Te Wai Māori Q4 Report 2021-22

TE WAI MĀORI

Q4 Report

For the period 1 July to 30 September 2022

This briefing for iwi provides an overview of Te Wai Māori’s work against the 2021/22 Annual Plan and covers the period 1/7/22 - 30/9/2022.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is Te Wai Māori’s quarter four (Q4) report to iwi against the 2021/22 Annual Plan and covers the period 1 July to 30 September 2022. As with our previous quarterly reports, this report has been developed to give regular insight into the work the Trust undertakes on behalf of Mandated Iwi Organisations.

Tēnā koutou katoa, We are pleased to present to you our quarter report for the final quarter of the 2021/22 financial year.

This year’s work programme supports the strategic priorities and long-term outcomes detailed in the Trust’s annual plan. These include:

• Enhancing the health and wellbeing of indigenous fisheries and their habitat.

• Enhancing the recognition and status of indigenous species.

• Providing better opportunities for the participation of iwi and hapū in resource management decision making processes as they relate to freshwater fisheries and habitat.

• Promoting and sharing indigenous fisheries expertise, knowledge and understanding.

• Increasing the quality and range of information to iwi and hapū on freshwater fisheries and habitat.

• Supporting iwi and hapū capacity and capability in freshwater fisheries.

The annual plan will see the Trust continue to support the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group in responding to Government’s ongoing resource management reform and freshwater review processes, support freshwater species work programmes and initiatives, targeted freshwater fisheries research, and continue to support iwi and hapū through the Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai funds.

As always, we welcome your feedback on the structure and content of our reporting.

Nāku noa, nā Donna Flavell Chair, Te Wai Māori Trust

Donna Flavell - Chair Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruapani

Te Mana o Te Wai Whakapapa Kaitiakitanga

Wai Māori around the

Utuhina Stream - Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara

About the project

Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara are a hapū of Te Arawa and hold manawhenua over the area of Tarewa Pounamu, of which the Utuhina stream runs alongside it and therefore holds a special place for our hapū. The Utuhina stream is made up of several tributaries with the main source being Karamu Takina, which was gifted by our Rangatira Raharuhi Pururu to the Rotorua Lakes Council back in the 1950’s and is now Rotorua’s main water source.

The Utuhina stream flows from the western side of Tihiotonga through the western suburbs and into Lake Rotorua. This stream has stormwater drains flowing into it and has been problematic with flooding, erosion, sedimentation, and the riparian areas along Tarewa Pounamu are being overrun with pest plants.

Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara have an aspiration to restore the mauri of the Utuhina stream that runs alongside Tarewa Road, known as Tarewa Pounamu, by clearing the weeds and planting native trees and grasses on the stream bank.

It was the aspiration of this project that planting this area will help stabilise the banks and prevent sediment loss from erosion, which will aid in phosphorus losses as phosphorus sticks to sediment. There are many catchment programs that are targeting phosphorus and nitrogen loss from land to water as nitrogen and phosphorus are key nutrients that produce algal blooms in Lake Rotorua.

We had to work very closely with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) to clear and plant this waterway as it was in a known flood protection zone and so in negotiation with the Council we were only allowed to clear and plant the western side of the stream. This work went well though and with the assistance of Te Arawa Lakes Trust Hunga Tiaki Team and Euan Campbell (who owns the neighbouring block alongside the planned planting area) a blank canvas was created for planting. BOPRC also mulched a number of eucalyptus trees (that had been felled during the clearing) and this mulch was laid down and spread out over the area before planting began to assist with the suppression of weeds.

Our trees were sourced from our own native tree nursery and a community planting day was held over the winter period. Rotorua Boys High School also attended and with their help we were able to get nearly all of the plants planted in one day. The planting concentrated on a lot of carex grass species to assist with stabilising the bank during flooding periods. We are currently undertaking hand releasing and spray releasing around the plants which will be done over the next year. In the future we hope to plant more areas of the Utuhina to assist stabilising the banks and reduce sedimentation of our stream.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara has received funding from the Wai Ora Fund and the Environmental Enhancement Fund (BOPRC) to clear and plant natives along the Utuhina stream.

Above: Utuhina Stream following planting

the motu

Lake Koitiata - Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa

About the project

Lake Koitiata is a dune lake within the Rangitīkei rohe where uri of Ngāti Apa and Ngā Wairiki are the mana whenua. It represents a unique remnant of ancestral landscape within the rohe, which was once part of a large, interconnected network of tributaries, swamps and lagoons that connected te wai Māori with te moana. A once treasured source of kai for tūpuna, this project helped inform the greater aspirations of Ngāti Apa and Ngā Wairiki whānau in caring for the roto.

Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa (TRoNWNA) led this project funded by Te Wai Māori, working alongside the hapū of Ngā Ariki to gather mātauranga connected with Lake Koitiata. The rangahau helped to inform the development of a plan and funding strategy for hapū-led kaitiakitanga.

Progress to date

An initial wānanga identified key domains important to whānau. These were, mahinga kai, access, connection, well-being/social/recreation, governance, catchment-wide matters, and diversity of species.

A second wānanga was impacted by COVID, resulting in kōrero being gathered from whānau via technology to identify three domains to focus on as the first step of the hapū-based plan. The three key domains identified in collaboration with te roopu taiao were access, mahinga kai and diversity. Rangahau was also gathered through kōrero tuku iho, archive records, map analysis and existing monitoring records for Lake Koitiata. This was brought together to help create a framework for what our ancestral landscape looked like.

Next steps

The next step for hapū and the roopu taiao is to focus on improving access to the lake and creating a diverse habitat that supports mahinga kai that tūpuna thrived on. This project has given the rōpu a chance to identify what is most important to whānau in terms of Lake Koitiata and a glimpse of what was there in the times of their tūpuna. It has led to te roopu taiao starting restoration mahi that includes removal of weed species and replacing with taonga species across nearly six hectares of whenua surrounding the lake. Planning is underway to develop track access for uri and survey mahi on mahinga kai species.

Above: Lake Koitiata following planting

Operational Performance

Performance against plan

Freshwater species specific research

This quarter saw mahi continue alongside Cawthron Institute on the multi-year ‘Fish futures’ research, that will include three rohe case studies with iwi and hapū across the motu.

A key component of the project is the formation of a Policy Working Group that will include representatives from Te Wai Māori, DOC, Fish and Game and rohe partners.

The intent is for the rōpū to identify key issues and a forward trajectory for freshwater fish management and develop proposals for transformative fish management and governance, drawing on insights generated across the research programme and make practical recommendations for change.

This quarter also saw management and staff attend the Fish Futures Annual Symposium in Nelson on 23 September.

2.

Te Mana o Ngā Tuna

This quarter saw the full Te Mana o Ngā Tuna rōpū, supported by the Trust, meet ā-tinana. The purpose of the hui was to assess the group’s progress to date, identify its key kaupapa, and consider next steps. It was agreed at this hui that the group’s primary purpose is to advocate for longfin and shortfin tuna and to tautoko iwi/Māori who are working in the freshwater fisheries restoration space.

1. Enhance the recognition and status of indigenous species

Enhance the health and wellbeing of indigenous fisheries and their habitat

Additionally, Chair Ben Potaka (supported by the wider rōpu) presented at the Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference in Taupō on 31 August focusing primarily on fish passage and the impacts of flood pumps on tuna populations during tuna heke. Following the conference expressions of interest were called for to appoint two new members to replace Brendan Flack and Tony Magner (who both stepped down earlier in the year).

A further hui is to be held later in the year to welcome new members and progress other kaupapa.

3.

Resource Management Reform

Te Wai Māori continue to work with the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group and their technicians engaging with Crown officials on freshwater rights and interests, implementation, and resource management changes. This includes the pending Resource Management Act reform that will see three new pieces of legislation brought into effect, the Natural and Built Environment Act, the Spatial Planning Act, and the Climate Adaptation Act.

National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity

This quarter the Trust submitted on the Ministry for the Environment’s National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) exposure draft. Concerns raised in the submission included that NPSIB has been developed with little meaningful participation by iwi, and as drafted would disproportionately affect Māori land failing to provide adequate resourcing, compensation, or incentives to allow iwi/Māori to participate.

4.

Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference 2022

The Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference was successfully held in Taupō on 31 August and 1 September and hosted by Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The event was well attended by iwi, hapū and whānau and there was a sense of excitement that whānau could gather ā tinana and share kōrero on this kaupapa after a three-year hiatus due to Covid. The event was a great success and fully allocated and saw over 350 manuhiri attend.

The hui brought together 24 kaikōrero across 17 sessions. Topics presented included freshwater Te Mana o Te Wai implementation, Te Awa Tupua, catchment restoration kōrero including from past and present Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai recipients and indigenous species research

Providing better opportunities for the participation of Iwi and hapū in resource management decision making processes as they relate to freshwater fisheries and habitat

Promote and share indigenous fisheries expertise, knowledge and understanding

2. Enhance the recognition and status of indigenous species (Continued)

5.

Wai Ora Fund

This quarter the Trust continued working with five Wai Ora funding recipients to complete their project milestones for FY 21/22; Oturu Kaitiaki Limited (Muriwhenua Kaitiaki), Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara Trust, Te Ani Waata Whānau Trust, Te Maru o Kaituna River Authority and Te Rākatō Marae.

