Redefining conservation
An emerging collective of hapū and iwi representatives from five ecosanctuaries across Aotearoa are exploring ways to take conservation beyond the predator-proof fences.
The collective grew naturally as hapū and iwi representatives connected through collaborative projects, including the translocation of species between the ecosanctuaries. Those organic connections were solidified in a wānanga (workshop) in November 2023, where some representatives met in person for the first time.
Dr Billy van Uitregt—a Senior Lecturer from the University’s School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences—is involved in the collective in partnership with his whānau in Te Kāhui o Rauru. His contribution to the collective has been both through his role as a Ngaa Rauru representative on the Board of ecosanctuary Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, and as a researcher with interests in how Indigenous voices, knowledge, and worldviews are represented in contemporary environmental and conservation management and policy.
“Sometimes there are challenges where Māori values don’t necessarily align perfectly with conservation values and practices. Even though Māori—hapū and iwi—are supportive of the conservation objectives and outcomes, the conservation objectives themselves may be a little bit different for Māori—they can have a wider frame—so there can be a bit of tension in these conversations,” Billy says.
Talking to others working in ecosanctuaries and serving on ecosanctuary Boards around Aotearoa made it clear that similar challenges were being experienced across the ecosanctuaries.
“I just started getting in people’s ears about our challenges at Bushy Park. I talked to Zealandia, talked to my former Master’s supervisor Lyn Carter, who is the Kāti Huirapa representative down at Orokonui. Everyone we talked to immediately understood and saw the value of collectivising those conversations.”
Currently, the group involves hapū and iwi representatives from five ecosanctuaries: Bushy Park Tarapuruhi (just outside Whanganui), Rotokare (Taranaki), Orokonui (near Dunedin), Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne (Wellington), and Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (Waikato). Uenuku (Raetahi) also participated in the wānanga to talk through how they’re working towards an ecosanctuary in their rohe (area).
“As established ecosanctuaries we often talk about the challenges of trying to retrospectively fit kawa me tikanga (cultural practices and principles) of hapū in how the ecosanctuaries operate. But some of the emerging ecosanctuary initiatives are already hapū- or iwi-led and so can establish themselves with a foundation in the kawa and tikanga of hapū.
“As a collective, we see ourselves as being able to support those emerging hapū and iwi initiatives. So, for example, if there's a case to be made for an ecosanctuary initiative, then we can support that and work together to make it happen, and not reinvent the wheel every time.”
The inaugural wānanga for the collective had to be in person with the sole aim of whakawhanaungatanga (building strong relationships) to create a solid foundation to take on the challenging work ahead and allow the collective to grow.
“It was on a marae, tikanga was observed. And yes, we had those PowerPoint presentations that you'd expect at a wānanga, but the real thread that everyone centred around was a toi Māori (art) project where we created tukutuku panels (woven panels).”
Each element of the wānanga was carefully considered to provoke conversation about how ecosanctuaries can—and do—support the surrounding communities and landscapes. One key component was the kai.
"We had Kāuta Crew, led by Bart Cox, cater the wānanga. Every meal incorporated native kai species and was designed to get everyone thinking about how ecosanctuaries might be used for the conservation of kai and rongoa (medicinal) species, and the preservation and revitalisation of mahinga kai (food gathering) practices.”
The wānanga culminated in the composition of a waiata, ‘Āhuru Tautaiao’, led by Rawharangi Katene. The waiata revealed itself through a few short workshops and by listening to the early morning chorus of manu (birds) around the marae during the wānanga. The waiata tells the kōrero (narrative) and the kaupapa (objectives and approach) of the collective.
“In our workshops we were referring to āhuru as the warm, feathery lining of the nest that keeps the eggs warm and cosy. When we're thinking about our ecosanctuaries, we think of them as this place to keep our precious taonga safe, incubated, and growing.
“The waiata helped us start thinking outside of the fences and think about how the ecosanctuaries are connected to the broader landscape. It's not just in the ecosanctuary where conservation happens, these ecosanctuaries support the conservation across the entire landscape, and they can encourage reconnection to natural food systems that are borne of this landscape.”
The collective will seek further funding to build the group further and to develop research projects focused on our ecosanctuaries. Billy can see huge benefits not just for the ecosanctuaries themselves, but for the relationship of everyone in Aotearoa with our ecosanctuaries—and the taonga both in and around them.
“A key benefit I see is opening these ecosanctuaries beyond the classic conservation narrative, exposing people to building a relationship and ethic of care—for these places, for these species. Currently, in the classic conservation approach you'd walk through, and you'd get a talk from somebody, which is an important element. But if you're actively engaged in something like harvesting within the ecosanctuary, within that harvest there's a practice of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) that's embedded in it, so you could develop a full suite of relationships with these landscapes and with these species. I think we have opportunities to give people a deeper sense of connection, responsibility, and care.”
The wānanga was hosted by Te Aroha Marae in Kai Iwi and coordinated in partnership between Te Kāhui o Rauru and Te Herenga Waka, with generous funding, organisational support, and contributions to the kōrero provided by Dr Nikki Harcourt at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.