Hikoi and planting celebrates lake
Working on water quality
History and restoration were the kaupapa for a gathering to replant native flora at Lake Tutira earlier this month.
Tutira Mai Nga Iwi and Poutiri Ao o¯ Ta¯ ne wha¯ nau hosted the Hikoi Tutuki, or journey of achievement, to celebrate the local taonga. The day started with a local history lesson, delivered by MaungaharuruTangitu¯ Trust (MTT) ranger Pereri King, about the importance of the lake both culturally and environmentally, and ended with everyone getting their hands dirty planting native plants around the lake’s edge.
This hikoi was of great significance to local hapu¯ that come under the MTT, as hapu¯ ancestors seasonally lived by Tu¯ tira, which is evidenced by the remains of six pa sites.
Pereri explained on the day, the hapu¯ whakataua¯ kı¯ for Lake Tu¯ tira is ko te waiu¯ o o¯ ta¯ tau tı¯puna — the milk of our ancestors — this refers to an abundance of kai and spiritual sustenance. However, a hundred years of sedimentation and pollution has severely affected the water quality of this taonga.
To help fix this, MTT secured funding in 2016 for a two-year project to help improve the mauri of Lake Tu¯ tira and its wider catchment of lakes and waterways.
The project is called Tu¯ tira mai nga¯ iwi, and it is using different knowledge systems including Ma¯ tauranga Ma¯ ori, local environmental knowledge, science and policy to undertake short-term actions and long-term planning.
The short-term actions include wa¯ nanga, pest plant removal, planting, fencing, science reporting, landowner and community engagement.
While fixing the water quality issues will take time, this project will help the group to plan and progress in their role as kaitiaki.
The replanting as a part of this hikoi is part of a much longer-term plan to restore this taonga. Further hikoi are planned for this year around the district.
■ For more information on when these will be happening keep an eye on the Poutiri Ao o¯ Ta¯ne Facebook page.