Waiwhetū Trustee
It has been a long journey, over 20 years for me in Te Ātiawa fisheries mahi. All voluntary. It has been amazing to finally get our in-shore settlement with Ngāti Toa.
The process was a tough one, and our Fisheries roopu succeeded in getting 70% agreement on the coastline and the validation of our hapu status in maintaining the ahi kaa roa in our rohe.
Being part of this roopu has ben an honour. My thanks to all those other Kaitiaki involved as well along the way.
We have a vision for our own mātaitai reserve areas, that we can manage. As a diver and fisherman, we see a large amount of kaimoana being taken from our rohe every day. The whole coastline is open to everyone to fish recreationally. Then we have the Commercial take on top of that. If we can start this, then the next step is to secure some areas of our own for future generations.
We will have a good future and still be able to gather kaimoana for our purposes and pass on our cultural practices to the next generation.
I have supported hapu in their efforts to look after our fishery (customary) in our rohe.
I have also worked with Ministry of Fisheries staff to protect our Kaimoana in our harbour, Turakirae, Eastbourne, Red Rocks, Makara, Tarakena, Matiu.
I have promoted and supported our three marae – Pipitea, Te Tatou o te Pō and Waiwhetū and I continue in our practice as kaitiaki by taking rangatahi from our whānau/hapu out with me on, and in, the moana.