Indigenous peoples must be central to decision-making processes.

Indigenous peoples must have a seat at the table in discussions about issues that affect them, and their perspectives and solutions must be valued and prioritised.

After the conference, Karioi (Brenda Tahi) toured the highlands Guatemala to gain understanding of the Mayan people and their culture of that region.

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

IFIP holds biennial conferences, bringing together Indigenous leaders, community members, funders, and supporters from around the world to discuss pressing issues and share best practices. The conferences are an opportunity for attendees to learn about the innovative solutions that Indigenous leaders are implementing.

indigenous Peoples across the globe.

6

Above: IFIP Global Conference 2023 in Merida, Mexico— from left are Tiara Hammond, Kahuroa Brown, Mihi Brown, Karioi ki Tahuaroa White and Ryan Campbell. This group of talented young people are the Kahui Rangatahi representatives for Te Kāwai Toro of the JR Mckenzie Trust. (Photo Creditl JR McKenzie).

Below: In our cultural tour of Guatemala, Karioi White has been dressed by our local Mayan hostes s in traditional clothing and adornment. On the street, a local woman stops to assist in adjusting Karioi’s skirt!

(Photo Credit: Tuawhenua collection)

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 7

Matariki Ahunganui - Feast Hamper Fundraiser We celebrated Matariki in 2023, again with producing hampers for the Matariki feast.

We featured a whole range of foods from our forest and our gardens and orchards, and gratefully received gifts of food from sponsors for this kaupapa.

Special call-out to major sponsors in 2023: Watties of Hawke’s Bay (for golden peaches), She Universe (for chocolate), Ernie Walker of Rotorua (for fish) and Pak n Sav (for some items). Sponsor support is always greatly appreciated!

We remain with our three objectives for our Matariki initiative: •

•

Growing the fund for restoring and enhancing the life of the Tuawhenua forests.

Supporting the revival of traditions, such as feasting in Matariki

celebrations that includes foods from the forest, our orchards and gardens, and from the sea and freshwater lakes and rivers.

•

Reviving the tradition of across tribes and regions.

trading,

In this way we are reinforcing our traditional knowledge and practice with regard to our food sovereignty, our connections to our environment, and our relationships across regions and communities.

In 2023, we raised $39,000 through this initiative to add to the Tuawhenua Forests Fund. It’s small beginnings but we know the fund will grow over time.

Contact: Brenda Tahi E: brenda@manawahoney.co.nz P: (07) 366 3166

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua Above: Our Matariki Ahunganui Hampers in 2023 included from our gardens and orchards: taewa Māori, preserves of fruit, chutney and relish, herbs; from our forest: venison sausages, free -range pork, and horopito meat rub; snapper fillets from the sea; and smoked eel from the river. We also included a booklet in the hamper that explained the intent of our initiative and the origin of all items. (Photo Credit: Tuawhenua Trust Collection)

8

Manaaki Whenua Scholarship 2023 The Manaaki Whenua Scholarship was awarded to Hāwera Doherty in 2023.

Hāwera hails from Ngāti Tāwhaki of Ngāputahi, descending from Aperahama and Kāhui Doherty. His koroua Wiremu Doherty Snr is currently living at the whānau homestead, where Hāwera oftens stays.

Hāwera’s koro’s eldest brother, Tahae Doherty served as the Chairman of the Tuawhenua Trust for over 30 years and his aunty, Hinerau Rameka is one of our current trustees. His whānau are well-known for their long-standing commitment to and profound knowledge of the taiao of the Tuawhenua, that we could see through his application have been installed into Hāwera, as part of this whānau’s younger generation.

So, Hāwera has now developed a passion to gain a better understanding of the western science behind all the traditional knowledge of the whānau - as his koro Tahae puts it, ‘thousands of years of mōhio” In living with nan and koro, Hāwera explains that his koro has significantly contributed to the person he is today, and adds that:

‘Despite being raised in Rotorua, I know Ngāputahi as my home, my tūrangawaewae’.

He says his koro always highlights the changes he observes in the ngahere at Ngāputahi and points to the differences in the ecosystems of Ngāputahi, Ruatāhuna, Te Whāiti and other areas in and around Te Urewera.

Hāwera is currently in his second year at the University of Waikato majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He is also seeking to expand his degree to a conjoint degree to include computer science.

Hāwera sees that occupations in the future will all involve a significant component of that requires ‘developing tools that can record, track and provide vital data.’ This realisation has driven his recent interest in studying computer science.

Hāwera contributes to his community, whānau and hapū by supporting fundraising and working at the back for tangi at Ngāputahi. He has participated in two of our programmes for Te Whare o Rehua - Te Oranga o te Hoiho (horse ‘breaking’) and He Wai no Ruawhetu (Māori cosmos).

