Whatungarongaro te taangata, toituu te whenua

As man disappears from sight, the land remains

James Henare Research Centre at the Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand Annual Conference – March 2024

By Soriya Em

4 April 2024

The Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand held its annual conference in March 2024, to bring together the knowledge and experience and up to date research of coastal restoration. This year’s gathering took place at Maketū Marae, hosted collaboratively by Maketū Marae, Te Taiao o Kāwhia Moana and Onepu Charitable Trust in Kāwhia.

Associate Professor Marama Muru-Lanning, Co-Director of the James Henare Research Centre, presented the team’s research on harbours, a project funded by The Royal Society Te Apārangi. Marama delved into the concept and practice of kaitiakitanga across Whangarei, Manukau, Kāwhia, and Aotea Harbours, elaborating the perspectives of past and present communities and their relationships with their harbours. Complementing her insights were contributions from key community researchers including Horahaere Daisy Scott from Onepu Charitable Trust, Hano Ormsby from Te Taiao o Kāwhia Moana, and Lees Seymour from Tainui Kāwhia Incorporated. Together, they contextualised community activism and initiatives in Kāwhia and Aotea harbours. A large Tai Tokerau contingent of coastal kaitiaki and weavers from Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa and the Hokianga were also in attendance at the conference.

The conference provided a unique platform for attendees to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding various coastal ecosystems across Aotearoa. Hands-on field tours and workshops facilitated deeper understanding of crucial restoration activities and culturally significant sites around Kāwhia and Aotea.

Participants had the opportunity to visit Kāwhia Moana Native Nursery, where they learned about the propagation of pingao and spinifex for future dune planting. Workshops covered topics such as coastal plant identification, weed control, and pest animal monitoring and management. Field visits to Aotea mussel farm, Hawaiki Iti (the gardens of Whakaotirangi), and Tom French Grove enriched understanding of the historical and present interconnectedness of coastal systems.

The Coastal Restoration Conferences offered an invaluable opportunity for knowledge sharing and exemplifies transdisciplinary research as an effective pathway towards actionable positive environmental changes.