Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
A karakia marked the start of an ambitious whenua restoration project at Te Waiotemapua on Kaitōrete, one initiative supporting Tāwhaki’s dual kaupapa of whenua rejuvenation and aerospace development.
HE KĀINGA NOHOANGA, HE PĀ TŪTURU.
According to Kaitōrete ranger Rulon Nutira, historical accounts from Hōri Kerei Taiaroa describe Te Waiotemapua as an important kāinga nohoanga and pā tūturu. The area once supported a rich range of mahinga kai, including tuna, aruhe, pora and native birds.
“Ko Te Waiotemapua he kainga nohoanga, he pā tūturu, ko ōna kai, he tuna, he āruhe, he pora, he manu,” said Nutira.
Whānau, Tāwhaki kaimahi and partner agencies walked to the planting site, which centuries ago formed part of the headwaters of Te Waihora. Nutira said signs of earlier occupation can still be seen across the landscape.
“Ko ō mātou mātua tīpuna i kerikeri i ngā karikari o te whenua kua waihanga he tāhuhu hei huna i ngā hau maria o tēnei whenua. Kei konei tonu ngā tohu, ngā rua, ki au nei ngā wharekai, ngā kāuta, ngā mea katoa.”
Nutira explained to whānau and agency representatives before planting began that DNA testing conducted at the site identified the presence of miro, tōtara, kahikatea and mātai, indicating these native species once grew there.
The restoration initiative, known as Whakarauora Te Waiotemapua, forms part of the wider environmental aspirations associated with the Tāwhaki aerospace project.
EHARA I TE MAHI TUARANGI NOA IHO
Julian Phillips, Head of Whenua Planning and Rejuvenation at Tāwhaki, the joint venture between Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Wairewa Rūnanga and the Crown, said the project reflects a commitment to ensuring innovation benefits both people and the environment.
“For us, the aerospace side of who we are, innovation isn't the point. It's what it can do for our people and for our planet,” Phillips said.
He said the Tāwhaki joint venture played a key role in securing the whenua and enabling long-term restoration efforts.
“If we didn't have the Tāwhaki joint venture, we wouldn't even have that thousand hectares within ownership of our whenua. We are working with companies that are interested in the sustainable approach to developing the aerospace industry.”
The restoration area covers more than 40 hectares and will be planted with thousands of native species, including mataī and tī kōuka.
Phillips described the project as a long-term commitment.
“This is a forever project. We've got a strategy where we've mapped it out into five management areas. By the end of this planting season we will have planted out two of those five areas, and over the next two years we'll continue planting the remainder.”
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Ko te taki o te karakia hei timata ake i te kaupapa o ‘Whakarauora Te Waiotemapua’ ki runga o Kaitōrete, tētahi kaupapa e hāpai ana i ngā kaupapa o Tāwhaki o te whakarauora whenua me te whakawhanake i te rāngai rererangi.
HE KĀINGA NOHOANGA, HE PĀ TŪTURU.
Hei tā te kaitiaki o Kaitōrete, a Rulon Nutira, ko ngā kōrero nō ngā tuhinga o Hori Kerei Taiaroa e whakamārama ana i te wāhi hei kāinga nohonga, hei pā tūturu. Ko te takiwa hei tārewa ake i ngā mahinga kai pēnei i te tuna, te āruhe, te pora me ngā manu Māori.
“Ko Te Waiotemapua he kainga nohoanga, he pā tūturu, ko ōna kai, he tuna, he āruhe, he pora, he manu,” e ai ki a Nutira.
I hīkoi ngātahi atu ko ngā whānau, ngā kaimahi o Tāwhaki me ngā kāhui pūtahi ki te wāhi whakarauora heoi, i ngā wā o mua, koinei te ūpoko o te roto o Te Waihora. E kī ana a Nutira, ka taea tonu te kite i ngā nohoanga o mua huri noa i te whenua nei.
“Ko ō mātou mātua tīpuna i kerikeri i ngā karikari o te whenua kua waihanga he tāhuhu hei huna i ngā hau maria o tēnei whenua. Kei konei tonu ngā tohu, ngā rua, ki au nei ngā wharekai, ngā kāuta, ngā mea katoa.”
I whakamōhio hoki a Nutira ki ngā whānau me ngā kāhui pūtahi i mua i te whakatō i ngā kākako, i whakamātauria e rātou te whenua mā te mātauranga pītau ira, ā, i kitea i t pītau ira o te miro, te tōtara, te kahikatea me te mātai. He tohu o te tipuranga mai i ngā wā o mua.
Ko tēnei kaupapa o ‘Whakarauora Te Waiotemapua’ he āwhero nui e hāngai ana ki te kaupapa whānui o Tāwhaki.
EHARA I TE MAHI TUARANGI NOA IHO
E ai ki a Jullian Phillips, te kaiwhakahaere mō te whakarauora whenua ki Tāwhaki, e whai whakaaro ana tēnei kaupapa hei whakatūturu i ngā hua auaha mō te katoa me te taiao. Ko Tāwhaki he pakihi ka mahi ngātahi a Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Wairewa Rūnanga me te Karauna.
“For us, the aerospace side of who we are, innovation isn't the point. It's what it can do for our people and for our planet,” e ai ki a Phillips.
Hei tāna, i whai wāhi mai a Tāwhaki joint venture ki te pūpuru i te whenua me te whakamana i te pae tawhiti o ngā mahi whakarauora.
“If we didn't have the Tāwhaki joint venture, we wouldn't even have that thousand hectares within ownership of our whenua. We are working with companies that are interested in the sustainable approach to developing the aerospace industry.”
Neke atu i te 40 heketā tēnei wāhi whakarauora, ā, ka whakatō i ngā hua manomano pēnei i te matai me te tī kōuka. E ai ki a Phillips, he kaupapa mau roa.
“This is a forever project. We've got a strategy where we've mapped it out into five management areas. By the end of this planting season we will have planted out two of those five areas, and over the next two years we'll continue planting the remainder.”