History

Manaaki Wai o Te Hiku o te Ika is a Project committed to achieving a collective effort towards natural sanctuaries, healthy water and healthy people of the Awanui River Catchment.

The Awanui River Catchment begins it’s headwaters at Maungataniwha ranges and creates a nexus of streams that flow West to Tangonge, East through Kaitaia township and reach the salty sea Rangaunu Harbour out to Te Monana nui a Kiwa, North of Kaitaia township.
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The Waters of Awanui Catchment are significant taonga to the wellbeing of whanau, hapū and marae of Muriwhenua. There was once an abundance of natural habitats for freshwater, forest and wetland species customary rituals and mahinga kai practices.

Critical ecosystems such as indigenous forests , wetlands, and estuaries within the Awanui Catchment are in decline. Currently, peatlands and wetland ecosystems barely exist and places for tangata whenua to swim and as a result, Lake Tangonge remains the only significant wetlands requiring protection.
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The mid and lower catchment of Awanui River is classified as unswimmable and undrinkable, traditional harvesting of tuna and white bait stock is depleting, sediment discharge and bank erosion threatens Catchment ecosystems. Collectively we must healthy natural water
This project is a response to this crisis and is mighty work . The health and wellbeing of our whakapapa to wai in Te Hiku o te Ika depends on a strong relationship with our natural landscapes. Through connection with our land and waterways we will thrive.