Muriwhenua Kaitiaki have now completed their project having held wānanga and hikoi.

The remaining four projects have made some progress meeting kānohi ki te kānohi at wānanga and for restorative planting days. The contract between the Trust and Te Rākāto Marae is still pending. Marae representatives have met recently to discuss the project and its outcomes, and we are expecting a progress report imminently. Due to project delays over the past two years including COVID, these projects will carry on through FY 22/23.

Tiaki Wai Fund

This quarter the Trust has been working with three remaining Tiaki Wai funding recipients to complete their project milestones for FY 21/22: Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga and Te Aitanga o Ngā Uri o Wharekauri.

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō has completed its project and produced a final report on tuna monitoring and cultural revitalisation undertaken within the Nelson Lakes National Park.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga and Te Aitanga o Ngā Uri o Wharekauri are working towards completion of their final milestones.

Additionally, the Trust received three new Tiaki Wai applications this quarter from Hokonui Rūnanga Floriculture, Ngāti Pāhauwera and Titirangi Waka Ama and Wellbeing Charitable Trust. The projects include freshwater monitoring and research, wetland and riparian restoration and iwi environmental education plans. These applications will be considered by the Board who will determine funding outcomes.

Above: Tina Porou presenting on Te Mana o te Wai at the Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference 2022

Supporting Iwi and hapū capacity and capability in freshwater fisheries

1Keep iwi informed on the work of the Trust and issues pertaining to freshwater and freshwater fisheries, deliver accountability from the Trust to iwi.

Key comms this period: This quarter, the content of our communication has focussed on promoting the Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference, the Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai funding rounds, the inaugural Wai Māori Scholarship and sharing hapū project updates on freshwater kaupapa. These comms have included social media advertising and organic content, pānui, and website updates.

Annual report and annual plan update: Work has commenced towards drafting Te Wai Māori’s 2022/23 annual plan and Te Kāhui o Te Ohu Kai Moana’s 2021/22 annual report. Once complete, both the Trust’s annual plan and the kāhui annual report will be designed and published across the Trust’s digital channels in early 2023 ahead of the kāhui hui-a-tau.

Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference: The Trust provided regular communication updates leading up to and throughout the conference including kaikōrero announcements, agenda announcements, session wrap-ups, live tweets and social media stories. All conference content has been collated on the revamped Māori Freshwater Fisheries website including all photography taken at the event. Once edited, all presentation recordings will also be hosted on this site and disseminated across the Trust’s digital channels. Since the hui, we have continued the kōrero shared by Te Arawa Lakes Trust regarding their invasive species response using uwhi mats, and Te Whenua Tōmuri Trust shared their approach to reducing stress on tuna when monitoring. We hope that as we individually share each of the presentation recordings, we can continue this engagement with the Trust’s online community.

Rukutohorā - 30-year Fisheries Deed of Settlement Celebration: Te Wai Māori Trust recently attended and presented at Te Ohu Kaimoana’s recent Rukutohorā conference and provided an update on what the Trust has achieved over the years and the direction of where the Trust is going. This event also premiered the Kahui’s upcoming documentary which will explore the progress made since the signing of the settlement.

He Reo He Whakamana: During this quarter, the Trusts’ tuna resources page, ‘He Reo Whakamana’ received 206 unique visitors in the fourth quarter with 19 recorded downloads of resources. The video views of this series also increased significantly in this period as they were showcased at the conference, with 1,798 total video plays, up from 472 in the previous period. Further promotion of these videos and resources is scheduled for this financial year.

Funding update: During this quarter the Trust completed the Wai Ora funding round, launched the inaugural Wai Māori Scholarship, and re-opened the ongoing Tiaki Wai Fund. This included automating the application process of all three funds to include an application portal and rebranding each of the funds and promoting across our digital channels with a comprehensive advertising campaign. The Wai Ora fund received 26 applications from across the motu with a total funding request of $1.2M. The Wai Māori Scholarship was also over-subscribed, receiving a wide range of applications that spanned from PhD research to water monitoring assessment projects. Updates from funded projects are then published in the Trust’s quarter reports along with being featured on the website and across social media.

2Promote the work of the Trust and our stakeholders and educate our audience freshwater fisheries and their habitat

Communication Update 3

Grow brand awareness, increase engagement, and strengthen the relationship between the Trust, iwi, & freshwater fisheries

Website: This quarter, the Trust’s main website received a record 11,571 (+8,870) web sessions which can be attributed to ongoing promotion of the three funding rounds and Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference, as well as the regular funded project updates. The Trust also re-launched the Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference website this quarter, which has seen 6,115 people visit the site since inception. Once the Trust publishes the video content of the recorded presentations to this site, this number is expected to increase.

