Building Relationships
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and Ngāti Koroki Kahukura were invited to Taranaki Mounga, where the team were given first-hand experiences of the ecosystems that surround the majestic mountain.
Kiwi wā
In September 2023, it was a time to walk the lands and experience this massive seething mauri accessing some of its most sacred wahi tapu in and around Taranaki mountain. In amongst the layered whakapapa and puuraakau (local narratives) we discussed the biosecurity and the environmental aspirations of both iwi and DOC for the mounga.
Over this short but extremely impactful time together we were able to look strategically into permits and how the landscape of kiwi translocation is transforming before our eyes. We were able to agree on some common values that would continue to guide the relationship between ourselves and the Taranaki Mounga Project, when dealing with translocations.
Since our meet and waananga in September, we've met in different hui over consecutive months, building and consolidating relationships. This bond has uplifted in a tradition proverb shared between Taranaki iwi and Tainui Waka.
" Toou kete kiiwai, tooku kete kiiwai ka ora te iwi"
" Your basket and my basket, together we succeed for the people."
This video demonstrates connecting with each other and building strong relationships across iwi, hapū and taiao groups so we can realise our shared vision of restoring and revitalising Taranaki Mounga and our wider taiao spaces.
It's about providing the right environment for relocating larger numbers of kiwi to Taranaki Mounga next year and beyond that, and it's also about whakapapa, tikanga, wellbeing for us and communities involved and living our values.
- Ngahina Capper
Pou Amotake / Operations Manager – Taranaki Mounga Project