Māori governance entity Ngā Tāngata Tiaki O Whanganui and Rānana Marae have hosted a river symposium at Rānana.
The event last Friday gave Whanganui uri [descendants] the platform to showcase a range of examples and initiatives they use to support the health and wellbeing of the Whanganui River.
Before the symposium commenced, Dr Rawiri Tinirau made reference to a whakataukī [tribal saying] coined by Morvin Te Anatipa Simon, which set the scene of the hui: “He pukenga wai, he nohoanga tāngata; he nohoanga tāngata, he putanga kōrero - where there is a body of water, people settle; where people settle, legends unfold.”
![The He Pūkenga Wai River Symposium was held at Rānana.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/MOC3RJEETJHYDMSDTDL3J3LTQA.jpg?auth=24436cb8d296c8c762168a80ae39ad0ecad46d911d17e6514828ec8d2d3b8679&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Gordon Cribb, programme manager for Mouri Tūroa, a Jobs for Nature initiative, spoke about the ongoing efforts to work with landowners to strengthen the overall health and wellbeing of the many tributaries flowing into the Whanganui River.