We’re honoured to have Hāwera join the ranks of winners of the Manaaki Whenua scholarship.

Contact: Brenda Tahi, Executive Trustee

Hāwera Doherty—2023’s recipient of the Manaaki Whenua Scholarship. (Photo Credit: Hāwera Doherty)

E: brenda@tuawhenua.biz P: 07 3663 166

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

Hāwera enjoys having international students stay with him so that he can learn from them about their cultures and in return, he is able to share tikanga and mātauranga Māori with them. We consider this interest in cultural exchange is a positive attribute for our well-being of future generations in a world of increasing globalisation.

9

Te Whare o Rehua Who’s involved Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust: Taawi Te Kurapa, Puke Tīmoti, Rangi Mātaamua (all Tutors and Trustees), Brenda Tahi (Project Director and Trustee), Karioi ki Tahuaroa White (Project Support).

In 2023, we ran two Te Whare o Rehua programmes, differing in both the underpinning concepts and the way they were presented.

In July 2023, we invited Mākere Biddle, one of our elders in Ruatāhuna, to pass on her life-time story as the second programme of He Kura Whāngai Ngutu. Mākere covered her early days in Ruatāhuna, her business pursuits with her husband Wharekiri, and other initiatives involving the ngahere and whenua. Brenda Tahi worked with Mākere for the programme in a facilitative role.

Kaihaukai, which focuses on the ancient practice of intertribal connections and celebration.

The programme was a way for our young people of Tuawhenua to embark on a journey of rediscovery of this tradition. We invited a group from Ngāi Tahu (Ōtakou and Awarua Rūnaka) to join in the programme for the intertribal element.

Contact: Sarah Richardson

This programme aimed to revive traditional practices of food gathering; to pilot intertribal wānanga, where leaders, practitioners, and youth converge in placebased interactions; to resurrect Kaihaukai and restore its role as a cornerstone in the mosaic of Māori culture. The plan to continue this practice into the future.

Contact: Karioi White E: twor@tuawhenua.biz P: (07) 366 3166

In December 2023, our programme was

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua He Kura Whāngai Ngutu in July 2023 with Mākere Biddle at right and Brenda Tahi as facilitator at left. Wisdom cascaded from Mākere’s every word about her life and business ventures in Ruatāhuna, evoking some poignant memories. We will continue this series in future with other Tuawhenua koroua and kuia. (Photo Credit: Tuawhenua Collection)

10

Above: Our group of participants in Kaihaukai programme gathered in front of Te Poho -o-Pōtiki wharenui, Ohaua-te-rangi Marae. At back from left are Steph Blair, Alex Lewis, Stevie-Rae Blair, Rik Emery, Willy Solomon, Karioi ki Tahuaroa White, James Milroy, Karia Mahia, Atarau Cassidy, Puke Timoti (Tutor). Standing at front from left: Kalem Borell, Waioma Mitai, Haylee Takao, Paulette Tamati Eliffe. Seated from left are Tania Tamiana, Korako Edwards, Komene Cassidy, Paratene Rīpia, Terrence O Brien, Levi, Mya Kairau, Aaria Rolleston and Tumai Cassidy.

Below: Paratene Rīpia, showing a group of Ngāi Tahu how we set hīnaki in Ruatāhuna. The group discussed the different environments we live in and how that affects the way in which we set a hīnaki.

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 11

More Birds in the Bush Who’s involved Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust: Puke Timoti, Brenda Tahi, Tāhae Doherty, Slaine Rangiahua, Paratene Ripia Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research: Adrian Monks, Jo Carpenter, Phil Lyver, Susan Walker University of Auckland: Bruce Burns, Oscar Clendon, Gretel Boswijk Manaaki Whenua and the “More birds in the bush” research program have partnered with the Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust on several research projects linked to restoring kererū in Tuawhenua forests. Informed by Tuawhenua mātauranga we established two field projects, with the last of them finishing up this past year.

The last field project aimed to understand the role of rats and possums on the availability of kai (particularly fruit) for kererū.

While we know something about the combined effect of possums and rats on fruit crops, we don’t know the effect of having one or the other. This is important because while possums are relatively easy to control for long periods of time, ship rats are not and will often bounce back within months to even higher numbers than previous, following combined rat and possum control.

In the same vicinity, other traps captured fruit from tawa, hinau, and other plants to understand what other kai were available

In the last year and half, Slaine Rangiahua and Paratēne Ripia have been carrying out pest control in these areas using bait stations, cyanide, and traps. Some areas just targeted possums, others targeted rats, some targeted both species, and some had no pest control.

We finished the pest control in June 2023, and now it’s time to crunch the numbers to determine which of these actions (possum control, rat control, or both species controlled) leads to the biggest increases in the availability of kai for kererū.

