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MKTT January 2024 Expedition update -Team completes NZ Subantarctic Island visits

The January Expedition Team that departed Bluff on 10 January 2024 has completed its visits to the NZ Sub Antarctic Islands (Auckland Islands, Enderby Island and the Snares), and Macquire Island, over the period 11-15 January 2024.

Murihiku ki te Tonga (MKTT) is a Murihiku Regeneration sponsored research, science and innovation programme, focused on building capability, capacity and greater understanding of the NZ Sub Antarctic Islands, Southern Ocean, and Ross Sea Sector. Since deploying, a range of projects and studies are now underway by the team. One of the key aims of the Expedition is to develop a culturally based framework for ongoing mātauranga Māori research.

“This includes multiple science disciplines management for Te Moana Tāpokopoko a Tāwhaki (the Southern Ocean). It has been our intent to take previous data from Ngāi Tahu scholars and archaeologists, taonga species monitoring, multiple science disciplines, as well as whānau observations, to inform the Āpiti Hono Tātai Hono (AHTH) assessments, and create a base framework for ongoing management.”

“This will be followed up on future expeditions to build our knowledge base,” says Riki Parata, MKTT Team Leader about the work the team is conducting.

The team is now well inside the Antarctic Circle, having already visited a number of Subantarctic Islands - including the Auckland Islands (landing and shore based activities), the Snares (small boat activity, no landing), and Cape Adare on its southern journey.

“Early in the voyage, we undertook a three hour zodiac ride on 11 January, around the southern end of the Snares. The amount of sea birds was overwhelming, with sooty shearwater, prions, albatross and petrels as far as the eye could see.”

“Tītī burrows could be seen on the mainland from our boats, with krill on mass on top of the moana, with huge bait balls forming around them that attratced larger fish species, penguins, and larger sea birds into a feeding frenzy”.

“On 12 January, we visited the Auckland Islands, where we undertook a cultural assessment of both Ranui and Hardwicke Settlements, and we then deployed to Enderby Island to undertake a further cultural assessment, and also drone operations as a part of supporting and building on a March 2023 archaeological expedition undertaken by Ngāi Tahu researchers Gerald O’Regan and Matiu Prebble”.C. Aitchison – Skyworks UAS

“The opportunity to further explore and record know Māori settlements and activities on Enderby Island and then Macquarie Island, as a whole team were significant outcomes for the expedition team.”

As we move south, the team plans to undertake a range of activities that includes marine mammal research using small boats, from the sea ice edge, and on land”, shared Riki Parata in his update on activities from the first full week of deployment.

C. Aitchison – Skyworks UAS

As of 22 January 2024, their vessel, the Heritage Adventurer, was well inside the Antarctic Circle and approaching Terra Nova Bay, where further research is planned.

Posted: 23 January 2024

First major Ngāi Tahu expedition departs as part of Murihiku Regeneration Southern Oceans Programme

A six strong team departed yesterday from Awarua -Bluff on a month long southern oceans science and research expedition as a part of the Murihiku ki te Tonga Programme (MKTT) aboard the Heritage Adventurer, owned and operated by New Zealand company Heritage Expeditions Limited. This is the first of four expeditions that will be deployed in the 2023/2024 summer session with the MKTT programme to better understand the southern ocean and its importance to Ngāi Tahu and New Zealand from a climate, biodiversity, cultural and sustainability perspective.

“The team will be undertaking a number of research and science projects that now form part of the ki te Tonga programme that we started in 2022 and follows on from our first deployment in February 2023 to prove our initial capability. This includes a research project sponsored by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), which will be conducted over the January and February voyages, and reported on during the year.

“This programme is in part about building on our Ngāi Tahu marine zone of interest, which includes the four NZ subantarctic islands. This is written into our 1996 settlement agreement with the Crown, and we are ensuing we are visible, engaged in that zone, and we are doing our part.

“We have selected a six strong expedition team that has a mix of experience and volunteers, who all have a science and research background, and curiosity about the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

“We see this as an opportunity of a lifetime, where they can further develop their skills knowledge and experience in conducting marine, sub Antarctic island studies and also operating in the Ross Sea Sector. On the trip they will be actively involved in marine mammal and wildlife research, undertake a cultural mapping project, and also developing future projects for the programme,” confirmed Terry Nicholas as the Programme sponsor for this expedition.

The six members of the team are; Riki Parata (Team Leader), Dr Regina Eisert (Science and Marine Mammal Lead), Colin Aitchison (Drone operator), Tane Tamati (member), Karlee Nicholas (member), and Luka Finn (member).

“We would like to acknowledge and thank Heritage Expeditions for their support and partnership in enabling this expedition to happen”, says Riki Parata, MKTT Team leader for the January expedition.

Murihiku Regeneration is sponsored through Hokonui Rūnanga, one of the four southern Rūnanga that are a part of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

The MKTT Programme, established in 2022, aims to build research, science and innovation capability and capacity for Murihiku Hapū, Ngāi Tahu in their understanding of te Moana-tapokopoko-a-Tawhiti, focused around climate, biodviersity, sustainable ecosystem management, commercial opprtunities and building cultural awareness and competence.

