Kia ora, ko Hinemoa tōku ingoa, nō Te Hiku o te Ika ōku tūpuna, kei Te Motu Arai Roa ahau e noho ana. Nei a Mihi ka rere ki a koutou.
A rāhui was recently established prohibiting four species of marine life being collected around the entire island coastline. Tipa (scallops), kūtai ( mussels), kōura ( crayfish) and pāua (abalone) are restricted from collection from the shore and out to sea for one nautical mile for at least the next two years.
Ngāti Pāoa, our mana whenua, have led the way in making this decision and the community is behind them. We celebrated with a pōwhiri and breakfast feast after the early morning ritual at Oneroa beach at Piritahi Marae, one of the most precious places for me here. It is both a place of healing and of the visibility of our histories and our aspirations. Get in touch with Bianca Ranson at @potikiadventures who can organise an authentic experience for you. She can also take you on expeditions around the coast to see first hand why the rāhui is so desperately needed to restore our moana.
Our waka ama club also has a base beside the marae, together with some waka at Onetangi. How lucky are we to have northern and southern coasts to go paddling in most weathers. If you would like to join us, get in touch with Waiheke Waka Ama on Pukamata (Facebook) to jump on board for a social paddle. Seeing the island from the ocean side, so close to the surface of the water and feeling the synchronisation of paddles moving the waka is sublime. Bucket list stuff.
