It was an amazing experience to attend the Ngā Puawai o Te-Oneroa-a-Tōhe in Kaitāia on September 28th-30th. As one of the over 80 invited stakeholders, the remarkable wānanga brought together diverse backgrounds to deliberate the future of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (90 Mile Beach). It was convened under the guidance of Te Oneroa a Tōhe Beach Management Board and supported by Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa. It was a humbling experience in learning how to share the nearby site's first results from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Forest Flows Endeavour programme with the "eyes of the toheroa" and the challenges in restoring the "Mauri of Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe". The press release from the event is in the next post. There were great discussions of Mataura Maori, Maori lead research, and western science can support. Myself and the Forest Flows team look forward to be part of the korero with the Te Oneroa a Tōhe Beach Management Board, the five iwi of Te Hiku o Te Ika, and local community groups.
For more information about the the wānanga and Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe, please visit https://www.teoneroa-a-tohe.nz/
