Ko ngā heke o te ngahuru he tohu o te hua nui o te tau
- ko Puanga kai rau e heke mai ana.
The first autumn migration of eels signifies well-stocked storehouses for the winter (the onset of winter being heralded by the rise of the star Puanga).
Te Heke Ngahuru ki Te Awa Tupua is the Te Awa Tupua strategy.
The name symbolises the potential of Te Awa Tupua to provide for all if cared for and protected as a living spiritual and physical resource.
Te Heke Ngahuru - The First Autumn Migration of Eels
Te Heke Ngahuru ki Te Awa Tupua
Te Heke Ngahuru refers to the first autumn migration of tuna; the preparation for a well-stocked storehouse for the winter. Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Settlement) Act, 2017] established Te Pā Auroa : a legal framework that recognises the Whanganui River and its catchment as a legal entity (Te Awa Tupua). Conceptually, Te Pā Auroa is a broad eel weir built to withstand the autumn, winter and spring floods.
Te Heke Ngahuru must create an extensive, well-constructed framework for Te Awa Tupua that is fit for purpose, enduring and the responsibility of all communities to maintain. This whole of river strategy document, will bring together people with interests in the Whanganui River to address and advance the environmental, social, cultural and economic health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua.
Te Heke Ngahuru ki Te Awa Tupua (Te Heke Ngahuru) will provide a blueprint for innovation and opportunity.
Te Heke Ngahuru must—
(a) identify the issues relevant to the health and well-being of Te Awa Tupua; and
(b) provide a strategy to deal with those issues; and
(c) recommend actions to deal with those issues.
Te Heke Ngahuru responds to our reality that environmental pollution and pollutants caused by human activity had degraded the state of the river. It poses the solution in local responses – that our communities must be empowered to take action. Four values, called Tupua Te Kawa, now guide all actions and decision making to provide for the health and well-being of both the river and its peoples. Tupua Te Kawa encourages
us to radically re-evaluate our relationship with nature, to see the River as indivisible –a living whole - intrinsic to the landscapes and the lives of the people that surround it.
The overarching objective for Te Heke Ngahuru is to take onboard that a planning and decision-making paradigm shift needs to occur for the Whanganui catchment. There are three particular features to this paradigm shift:
• Communities of Te Awa Tupua take ownership of Te Awa Tupua
• Priority issues in Te Awa Tupua are addressed through community led solutions
• Transition for the Crown and local government to a Te Awa Tupua way of working
These goals inspire a series of strategic action areas and recommended actions.
Te Kōpuka nā te Awa Tupua
Puta Tāne, Tangaroa kia piri, kia ita!
The close connection between the siblings Tāne Mahuta and Tangaroa.
White mānuka is the raw material used to build the pā auroa. This symbolises the connection, co-operation and strength within Te Awa Tupua.
Te Kōpuka nā Te Awa Tupua is a strategy group that will develop Te Heke Ngahuru ki Te Awa Tupua, the Te Awa Tupua strategy.
Te Kōpuka - The White Mānuka
Te Kōpuka members and hui attendees at the inaugural hui on Thursday 30th of May 2019 at Te Ihingarangi Marae, Waimiha.
Te Kōpuka nā Te Awa Tupua (Te Kōpuka) is the Te Awa Tupua strategy group comprising central, regional government, local government and sectorial interests, collaborating under the leadership of hapū and iwi to give effect to the intent of Te Pā Auroa nā Te Awa Tupua (Te Pā Auroa), the Te Awa Tupua framework.
Established in 2019, Te Kōpuka meet regularly to look at what paradigm shift is required to achieve the intent of Te Pā Auroa.
The purpose of Te Kōpuka is to act collaboratively to advance the environmental, social, cultural and economic health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua. The primary function of Te Kōpuka is to develop and approve Te Heke Ngahuru ki Te Awa Tupua (Te Heke Ngahuru). Other functions of Te Kōpuka include:
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monitoring the implementation of and reviewing Te Heke Ngahuru;
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providing a forum for discussion of issues relating to the health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua; and
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exercising any functions that may be delegated to it by a local authority.
The Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Settlement) Act 2017 (the Act), requires Te Heke Ngahuru to identify the issues relevant to the health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua, provide a strategy to deal with those issues; and recommend actions to deal with those issues.
Te Kōpuka is comprised of representatives of persons and organisations with interests in the Whanganui River, including local and central government leaders, environmental advocates, primary industry and tourism representatives, recreational users, and iwi from across the Whanganui River catchment. They are rich and diverse in lived experience, technical knowledge and all uphold a passionate commitment to Te Awa Tupua.
Iwi with interests in Te Awa Tupua worked in a collaborative effort called Te Ripo. Te Ripo facilitates iwi presence required for six of the memberships on Te Kōpuka.
The inaugural meeting of Te Kōpuka was held on 30 May 2019 at Te Ihingarangi Marae, Waimiha. There was unanimous agreement that the group should be led by iwi members of Te Kōpuka; namely Gerrard Albert of Whanganui (Chair) and Hera Smith of Te Atihaunui ā Pāpārangi and Ngāti Maniapoto (Deputy Chair).
The members of Te Kōpuka will comprise representatives of:
- Whanganui Iwi;
- other iwi with interests in the Whanganui River;
- local government;
- Genesis Energy Limited;
- the Department of Conservation;
- Fish and Game New Zealand;
- environmental and conservation interests;
- tourism interests;
- the primary sector; and
- recreational interests.
In addition, Te Kōpuka will be required to report regularly to and seek input from hapū with interests in the Whanganui River and other interested groups. You can find more details on there website by clicking here.
The current membership of Te Kōpuka nā te Awa Tupua are as follows:
Iwi with interests in Te Awa Tupua will work in a collaborative effort called Te Ripo, which will collectively facilitate iwi presence required for six of the memberships on Te Kōpuka.
Confirmed appointments representing iwi include:
| Representing Whanganui Iwi | Gerrard Albert (Te Kōpuka Chair) |
| On behalf of Ngati Tūwharetoa | Wiari Rauhina and Tyrone Smith |
| For Ngāti Rereahu | Gabriel Moana and Eric Crown |
| Representing Ngāti Maru | Anaru Marshall |
| On behalf of Ngā Rauru Kiitahi | Mike Neho |
| For Ngāti Maniapoto | Hera Smith (Te Kōpuka Deputy Chair) |
| Representing Tamahaki | Paora Haitana |
| On behalf of Uenuku | Aiden Gilbert |
| For Te Ihingarangi | Rangianiwaniwa Pehikino |
| Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa | Pahia Turia |
Members appointed by local authorities include:
| Mayor of Whanganui District | Andrew Tripe |
| Mayor of Ruapehu District | Weston Kirton |
| Mayor of Stratford District | Neil Volzke |
| Horizons Regional Councillor | Rachel Keedwell |
Other members:
| Fish and Game New Zealand | Allen Stancliff |
| On behalf of the Director-General of Conservation | Damian Coutts |
| Representing Genesis Energy Limited | Rebecca Larking |
Representing sectorial appointments, coordinated by Horizons Regional Council:
| Tourism | Rory Smith |
| Environmentalist | Keith Beautrais |
| Recreation | Nicole Dryden |
| Primary industries | Colleen Sheldon |
Register
Do you whakapapa to the Whanganui River? Would you and your whānau like to be registered on the Whanganui Iwi Database? What does that mean?
It means that you get sent pānui and updates on kaupapa related to the Whanganui River and Te Awa Tupua, the people and the river from the Mountains to the Sea. You can also apply for the different grants that are advertised on our website and facebook page.
If you are already on the database and need to up date your details please head to the database or send us an email at office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz