Kaitiakitaka Pounamu

Tiakina he tino taoka pounamu mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri a muri ake nei.
Protecting the treasured greenstone for us and future generations

Pounamu in situ from Te Raukura o Papatūānuku,
a proposed wāhi tapu in the Cascade Gorge.

While Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu are the legal owners of the resource, they have officially recognized that kaitiakitaka or guardianship of pounamu is the role and responsibility of local rūnaka.

Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio is the exclusive rūnaka kaitiaki for Te Tai o Poutini ki te Toka (South Westland). It is Makaawhio’s responsibility to protect the resource in our area for us and for future generations.

The rūnanga has developed its Pounamu Resource Management Plan, which will help us to meet that commitment. The plan provides guidelines for the sustainable management of our pounamu resource and sets out ways we can achieve that goal.

Makaawhio Pounamu Resource Management Plan

Following extensive consultation, the Makaawhio Pounamu Resource Management Plan has been ratified by the Executive of Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and approved by all 18 Papatipu Rūnaka of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRONT) at their meeting on Saturday 23 May 2009.

Tim Rochford (Makaawhio TRoNT rep.), Mark Solomon
(Kaiwhakahaere, TRoNT) and Kāti Māhaki whānau
at Te Waipounamu House, Ōtautahi on Saturday23 May 2009,
following the completion of the presentation and approval
of the Makaawhio Pounamu Resource Management Plan

"Tīhei Mauri Ora," the toki pounamu presented to
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to mark the presentation
and approval of the Makaawhio Pounamu Resource
Management Plan

He tika te kōrero, "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini." My strength is not from me alone but from the many people that stand with me.

Even though many of the Kāti Māhaki whānau who have been closely involved in the development of the plan, and there are many of them, couldn’t make it, we still had a strong presence at the TRoNT hui.

Nō reira, ki a koutou i tae atu ki te Whare o Te Waipounamu i taua Rāhoroi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi.

To mark the occasion, a toki pounamu named "Tīhei Mauri Ora" was gifted to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. "Tīhei Mauri Ora" was crafted by Des Mahuika from pounamu sourced from Kā Umu o Hapopo (Big Bay).

The toki used by Māui to slay two taniwha before he could his first landfall in Te Waipounamu close to our marae was also called "Tīhei Mauri Ora". The hills that surround Big Bay are also known by the same name. Thus, the name given to the taoka presented to TRoNT links our turaka waewae to the source of the pounamu used in its creation.

Approval of the plan by TRoNT gives it the same legal status as an Iwi Management Plan, which means local authorities and agencies such as the Department of Conservation have legal obligations to take in to account our policies and plan.

With the ratification process complete, the Makaawhio Pounamu Resource Management Plan is now available online here. Printed copies will also be available very shortly.

Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio is now looking at ways to implement the Makaawhio Pounamu Resource Management Plan and the commercial development opportunities that arise out of the South Westland pounamu resource.

E tika ana te kōrero: "He mahi kai hoaka, he mahi kai takata."
"Just as sandstone works away at pounamu, work devours the people."

Nō reira, e kore e mutu te mihi ki a koutou mō ō koutou whakaaro me ā koutou mahi i kā tau tekau kua hipa. Nā te mahitahi, nā te mana o Kāti Māhaki i whakairo tēnei kuru aūhuka hei ārahi i Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Last modified: 05 August 2009