Active Kaitiakitanga in Response to Climate Change
Te Ara o Raukawa Moana is a research project centred around enabling active kaitiakitanga over our changing maritime environment as a proactive response to climate change. It is designed to help focus our priorities to understand, adapt and restore our connections to some of the most significant and at-risk places within the Ngāti Toa Rangatira (Ngāti Toa) rohe.
Climate change is changing Te Moana o Raukawa (Cook Strait). There is a danger that climate change is, and will, continue to have severe impacts for Ngāti Toa as many of our significant sites and places within Te Moana o Raukawa are at risk. Te Moana o Raukawa is connected by a complex seascape of currents, rocks, fishing areas, tides, significant sites, pā, tauranga waka, harbours and streams. Ngāti Toa maintained connections to this seascape with travelling heritage traditions across the rohe. Te Moana o Raukawa is integral to the mana moana and mana whenua of Ngāti Toa. It is central to our identity and heritage as it is literally the water body that connects us to key sites of significance across our rohe: Te Awarua-o-Porirua, Kapiti Island, Te Mana o Kupe (Mana Island), Te Hoiere (Pelrous Sound), Whakatū (Nelson), Te Whanganui (Port Underwood) and the Wairau coastal environment. This is acknowledged and reinforced through the Poutiaki redress provided in the Ngāti Toa Treaty Settlement which recognises our role as kaitiaki of Te Moana o Raukawa. Our research project witnessed environmental degradation and the challenges of climate change events such as heavy rain, coastal erosion, flooding and fire.
This publication provides a glimpse into the world of Te Moana o Raukawa, the significance of the sea and the connection between Te Ika a Māui and Te Waka a Māui. Our project was a lived experience of working with the changing environment while ensuring that we hold on to the knowledge and traditions of the past as we walk backwards into the future.
Me huri whakamuri ka titiro whakamua
Te Ara o Raukawa Moana Exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum expresses some of the key aspects and learnings of this research project. The exhibition is centred around the creation of Te Ara Taura – the rope ladder. It is symbolic of the deep connections of whakapapa and the call to awaken and respond to the challenges of climate change.