Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated celebrates its 11th Kahungunu Fish Hook Summit as part of iwi’s Matariki celebrations.

As with all events these days, the organizers are happy to be able to run this event without any issues related to Covid-19 restrictions.

It will take place at the Napier Conferences & Events Centre, Marine Parade, Napier on Tuesday 21 June.

It’s the ideal location by the sea and the iwi organizers want all iwi members and friends who are passionate about our environment to come and get involved. Come connect, share, feast and learn from other budding people who care about our planet Earth.

The first Kahungunu Fish Hook Summit was held on March 11, 2011 and was initiated by the then iwi Fisheries Branch Dr. Adele Whyte and Senior Analyst Ngaio Tiuka under the leadership of Te Roopū Whakamana (TRW) – our Fisheries Governance Officer. band.

The group consisted of Jim Hutcheson – Coastal Hapū Collective, Chairman of TRW Tom Paku – Te Kupenga a Whiturauroa a Māui, Harry Mikaere – Chairman, Kahungunu Asset Holding Company, and Ngahiwi Tomoana – Chairman of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

The group has since disbanded, but they should be thanked for initiating this event following the strategic plan for marine and freshwater fisheries, Kahungunu Ki Uta, Kahungunu Ki Tai, which was formed by the group of governance and launched in 2008.

The strategy is a living document and continues to govern the work carried out by the existing environment and natural resources unit of the office of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

“When we look at our lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, foreshores and sea, we see degradation, depletion and conflict. Over a century of management by government agencies has yielded these results, despite the best efforts of whānau, hapū, and iwi. We need to adopt new ways of doing things if we want to change the direction in which these taonga are heading,” said Te Roopū Whakamana.

The strategy defines Kahungunu’s aspirations for the use and management of marine and freshwater fisheries in our rohe.

It is clear that there are great concerns about the current state of fisheries and ecosystems in the rohe and some of the practices of the agencies responsible for managing them.

The strategy favors localized management in accordance with tikanga and supports the mana of hapū in this regard. It also provides a framework for hapū and other groups within the iwi to work together and engage with other stakeholders, agencies and the wider community.

The purpose of the Kahungunu Fish Hook Summit is to provide an opportunity for ngā uri in Kahungunu to come together to:

· Connect – Rediscover our whakapapa and rekindle our whakawhanaungatanga;

· Celebrate – Hapū’s development plans, aspirations and achievements;

· Explore – How we can work together to reclaim our waterways;

· Share – Our ideas and enthusiasm for maximum impact; and

· Feast – To provide us with food for the upcoming work.

Over the years, the summit has focused on relevant issues that have generated new interest each year.

Last year’s program featured an exciting mix of hapū and tangata whenua presentations, covering a wide range of topics, including the latest hapū plans and recent developments.

We were fortunate to hear from scientists, conservationists and GNS researchers who continue to research and share information about our waterways with the goal of restoring our waterways to a healthier state.

“Our lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, foreshore and sea have always been an integral part of our existence, providing both physical sustenance and reminding us of our tipuna and the spiritual aspect of our lives,” Te Roopū Whakamana said.

“Takitimu has always had a kaupapa around all aspects of fishing and fishing and we had absolute control during this splendid period of isolation from 800 AD until the 1800s. Now we are moving towards the reviving, reinvigorating and reclaiming that,” Ngahiwi Tomoana, former chairman of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, said.

There are new and interesting discussion topics. At the Fish Hook Summit whānau, Hapū and Post-Settlement Asylum Seeker groups, and Taiwhenua groups will give an update on a range of activities they have been involved in over the year. Much of the update is taiao information and it’s always great to hear our people talk about the mahi they are so passionately involved with.

Covid-19 has played a big role in our world. A pandemic erupting in the air, polluting our environment right to the heart of our homes. But the Covid trial has also come with challenges that have strengthened our families and our communities.

Come to the Fish Hook Summit. Register your attendance by completing the online form. See the poster inside this edition of Tihei Kahungunu. https://www.kahungunu.iwi.nz/fish-hook-reg