Tiaki at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
Tiaki means to care for people, place and culture.
Our Commitment to People and Place
At Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Tiaki is at the heart of everything we do. Tiaki, meaning to care for people, place and culture, underpins our ethos of protecting, enhancing, and sharing the mauri and mana of the maunga. We are dedicated to preserving the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of this unique, ancient ecosystem, and are proud to commit to the Tiaki Promise kaupapa.
Caring for the Environment
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a haven for some of New Zealand's most rare and endangered native flora and fauna. Through world-leading conservation efforts and sustainable practices, we are committed to ensuring that this special place continues to thrive as a pristine, natural environment for generations to come. Our species and conservation mahi (work) is at the forefront of global best practice and our biodiversity initiatives are contributing not only to the thriving wildlife here, but also to populations of native species in other parts of the country through translocation programmes.
Cultural Heritage and Tiaki
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a sacred place to mana whenua, and we honour the ancestral ties and wisdom of the local iwi (tribes), integrating these values into our conservation efforts and visitor experiences. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a co-governance model between three iwi, Ngati Koroki Kahukura, Ngati Haua, Raukawa, and the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust in which kawa and tikanga are fundamental to all that we do.
Cultural experiences including Rongoa Rakau (an introduction to Maori herbal medicine) tours and traditional Maori massage therapies including romiromi and mirimiri are available for visitors to enjoy, re-energise, and learn from.
Engaging with Our Community
Strong relationships with our community are central to what we do. Our conservation education programmes and volunteer opportunities allow individuals to connect with nature and contribute to our critical conservation efforts. We hold various events throughout the year that bring our wider community together and raise awareness about our ethos.
How You Can Help
Through visiting us, our manuhiri (guests) invest in helping us to care for Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. We also encourage our visitors and team members to embrace Tiaki in all their travels around our beautiful country and beyond.
On-site, before you go through any of the double gates which protect the forest from pests, we ask that you please:
Check - your gear for introduced pests such as rodents, skinks or insects.
Clean - your footwear and gear, removing soil and seeds by using our special footwear cleaning station.
Close - ensure your gear is zipped up and food is in a sealed container to avoid attracting rodents or insects.
Please also remember to take your rubbish with you so that we can keep our ngahere (forest) pristine.
By undertaking our visitor experiences and spreading the good word, you become a guardian of this precious ecosystem and help to ensure it remains here for future generations.
