Whanganui River Catchment Tuna Strategy Ben Potaka

17/07/17

17 July 2017

Ngā manga iti, ngā manga nui e honohono kau ana, ka tupu hei Awa Tupua The small and large streams that flow into one another and form one River

17 July 2017

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PURPOSE Working together in the Whanganui River catchment to promote and protect the health and Te Mana o te future for Tuna by developing a Strategy Tuna

The Team

• Syd Tamakehu - Matahiwi • Tom Potaka – Pungarehu • Marcus McKay – Kaiwhaiki • Sonny Ranginui – Matahiwi • Paora Haitana – Hinengakau • Greg Keenan – Okahukura • John Wii – Taumarunui • Marilyn Tamakehu • Beryl Miller (admin) • Kahureremoa Aki (Nga Tangata Tiaki)

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Key tuna features: Pectoral fin Lateral line Dorsal fin

Gill openings Anal fin

Shortfin Dorsal fin is longer Longfin than the anal fin Dorsal & anal fin ends are almost the same length

Tuna Info v Need to access upstream and downstream v Spawn near Tonga v Long-lived & slow- growing v > 700 mm are all females! v Shortfin are common, longfin are becoming rare

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Ko au te Awa ko te Awa ko au (I am the River and the River is me) Iwi and hapū of the River have an inalienable interconnection with, and responsibility to, Te Awa Tupua and its health and wellbeing.

A Tuna Strategy is important to: • Ensure the health, wellbeing and abundance of Tuna; • Uphold principles of Te Awa Tupua – Tupua te Kawa; • Ensure we preserve our fisheries taonga tuku iho for Tuna Strategy future generations; Development • Whānau, hapū and iwi exercise greater mana motuhake and rangatiratanga for sustainable fisheries; • Better prepared to engage with the Government and other stakeholders on fisheries kaupapa.

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VISION

The River is the source KO TE AWA TE of spiritual and physical MATAPUNA O TE ORA sustenance

Our fishery and waters are healthy, sustainable and supports the health and wellbeing of Te Awa Tupua

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Mission A healthy freshwater • Restore important tuna habitat and water quality in the River. fishery that enables the hapū to exercise • Revitalise traditional fishing practices. customary use • Develop tuna monitoring and management emanating from mana systems. atua • Research and education. • Establish governance and guardianship to ensure health and wellbeing of tuna.

• Whakapapa • The importance of whakapapa acknowledges, among other relationships, our direct connection to Te Awa Tupua and Tikanga Māori therefore the freshwater amenities. • Kaitiakitanga - Traditional • Iwi affirming our obligations to the mauri of the fisheries and the resources on which Values those fisheries depend. • Whanaungatanga • Iwi affirm the importance of further collaboration with each other and the critical need to have a collective voice on all matters.

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• Whakapapa provides the linkages back to atua, effectively delegating responsibility (and Kaitiakitanga obligations) to whānau, hapū and iwi for the HE RIPO, HE TIPUA, HE KAINGA protection of all things. At each rapid, kaitiaki and people dwell • In terms of fisheries, the role of kaitiaki allows for our whānau and hapū to have availability to an abundance of kai from both the freshwater and saltwater environments.

• Refinement of our fishing practices occurs through wānanga where we transfer our mātauranga to the next generation who are able to continue with fulfilling our obligations Kaitiakitanga and responsibilities to Te Awa Tupua. • Kaitiakitanga is based on mātauranga. Our mātauranga is founded on a holistic perspective; we are part of our environment.

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• We are able to utilise our tikanga in the management of our fisheries, Te Awa Tupua Settlement. • The Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Kaitiakitanga – Regulations 1998 are implemented In Practice collaboratively within FMA 8. • Where whānau and hapū agree, information, systems and expertise is shared and coordinated with other partnering organisations within the wider catchment.

• The enhancement, care and management of Te Awa Tupua and the freshwater fisheries are well supported with ongoing tribal capability and capacity building. • Identify tribal practices, knowledge and management tools. • Focus on best practice models to implement Mātauranga traditional practices in the use, management and protection of the tuna fishery. • Design and implement programmes of learning for Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura.

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Mai i te Kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa • Mana and rangatiratanga over our fisheries is restored, preserved and protected for future Taiao – generations. Environmental • The capacity and integrity of the aquatic environment, habitats and species are sustained Outcomes at levels that provide for current and future use.

• Identify land use and development activities that are threatening and or destroying tuna habitat. Taiao - • The health of known tuna habitats of significance are identified, protected and Environmental monitored regularly. Outcomes • Liaise with landowners to discuss management of farms and how to mitigate the damage, farms are doing to wetlands, swamps, lakes and ponds that are crucial for the survival of out tuna.

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Internal and External Relationships

• Whānau/hapū collaborate in fisheries and environmental resource management to achieve our whānau and hapū driven objectives. Whanaungatanga • Whānau, hapū and iwi have sufficient capability and capacity now and into the future. - Relationships • Government agencies (DoC, MPI, Fish & Game, Horizons) establishment of the Fisheries Coordination Group. • Commercial fishers. • Recreational users (tourism etc).

• The Catchment Strategy will ensure the health and wellbeing of Tuna in our catchment firstly and foremost; • Support our Fisheries Group to contribute to Conclusion the protection and sustainable utilisation of fisheries within the Whanganui Catchment; • The survival of our tuna is currently determined by others, it is time to for us to step up