Tuna Restoration

''Titiro whakakatau atu, ko Maungatautari, Ko Ngaati Koroki, Ko Arapuni raa, te rohe o te tuna e...’'

This tongikura embodies and signifies the importance of Tuna, freshwater fisheries and surrounding ancestral lands and waters as the pivotal identity anchor of the people of Ngaati Korokī-Kahukura. We work in a collaborative responsive way to address critical freshwater fisheries challenges, enacting the kaitiakitanga responsibility of our iwi Ngaati Korokī-Kahukura to enhance and restore the mauri of waterways and puna.

We recognise that our intent to share and gather new knowledge is central to a number of our neighbouring iwi, whānau and hapū, and we work in partnership to enact our common goals and aspirations for Tuna and Freshwater Koura Restoration.

Maatauranga Taiao/Maatauranga Maaori – Understanding Science

1. Ngaati Koroki Kahukura will learn how best to restore koura in the rohe of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura
2. Ngaati Koroki Kahukura will lead the restoration of all koura in the rohe of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura

Maranga mai – Restoring our Knowledge, Ngaati Koroki Kahukura will:

1. Fully understand the life cycle of the koura and how we can assist with this life cycle
2. Renew the knowledge of how Ngaati Koroki Kahukura catches koura
3. Renew the knowledge of different sites and different ways of preparing koura for
consumption

Manaakitanga – Hospitality

1. Ngaati Koroki Kahukura will sustainably maintain customary koura harvesting for whaanau, marae and key Iwi events.
2. Ngaati Koroki Kahukura will share the total koura experience in any Ngaati Koroki Kahukura tourism initiative.

Tuna restoration and management includes:

Recording the views of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura people on eeling including the different types of catching.
Transferring elvers from the Karaapiro dam to key locations.
Assisting with any necessary engineering (including culverts), landscaping, tree planting around the ponds.
Recording all work undertaken by taking a photo before and after all work undertaken.

Participating in the catching and releasing or relocating of koura and tuna including:

Setting nets
Catching, weighing and measuring koura and tuna
Tagging and releasing tuna
Harvesting koura and tuna for Maungatautari and Poohara events
Recording all work undertaken by taking a photo before and after all work undertaken

Our Goals

Information and stories promoted and templated on Manawanui e-whenua app
Illustrations available to excite and engage our rangatahi and student voices
A working agenda that will support future growth models in restoration
Continue to enact our kaitiakitanga responsibilities
Provide approaches that support enduring partnerships
Demonstrate capacity and growth in restoration expertise and science knowledge within the iwi and whānau
Sustain healthy and thriving tuna, freshwater koura, puna and wetland environments
Recording the views of Ngati Koroki Kahukura people on eeling including the different types of catching;
Transferring elvers from the Karāpiro dam to key locations;
Identification and, where necessary, building restoration ponds;