A final aim of the “More Birds in the bush” research program for Tuawhenua is to use complex computer simulations to understand how different frequency and coverage of predator control might influence populations of forest birds. These simulations will take into account the forest type, the biology and movement of the pest species, the area under pest control, and how often pest control happens.

Based on these different values, the simulations will then project how kererū, kōkō, and kākā populations are likely to respond to different pest control based on the birds’ own unique biology and vulnerability. One example would be that we could test how doing pest control every year might influence kererū, versus doing it every four years. The outcomes from these different simulations can help support decision making on what pest control is most likely to create “more birds in the bush”.

Contact: Jo Carpenter E: carpenterj@landcareresearch.co.nz P: 03 4707214

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

For the first two years of the project, Slaine Rangiahua collected seedfall from 240 seed traps every month from different areas in Te Tuawhenua to see how much fruit and flowers were produced when both rats and possums are unmanaged. We targeted toromiro fruit particularly because it is an important kai for fattening kererū, so many of our traps were set up beneath the trees to capture its fruit.

and when. During this period, we also monitored the abundance of possums and rats in these areas.

12

Above left: In November 2023, the field team for this project removed the pest control gear from the research sites in the bush. Here, Morgan Coleman carrying a load of bait stations out from Te Whāwhārua.

Above right: James Arbuckle and Morgan with a load of bait stations and seed trap stakes.

Below: The project team takes a pose—from left to right: Paratene Ripia , James, Roland Mapp, Theo Thompson, and Morgan with a trailer load of pest control gear.

(Credit for all photos: Morgan Coleman)

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 13

Mānuka and Myrte Rust Studying the susceptibility of mānuka to the tree-killing disease Myrtle rust and identifying DNA markers linked to resistance is critical for maintaining healthy forests and sustaining the communities and industries depending on them.

A study conducted by plant pathologists and geneticists at Plant & Food Research has analysed mānuka seedlings from across New Zealand, including populations from Te Urewera. The seedlings were inoculated with Myrtle rust in contained greenhouses and symptoms were measured and recorded.

A range of susceptibility symptoms was observed, however resistant plants were present in the studied populations. DNA markers from across the mānuka genome were tested on the seedlings and the DNA profile of the seedlings was correlated to their resistance to Myrtle rust.

This enabled Plant & Food Research geneticists to discover two regions located on chromosomes 4 and 10 of the mānuka genome that are linked to resistance to Myrtle rust. “Finding DNA markers for resistance was an exciting result to share with the team, and provides hope for the continued resilience of our taonga” (Melissa Taane, Ngāti Maniapoto and Plant & Food Research who did the data analysis). This finding opens the opportunity to employ DNA markers for more efficiently selecting mānuka seedlings that are resistant to Myrtle rust.

The research was funded by the MBIE project “Beyond Myrtle Rust” which is led by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

Contact: David Chagne E: HohaiaH@landcareresearch.co.nz P: (04) 382 6647

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 14 Mānuka seedlings inoculated with Myrtle rust. Lophomyrtus (ramarama) are used as susceptible control plants. (Photo Credit: Plant and Food Research)

Te Ewe Whenua - ‘Tuawhenua knowledge and ecological mapping of mixed podocarp-tawa forest dynamics Who’s involved Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research: Phil Lyver, Puke Timoti, Andrew Gormley and Sarah Richardson University of Canterbury: Kate Wootton Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust: Brenda Tahi Te Urewera was renowned historically for the abundance of kererū and its ability to provide these birds as a revered food source for Tūhoe communities. Kererū represent a shared identity for both the land and people. They are regarded as a manu rangatira within the whakapapa of the forest with significant mana and therefore holds a status above other birds in the forest.

Since the 1970s, kererū numbers have plummeted in Te Urewera, potentially due to a range of factors relating to predation and the removal of podocarps. An ultimate goal is to increase the numbers of kererū, whilst preserving other ecological and cultural values. It is difficult to know how best to do this, because of the many complex and interacting ecological processes affecting kererū and the ngahere.

In this project, we have been working to define and describe such a network centred around kererū. This will ultimately be informed by both local knowledge,

In February 2023, the research team were hosted at Mataatua marae and visited Ohaua marae as part of a wānanga aimed at helping the research team to learn and understand more about the ngahere in the Tuawhenua region.

Towards the end of 2023, we ran workshops in Christchurch and Hamilton with a total of 10 scientists/ecologists. Using the combined knowledge of these ecologists, we built an initial network of how kererū affect and are affected by different parts of the forest, such as the availability of different fruits and the dispersal of seeds.

We are currently combining the learnings from these workshops to produce a single ecological network from the scientist perspective.

A wānanga with Tuawhenua is being planned for February this year, the purpose of which will be to understand the forest system from the viewpoint of mana whenua.