Posted: 11 January 2024

Positive meeting to discuss future of the Smelter and relationship matters

A meeting between senior leaders from Rio Tinto/New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) and Murihiku Regeneration was held in Wellington on the 28th of November to discuss the future of the Tiwai Smelter and the progress of key workstreams around the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two parties.

Dr Michael Stevens (Awarua Representative) and Terry Nicholas (Hokonui) met with the new Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Aluminium – Jerome Pécresse and Managing Director of Pacific Aluminium – Armando Torres to progress understanding and look at how certainty around the future of the Tiwai Smelter might be achieved.(Left to Right) Armando Torres, Chris Blenkiron, Jerome Pécresse, Terry Nicholas, Michael Stevens, Sir Bill English, Mathieu Perreault, and David Stock

“The meeting was very positive, and both sides have a very clear set of outcomes and timeframes which need to be achieved” said Terry Nicholas, Portfolio Director for Murihiku Regeneration.

“We have made good progress around the commitment to the remediation and both of us want to ensure there is a good outcome for the Awarua community, for the Tiwai workforce and, to ensure we collectively achieve a good remediation programme for the site” said Dr Michael Stevens, Awarua representative.

“Ultimately the decision around the future of the Smelter sits with Rio Tinto. We do have a good understanding of the issues, nut also what a good result will look like if that Smelter continues out to at least 2040. We think good progress can be made around enhanced decarbonisation programmes and to enable new industries and innovation to add value around a long term future of the Smelter” said Terry Nicholas

Both parties have committed to ongoing discussions to try and get certainty early in the new year.

Posted: 1 December 2023

Positive next steps in supporting Rakiura-Stewart Island renewable energy business case

On 15 November, the Southland District Council (SDC) released an expressions of interest EOI to complete an initial business case to progress the development of a Renewable Energy Plan for Rakiura- Stewart Island that can make a substantial difference for access to reliable, secure, affordable low emissions energy for this community.

The EOI is being advertised through the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS) and we want to encourage suitably qualified and interested parties to take an interest in considering to take on this important project.

The Rakiura-Stewart Island Energy Project is being overseen by a Steering Committee, which includes local community, mana whenua, central and local government and also actively supported by Murihiku Regeneration.Rakiura taken by Michael Stevens

“We see this project as an important and highly achievable renewable energy project, which will benefit the Rakiura community, and also serve as an exemplar for other remote communities in New Zealand and the Pacific”,

“This is a priority project that we have included in our energy transition plan, and something we are happy to support. We just need to help make it happen, and ultimately it will need to be a solution that will work for the community,” says Terry Nicholas, Portfolio Director for Murihiku Regeneration.

The next stage of the EOI will be the development of an initial business case, which will bring together previous reports, undertake financial modelling and provide a next step for consideration by the Steering Group and the community. This initial work is expected to be completed early next year.

Posted: 1 December 2023

Mitsui & Co host Murihiku Upoko delegation in Tokyo to continue to build relationships

On Friday 17 November, a Murihiku Regeneration delegation led by Ta Tipene O’Regan and supported from Ngai Tahu by Ben Bateman, the Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu Chief Operating Office (COO), met in with senior representatives of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. at their Tokyo Headquarters to discuss shared interests, priorities, and future opportunities initially focused around the energy transition.

The visit builds on a series of previous meetings and engagements that have been undertaken over the previous 16 months, as Mitsui and Ngai Tahu continue to develop the relationship and connections.

This also includes Mitsui and Murihiku Regeneration’s interest and potential participation in developing the Southern Green Hydrogen Project, which is still in the early stages of scoping and pre feasibility studies.

“ I was hugely appreciative of the warm and gracious welcome we received in our visit with Mitsui today. We had the opportunity to discuss many useful and relevant topics of interest around shared values, that in turn underpin strong international partnerships and then create opportunities for Ngai Tahu and for Mitsui.

“We see the potential for these opportunities to begin in Murihiku-Southland, around the work we are undertaking and connected to the energy transition, which in turn will help us to strengthen our relationship.”

“This visit is Japan follows on from our earlier engagements with Mitsui around potential future projects in our takiwā, including consideration of ther Southern Green Hydrogen project. We look forward to hosting future Mitsui visits in the near future”

Murihiku Regeneration is looking to host a visit by Mr Masato Sugahara, Chair and CEO of Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd, at te Rau Aroha Marae in early December. This will be another positive step in building the relationship.

Pictures: Visit with Mitsui Representatives: Toru Iijima (COO Energy BU), Jason Brown (Mitsui & Co NZ Limited CEO), and Shinya Umehara (GM Hydrogen Solutions),

Murihiku ki Ngai Tahu Delegation: Ta Tipene O’Regan, Miria O’Regan and Ben Bateman.

Posted: 23 November 2023