The Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao programme was formally established in 2020, building on previous environmental work undertaken by Rewi Anglem and his team. The purpose of the programme is to ensure that the Hokonui Rūnanga increases capacity to exercise kaitiakitanga and rangatiratanga across the takiwā of the Hokonui Rūnanga with a focus on Mātauranga Māori and a management approach aligned with the principal of ki uta ki tai (mountains to the sea).
Check out the LEARNZ online field trip videos to find out more about our kaupapa and mahi.
Our team:
Left to right: Riki Parata, Jo Brand, Mollie Lyders.
Riki Parata - Kaiārihi Taiao Environmental Lead
Mollie Lyders - Kaitiaki Taiao Environmental Assistant
Shelley Karena - Health and Safety Coordinator
Abby-Lee Evans - Kaitiaki Taiao Training Coordinator
Courney Bennett - Environmental Planner consultant
Tegan Ramage - Administration Assistant
Alana Bensemann - Operations Coordinator
Pepeha
Ko aku waka whakairo ko Takitimu, ko Uruao
Kei runga ko Ōparure
Kei raro ko Mataura e rere ki te moana o te Ara a Kiwa
Ko Māruawai taku whenua taurikura e takoto nei
Takoto mai ko Matamata, te mōkai tapu o Rakitauneke,
te taniwha
Ko Te Au-nui Pihapiha Kanakana te rere
Ko Hoka-nui, Kowhaka-ruru, Tarahau-kapiti ngā puke
Ko Tūtemakohu raua ko Te Rakitauneke ngā tīpuna
Tū mai ko Ō Te Ika Rama, te whakaruruhau o te mano
Tēnei te reo o Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngāti Kurī,
Ngāi Tahu ngā iwi
Kia taurikura ai. Kia haumako ai ko te taiao mo te apōpō
Let the land be prosperous and fertile for future generations
Vision
To enhance the mana of te ao tūroa.
Mission
To sustainable support the growth of Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao by enhancing self determination to manage, restore, and provide for te ao tūroa (the natural world).
To develop leaders and connect ngā tangata to the whenua through teaching and knowledge sharing as kaitiaki.
To uphold the mana and rangatiratanga of e taiao in the realm of Rakinui and Papatuānuku.
LEARNZ Hokonui restoration: Tech in te Taiao
LEARNZ is a programme of free virtual field trips, helping students access the inaccessible. Through their website, ākonga can visit inspiring places around Aotearoa, Antarctica and beyond. Find out how it works - Using LEARNZ.
LEARNZ has created an online virtual field trip promoting our very own Hokonui Restoration projects - focussing on technology.
Te Kawa o Te Taiao
Te Kawa o Te Taiao is a collation of information for Hokonui Rūnanga kaitiaki and staff to refer to and align with when engaging in environmental management or planning processes.
Find out more about Te Kawa o Te Taiao and how to use it.
2021 Environment Southland Community Awards - Environmental Action in Water Quality
In 2021 the Kaupapa Taiao Team won the Environmental Action in Water Quality Environment Southland Community Award.
The following is from the Environment Southland website:
Hokonui Rūnanga’s environmental arm is seriously impressive. The Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao programme started in December 2020. The purpose of this programme was to ensure the rūnanga increased capacity across the Mataura catchment with a focus on Mātauranga Māori. They identified a need to develop a specialist set of skills to support the delivery of their environmental projects and have recently gained funding from LINZ and DOC – Jobs for Nature.
One of their most established and well-known projects has been the restoration of the low-lying areas on their property in Gore into a series of connecting wetlands.
Other projects include, the Kōura breeding programme, and the Mataitai project in Mataura, at New Zealand’s first freshwater reserve, which involves monitoring the migration of Kanakana (lamprey) and trap and transferring upstream. The rūnanga are now planning to tackle pest and weed control and restorative planting, and have established their own nursery.
Hokonui Hills and Haumuri/Croydon Bush Biodiversity Project
Funded by LINZ Jobs for Nature, the aim of this project is to restore the biodiversity of the Hokonui hills and Haumuri/Croydon Bush areas. Find out more about the project and what makes these areas special.
Catlins and Ōtewao/Forest Hill Biodiversity Project
The Catlins and Otewa/Forest Hill Biodiversity Project is in partnership with the Department of Conservation Jobs for Nature. Find out more about the project and what makes these areas special.
Kaitiaki Taiao Tauira Programme
The Kaitiaki Taiao Tauira Programme is a 3-year educational initiative co-developed by the Hokonui Rūnanga and LINZ.
Mataura Mataitai
Mataura Te Awa Mataitai, New Zealand’s first freshwater reserve, was opened in October 2006 by the then Minister of Fisheries, Jim Anderton. Find out more about the significance of this reserve and what makes this place so special.
Mataura River Mataitai opening, 2006
Rūnanga Wetland Development
We are in the process of creating a natural wetland complex at our Charlton Road site. The area is currently being planted with native plants that would have once been found in our area. Find out more about this project.
Koura
In 2017 Hokonui Rūnanga started Koura Farming, in a joint venture with Ngāi Tahu and Earnslaw One.
Portfolios
Find out about the various environnmental portfolios Hokonui Rūnanga is involved with.