Climate Action Week: Restoring the mauri to our special places

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Te Hoiere Project Te Pou Hapai Taiao Ruihana Lewis (Ngāti Kuia) shares how his motivation to restore the environment comes from his connection to the land of his ancestors.

Te Hoiere Project Te Pou Hapai Taiao Ruihana Lewis (Ngāti Kuia) has shared what motivates him to protect his environment as part of Marlborough’s Climate Action Week.

Ko Te Hoiere te Waka (Te Hoiere is my ancestral waka)

Ko Te Hoiere Te Awa (Te Hoiere is my river)

Ko Matua Hautere Te Tangata (Matua Hautere is my ancestor)

Ko Kaikaiawaro te Kaitiaki (Kaikaiawaro is my spiritual guardian)

Ko Maungatapu te Maunga (Maungatapu is my mountain)

Ko Ngāti Kuia te Iwi (Ngāti Kuia is my iwi)

Ko Ruihana ahau (I am Ruihana)

OPINION: I grew up in Marlborough and come from a long line of Marlburians. My whānau have lived in the region since time beyond memory.

Te Hoiere Project aims to restore the entire catchment to good health, from the hills to the river and the sea.

My Nana, Phyllis Smith (née Pirihira Hamuera), grew up at a small Māori village in Canvastown, known as Ruapaka, where our marae Te Oranga once stood, and where our ancestors, including my Nana’s mum and grandmother, lay to rest.

This is what connects me to this place, my whakapapa to the land.

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It is through that whakapapa, and following in the footsteps of my ancestors, that has influenced my care for the environment. The concept of kaitiakitanga and an intergenerational approach to restoring and looking after the land gives me a sense of responsibility to advocate for its mauri.

As Te Pou Hapai Taiao for Ngāti Kuia I am a representative on the Te Hoiere Project. Inspired by the kaupapa of our tūpuna, we aim to leave Te Hoiere/Pelorus places in a better state for future generations.

The Project’s unity is its strength. Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, the community, local industry, the Department of Conservation and Marlborough District Council are working together towards landscape-scale restoration of Te Hoiere Awa/Pelorus River and its tributaries, ki uta ki tai (from the land to the sea).

Priority areas include the wetland at Ruapaka, my tūrangawaewae and the place of my ancestors. Bringing back ecological and cultural values is close to my heart.

Work has begun on eradicating invasive plant species that have colonised the site. Native flora will be re-introduced employing a mix of modern science and Matauranga Māori.

The end goal is to restore the mauri (life force) to this special place.