Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society a/Tasmania, Volume 142(1), 2008 149 HAURAKI MAORI MATAURANGA FOR THE CONSERVATION AND HARVEST OF TITI, PTERODROMA MACROPTERA GOULD/ by Phil O'B. Lyver, Joe Davis, Liane Ngamane, Alice Anderson and Pauline Clarkin (with one text-figure and two tables) Lyver, P. O'B., Davis, J., Ngamane, L., Anderson, A. & Clarkin, P.2008 (31:x): Hauraki Maori Matauranga for the conservation and harvest ofTiti, Pterodroma macroptera gouldi. Papers and Proceeding ofthe Royal Society of Tasmania 142 ( 1): J 49-160. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.142.1.149 ISSN 0080-4703. Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand (PO'BL*), c/o Hauraki Maori Trust Board, PO Box 33, Paeroa, New Zealand (JD, LN, AA, PC). *Author for correspondence. Email:
[email protected] Hauraki Maori traditional knowledge (which the New Zealand Maori term matauranga) concerning the harvest ofTiti, Grey-faced Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera gouldi (Hutton, 1869), on the islands adjacent to the Coromandel Peninsula was recorded and analysed. The harvest ofTiti linked Hauraki individuals ro culture, ancestors, individual well-being and tribal identity. It also maintained mana (prestige), kaitiaki (environmental guardian) responsibilities and matauranga systems. Harvest tallies ofTiti chicks (and number of birders) declined from 15 000 chicks (and 100-150 birders) before 1950, to 1000-J 200 chicks ( 10-20 birders) by the late 1980s, to < 100 chicks (5-10 birders) in 2007. Decline in harvest tallies was not due solely to fewer individuals harvesting because daily catch rates per birder also declined, in some circumstances by as much as 87%, over this time.