Vision
Research on Ngāi Tahu taonga species for the betterment of the species, and therefore, Ngāi Tahu whānui as kanakana today face a complex array of challenges that threaten their survival and fitness. Many of these challenges are being tackled directly by Hokonui Rūnanga. As kaitiaki of kanakana, we can further our efforts to ensure we have healthy populations of kanakana by embracing a multifaceted approach.
Community engagement and education initiatives are vital in raising awareness about the importance of kanakana conservation. Hokonui Rūnanga is fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural and ecological significance of kanakana among local communities to mobilise support for conservation efforts and encourage sustainable practices.
Strengthening our partnerships with governmental agencies and research entities, environmental organisations, and other indigenous communities can amplify the impact of our conservation initiatives. Collaborative efforts can leverage resources, expertise, and knowledge-sharing networks to implement effective strategies for habitat restoration, pollution prevention, and species recovery. Such partnerships can be powerful in the conservation of kanakana and are a cornerstone of our kanakana research and management.
Investing in research and monitoring programmes is essential for gaining insights into the ecological dynamics and population trends of kanakana. By conducting comprehensive assessments of habitat quality, population demographics, biological markers, and ecosystem health, Hokonui Rūnanga is identifying priority areas for conservation action and adaptive management strategies.
Integrating mātauranga Māori (traditional ecological knowledge) into decision-making processes enhances the resilience and effectiveness of conservation efforts. By recognising the intrinsic connections between cultural practices, environmental stewardship, and biodiversity conservation, Hokonui Rūnanga can promote holistic approaches that honour Indigenous perspectives and values.
project
Culturally, the Mataura Falls are significant to local Māori as an area of traditional and contemporary food gathering. The falls were named Te Au-Nui-Pihapiha-Kanakana by Ngāti Mamoe rangatira Parapara Te Whenua due to the mass amount of kanakana (Piharau, NZ lamprey, Geotria australis) that was known to congregate there. The Crown recognised the significance of the customary harvest for both tuna (eels, Anguilla spp.) and kanakana with the gazetting of the mātaitai reserve on the Mataura River in August 2005. The 8km mātaitai reserve includes the Mataura Falls and the Mataura Weir. The Matura Falls are a natural barrier that has been modified and reduced for industrial purposes. Upstream from the Mataura Falls is the Mataura Weir, a concrete Ū-shaped structure believed to have been constructed in the 1920s or 1930.
Thus, Hokonui Rūnanga has been involved in collaborative research on taonga species over many years, culminating in a robust multi-stakeholder alliance focused on these species. Hokonui Rūnanga has committed to investigating the feasibility of establishing a dedicated research centre in Murihiku where mātauranga Māori and science disciplines can work in unison for the betterment of Ngāi Tahu taonga species.
Male and female kanakana – Photo courtesy of Angus McIntosh ecologylive.nz
In Murihiku, Mana Whenua undertake taonga research through a mātauranga Māori lens and are leading pioneering projects within the wai-Māori (freshwater) and whenua (land) spaces, including leading research on kanakana through a dedicated entity, Taonga Research.
