Revive Our Gulf is proud to partner with Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki, an ancient maritime people with a long history of voyaging, working together to enhance the mauri of Tīkapakapa Moana/Te Moananui ō Toi/Hauraki Gulf through kūtai reef restoration.
Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki has four specific priorities which have been applied within the Revive Our Gulf project:
These priorities reflect the social and cultural aspects of Take Taiaomaurikura – the iwi vision for restoring the mauri of the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki world. By improving the health of the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki rohe, and the socio-cultural and spiritual world through its focus on restoring kūtai for the benefit of cultural practices, our partnership aims to support achieving ecological health in a holistic way.
Kūtai are a taonga species that play a vital role in supporting hauora moana and hauora tangata, with the improvement of moana health correlating with the health of the people. As such, kūtai restoration projects developed in partnership with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki are also structured to create meaningful learning opportunities for uri of Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.
In August 2024, 14 small-scale deposits of kūtai were placed in areas around Te Pounui-o-Peretū (Ponui Island), Rotoroa Island, and Kauriwhakiwhaki – mid-Tāmaki/Beachlands. These sites were chosen by kaumātua and rangatahi, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Auckland, to evaluate appropriate site locations for future large-scale restoration of kūtai reefs.
For all of us, the deployment was more than a technical exercise; it was an expression of deep cultural values and ecological commitment. While the day’s logistical coordination was impressive, the heart of the kaupapa lay in the relationships nurtured throughout the process. It was a day where tikanga guided the work, and where whānau, scientists, and crew came together. The deployment day carried generations’ worth of wisdom and the potential for future regeneration.
Together, we continue to monitor the progress of the kūtai, using an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and other technology to assess their survival and adaptation to their new environments. These observations will inform future restoration efforts.
