The Ngā Whenua Rāhui Biennial Reports have provided a snapshot of not only the mahi on the whenua, but also the people and their stories from all over Aotearoa, from Motutāiko Island in Lake Taupō to Mangaotāne in Te Tairāwhiti, to the Whanganui River near Rānana marae, and across to Manukau Point on Rēkohu, Chatham Island. These stories span regions such as Ōpango within the lands managed by Pipiriki Incorporation, Pūrākaunui in the Ōtepoti area, and various locations across Aotearoa for the Hēteri-Ā-Nuku programme.
This 2022–2024 Biennial Report reflects the ongoing mahi of Ngā Whenua Rāhui to support Māori landowners in protecting, restoring, and revitalising the mauri of their whenua, not just as places of indigenous biodiversity, but as living taonga woven with ancestral memory, responsibility, and purpose. Over these two years, the landscape of our work has shifted, shaped by climate extremes, growing pressures on indigenous biodiversity, and so on.
Kaipupuri whenua (landowners and shareholders) across Aotearoa have continued to exercise tino rangatiratanga, applying mātauranga Māori alongside science, restoring balance to ecosystems, and reaffirming the sacred taura here (bond) between tangata whenua and te taiao.
This report captures some of the voices of landowners who refused to give up on their whenua after a cyclone. It shares the vision of uri replanting the hills of Rēkohu so the manu can return. It celebrates the strength of rangatahi stepping into their roles as kaitiaki. It holds space for the legacy of the Amorangi who guided this kaupapa from its beginnings, and for those who now carry it forward.
"Ko te whenua te tūāpapa o te ora – The land is the foundation of wellbeing."
In this Biennial Report, we share:
- Motutāiko: Rare Species Protected on Island – This story highlights the sacred and ecologically invaluable Motutāiko Island in Lake Taupō. It focuses on the efforts of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Motutāiko Island Trust to safeguard rare species and preserve the island's pristine sanctuary.
- Cyclone Gabrielle Couldn't Stop Conservation – We recount the resilience of Pete Swann and his biodiversity restoration team in Mangaotāne, Te Tairāwhiti, who continued their pest control mahi despite the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
- Tamariki Learn to Fish the Tūpuna Way – Inspiring and uplifting! Young uri of Ngāti Ruaka hapū learn traditional fishing practices and the importance of restoring native vegetation around the Whanganui River, ensuring the sustainability of ngaore and other indigenous species.
- From Training to Triumph: Hēteri-Ā-Nuku's Impact on Māori Conservation – This story highlights the Hēteri-Ā-Nuku programme which provides work-based training and education for the next generation of Māori conservation leaders.
- Tūtei Matapopore Pūtaiao Project – This is a project at Ōpango, where traditional Māori concepts and principles are integrated with western practices to monitor indigenous biodiversity, involving Pipiriki Incorporation and Ngāti Kurawhatia.
- Pūrākaunui: Ancestral Views – This story highlights Nicola Taylor's collective vision for Pūrākaunui, where she collaborates with local organisations to conserve te taiao and support mana whenua, restoring native bush, wetlands, and estuaries.
- Bringing Back the Manu to Manukau – We learn about the Hokinga Mai Ka Manu project on Manukau Point, Chatham Island, which is aiming to restore indigenous biodiversity by planting native trees and bushes and trapping pest animals, led by the Manukau Land Trust.
- Dual Hats to Care for Te Taiao – This story highlights Whakarae Henare's dual roles in conservation, focusing on Pariwhero A6 near Te Araroa on the east coast of Te Tairāwhiti and his wider responsibilities as Pou Tūora Mahi for Ngā Whenua Rāhui.