In contrast to the scientist-defined network, this wānanga will aim to describe the system to include both ecological and cultural values.

Once we have both the ecologists network and the mana whenua network, it will be possible to explore the likely effect of different management actions, and how they might affect the ngahere, kererū, and cultural values.

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

Using an approach whereby we piece together the different elements of the forest (e.g. plant and animal species), and by understanding how they affect each other (e.g. predation, providing or competing for food, or dispersing seeds), it is possible to better understand how the effects of potential management activities such as pest control or fencing areas might ripple through the forest in both obvious and unexpected ways.

mātauranga and scientific data from kaumātua and ecologists respectively. Once finalised, the network will be used to explore the effects of various management activities on kererū and other species (e.g. introduced animals such as pigs and deer) in the forest, as well as key cultural values.

Contact: Sarah Richardson This will help kaitiaki better evaluate the potential effectiveness of various management decisions.

15

Left: Concept diagram of the high -level network illustrating linkages between network components in the ecosystems of the Tuawhenua.

The diagram shows how the network can change across different seasons, and that changes in one season can flow on to affect a later season. Note that this diagram is highly simplified at this point and is still being developed.

Below: Kate Wootton, one of the scientists in the team for Te Weu o te Kaitiaki project, is at the whiteboard leading participants at a workshop in Hamilton for a group of ecologists.

Contact: Andrew Gormley E: GormleyA@landcareresearch.co.nz P: (03) 321 9816

This workshop focused on developing various network ‘maps’ depicting the relationships between components. The workshop delivered on a number of network maps that will be used for analysis of networks representing the forest and community ecologies of the Tuawhenua.

(Credits for Photos and Diagram: Andrew Gormley)

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 16

Pest Eradication Research Who’s involved Mahuru Wilcox; Puke Timoti (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research); Brenda Tahi, Paratene Ripia (Tuawhenua Trust) Researchers at Manaaki Whenua have been working closely with four iwi partner groups (Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust, Hokotehi Moriori Trust, and a northern Taranaki collective including Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Maru), who are undertaking small and large-scale pest control projects.

Over the past few years, iwi experts and knowledge holders have supported the codevelopment of a kaupapa Māori and Moriori pest control framework. Central to this is the grounding concept of whakapapa, which clearly shows that tangata whenua rights and knowledge are the solution to local issues in the pest control space.

Through a series of wānanga with our iwi and imi partners, mātauranga aligned with pest control has been shared, along with the aspirations of Māori and Moriori in this area.

Discussions included a number of broad themes that focused on both the health of taiao as well as reconnection, community resilience, knowledge and governance.

The framework was presented at the Te Tira Whakamaataki symposium in Ōtautahi in November 2023. The project supported the attendance of kaitiaki from all of our iwi partner groups, and we had the privilege of having both Richard Tūmarae and Paratene Ripia along for the event. It was such a great couple of days, where iwi involved in

Te Tira Whakamātaki is about ‘indigenous solutions for a better world’ and is based in Aotearoa New Zealand. The kaupapa of Te Tira Whakamātaki is to ensure Māori communities have an active and respected voice in biosecurity, environmental and Contact: Sarah Richardson conservation spaces in order to preserve the earth's natural environment; to build environmental capability, whilst conserving, protecting and advocating indigenous knowledge. The proceedings of the wānanga with Te Tira Whakamātaki are on Youtube here.

The presentation from the Manaaki Whenua team at this wānanga presented some very interesting highlights around lure development and possum behaviour. Find the presentation video on YouTube here.

A framework for ‘Strengthening WhakapapaBased Connections through Pest Control’ was presented for the first time at the wānanga by Mahuru Wilcox of Manaaki Whenua. The framework represents a culmination of working with Māori groups across the country on their perspective and drivers in their pest control efforts. Its components reflect a range of interests that are quintessentially Māori and do not provide a direct match to the conservation perspective commonly applied to pest control efforts in New Zealand.

Brenda Tahi and Rangi Mātaamua of the Tuawhenua Trust have since provided feedback on the framework, and positively supported the overall intent and content of the construct. The Chair of the Trust, Richard Tūmarae and staffer Paratene Rīpia participated in the wānanga on pest control held by Te Tira Whakamātaki.

Contact: Mahuru Wilcox E: WilcoxM@landcareresearch.co.nz P: (07) 859 3726

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua

At a more detailed level, different types of lures (some of which were used historically for snaring kīore), the influence of maramataka on animal behaviour, how to undertake pest control using local tikanga to ensure the safety and success of those in the field, as well as local environmental tohu that can be used as early warning systems for mast seasons.

pest control, from all over Aotearoa attended and contributed to kōrero on approaches to pest control.

17

Contact: Sarah Richardson

Te Kaahu o Tuawhenua 18