NGA KAITIAKI O PUREHUA - AN INDIGENOUS MARINE BIOSECURITY PROJECT
Ngarangi K. Walker*, Justin Tibble, H.Riripeti Reedy, Carmen James, Waata Papali’i-Smith, Te Amohaere Ngata-Aerengamate, Regan Fairlie, Wade Reweti
Kapuarangi Associates Limited
Tairawhiti/ East Coast 4010
Aotearoa/ New Zealand
ngarangi@kapuarangi.nz
This summer project came about to support Indigenous whanau (families of the tribe) as cutomary food gatherers to grow their knowledge of the biosecurity system in an effort to ensure the protection and sustainability of their kapata kai (food cupboards) in their rohe moana (marine environment).
Questions included:
- What is biosecurity?
- What are marine pests?
- What do we have in our kapata kai and rohe moana?
- What is biodiversity?
- What does kaitiakitanga mean and look like for whanau at place?
- What does it mean for others who want to work with us and alongside us?
Visual data collection was done before wananga and shared with whanau using their already present biodiversity index at their marae, Taharora.