Social media:: The Trust increased its following on social media with 725 new followers gained in the fourth quarter, bringing our total social media following to 3,781. During the period, the Trust received a jump in engagements totalling 6,487 (+5,752), which can be attributed to an increase in social media posting and paid advertising for both the conference and all three funding rounds.

Pānui: This quarter, the Trust has sent 11 pānui to iwi including updates on quarter reports, promotion of the Wai Ora Fund, Wai Māori Scholarship and Tiaki Wai Fund, promotion of Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference, and updates on policy submissions. These pānui were segmented and sent to various groups of MIOs, RIOs, and other Te Wai Māori contacts as well as a growing database of those interested in applying for funding and attending future conferences.

Protect and build the reputation of the Trust

Press and Media: The Trust received three media mentions during this quarter regarding the Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference. This included a Waatea radio interview with Trust Director, Rawiri Faulkner and video coverage of the event from Aukaha News (Māori Television) featuring interviews with Tina Porou, Rākeipoho Taiaroa, and Nancy Tuaine. There were also another two mentions regarding RMA reforms and an interview with te Mātārae o Te Ohu Kaimoana on the future of the kāhui at the Seafood NZ conference.

Financial performance

Summary of Annual Plan FY 2021/22 Goals and objectives

Quarter 4 activity (1 July 2022 – 30 Sept 2022)

Areas Actual Budget Difference

Responding to legislative reform and policy 2,354 1,247 -1,107

Indigenous freshwater species (tuna, piharau/kanakana/īnanga) -5,780 22,085 27,865

Targeted research 0 10,003 10,003

Cawthron Fish Futures research 27,795 0 -27,795

Wai Māori Scholarship 30,000 0 -30,000

Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference 128,222 0 -128,222

Supporting iwi and hapū through freshwater funding (Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai funds) 21,881 25,314 3,433

Governance 42,860 28,253 -14,607 Human Resources -32,479 138,313 170,792

Facilities 1,622 22,089 20,467 Operations 49,186 24,129 -25,057

TOTAL 265,660 271,433 5,773

Summary of Annual Plan FY 2021/22 Goals and objectives

Financial YTD (1 October 2021 – 30 September 2022)

Areas Actual Budget Difference

Responding to legislative reform and policy 2,840 5,000 2,160

Indigenous freshwater species (tuna, piharau/kanakana/īnanga) 5,914 88,316 82,402

Targeted research 0 40,000 40,000

Cawthron Fish Futures research 27,795 0 -27,795

Wai Māori Scholarship 30,000 0 -30,000

Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference 134,882 80,000 -54,882

Supporting iwi and hapū through freshwater funding (Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai funds) 108,489 212,000 103,511

Governance 103,687 107,000 3,313

Human Resources 286,890 518,017 231,127

Facilities 55,264 88,356 33,092

Operations 29,505 33,581 4,076

TOTAL 568,791 924,966 356,175 NB: the figures shown in the tables above have not been audited.

against plan

COMMENTS ON Q4 and full year VARIANCES

• The tables above compare actual costs against the original budget.

• COVID effects early in the financial year had significant flow-on effects for Indigenous Freshwater Species projects. Some costs accrued to 2021 were reversed in September causing a $6k credit for the quarter whilst other deliverables have extended into next year.

• Targeted Research budget was not utilised, with research activity instead focussed on the Cawthron Fish Futures project.

• Wai Māori Scholarships of $30k were paid out of 2022 budget. These utilised unused HR budget.

• The Māori Freshwater Fisheries Conference came in at $135k. Budget was $80k with the balance also funded from unspent HR.

• Wai Ora and Tiaki Wai projects were also heavily impacted by COVID early in the year, with much of the 2022 mahi relating to catchup on prior year deliverables. These issues have been worked through by year end and expectations are for fewer project delays in 2023.

• Fourth quarter training and travel brought full year governance expenditure very close to budget.

• Human resource costs were adjusted in Q4 to reflect full year actuals, resulting in a $32k adjustment over the quarter. This brought full year costs to $287k, compared with budget of $518k. The balance of $231k represents vacancies in the team. Budget reflected FTE resource of 4.15 whereas the actual FTE fluctuated between 1.5 and 3.11 over the year, including back-office support.

• Operating costs ended the year $21k over budget due to a $30k contribution to the Te Ohu Kaimoana / Kāhui documentary. This was funded from unspent HR.

Level 4, The Woolstore

158 The Terrace Wellington, 6011

Telephone: (04) 931 9500

E-mail: info@waimaori.maori.nz Website: waimaori.maori.nz maorifreshwaterfisheries.org.nz