Te Kāuru Hapū Collective celebrates decade of restoration

Te Miro Farm owner Penelope Drysdale and hapu members monitoring a tuna (eel).

It has been 10 years since Te Kāuru Hapū Collective came together to address the polluted state of the tupuna awa (ancestral river) Manawatū.

This led to the signing of the Manawatū River Leaders' Accord and agreeing on mahi (work) to form the MRLA Action Plan.

The efforts over this 10-year period have resulted in not only an improved awa (river), but hapū (sub-tribe) reconnection back to the awa, whenua (land) and ngahere (bush).

The relationships between hapū, landowners/farmers and council have improved, leading to successful restoration mahi with more in the pipeline driven by hapū.

Many of these projects throughout the Tararua district benefit from working collaboratively, one being AgResearch who support comprehensive findings by interweaving Western science with mātauranga Māori in their water quality assessments, to improve the mauri (life force/essence) of local waterways.

Kei te ora te Kāuru, ka ora te rere, ka ora anō te pūaha, if the source of the river is healthy, so should its collective flow even to the sea.

A special collaboration Te Kāuru has is with the Drysdale family at Te Miro Farm near the source of the Manawatū River.

This project was built out of a common vision and passion for the awa; to ensure ongoing protection and enhancement of this unique stretch.

The project aims are to protect and enhance this stretch for future generations, to re-engage the local hapū with the awa and whenua, to create a community on the awa and regenerate a thriving ecosystem at Te Miro.

So far this project has achieved the planting of over 10,000 natives along the awa involving the hapū and the local Norsewood and Districts School supporting the goals of reconnection and ongoing relationships.

Another collaborative project is Te Taiao Ūkaipō, a hapū based project which aims to help improve the quality of the water that flows into the Manawatū River.

Two hapū started to fence and plant alongside two tributary streams to the Manawatū five years ago, which has led to planned opportunities for further extensions and exciting developments in the future.

Te Taiao Ūkaipō was founded on the values of Whakapapa – connections to rivers, land and each other: Te Reo o te Kāinga – indigenous local knowledge and stories of the land and its people: Oranga Taiao – a healthy environment.

Te Kāuru recently organised a road show to celebrate 10 years of amazing successes. The Eastern Manawatū River hapū members were joined by key partners and collaborators on a magical tour of key sites and projects to celebrate the mahi completed to improve the state of Manawatū River.

The two days provided time for much kōrero (discussion) to celebrate these successes and plan for the future. Both days started with Rangitāne elders and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tamaki nui a Rua welcoming visitors to Mākirikiri Marae.

Visual presentations showcasing hapū projects were delivered each morning and the afternoons were spent travelling throughout the district, viewing many of these sites.

We were able to view river planting project developments such as Whakaora Tapuata, the Tū Te Manawa project sites at Ngāmoko, Ngāawapūrua and Te Waha o te Kurī, Te Miro Farm, the Hori Herehere site (where inspiration came from for the Tū Te Manawa information kiosks), the Haukopuapua Reserve, and the Mākirikiri Reserve.

Two miro trees were planted at Te Miro Farm in recognition of the special relationship with Te Kāuru and the 10-year celebration. The event concluded at the Tui Brewery, Mangatainoka with the presentation of a 10-Year Celebration booklet, wrap up kōrero which stimulated more possible future events and kai.

A big thank you must go out to all those involved in bringing this roadshow together, key partners and collaborators especially AgResearch, Horizons Regional Council and the Manawatū River Leaders' Accord who provide essential funding, assisting many projects around the region to help improve the mauri and health of our awa.