He Pou Kai Āwha

This report sets the foundation understood by our tūpuna and retained by the whānau, hapū and iwi practitioners we worked alongside. We outline some of the mātauranga that grounds and guides the traditional cultivation practices and introduce the frame and core concepts dealt with through Whakaika Te Moana, weaving together Māori knowledge, beliefs and practices using the Ao Tūroa framework.

While Whakaika Te Moana has provided a new lens for looking at aquaculture from an indigenous Māori perspective, there is a long way to go to move through the many barriers identified in our research (see He Poutokomanawa report). Despite this, our research reasserts the value and potential of mātauranga and practice in our approach to natural resources and aquatic cultivation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We acknowledge Rangiroa Rongonui, Gerrard Albert, Bubby Tamakehu, and Sid Tamakehu as the kaitiaki of the kōrero tuku iho in this report. The infographics and the mātauranga within them must not be used out of the context as presented in the project. Their use should always adhere to the original intent and narrative of the Whakaika Te Moana project.