Mauri Compass Assessment
2020
Assessing the mauri of the Urenui River and the Mimitangiatua River
Authors: Marlene Benson, Anne-Maree McKay, Manawa Ruru, Riaki Ruru, and Ian Ruru
"Mauri mahi, mauri ora."
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga Mauri Compass Assessment
Assessing the Urenui River and the Mimitangiatua River
Authors: Marlene Benson, Anne-Maree McKay, Manawa Ruru, Riaki Ruru, and Ian Ruru
"Mauri mahi, mauri ora."
Introduction: Our Ancestral Connection
"Ko te Titōhea ka meangiatia, he puna koropupū, ahakoa tukitukia e te poaka E kore e mimiti, ka koropupū, ka koropupū, ka koropupū"
Ngāti Mutunga descends from a number of ancestors who lived in the area occupied today by ngā uri o ngā tūpuna o Ngāti Mutunga. These ancestors include Tokauri, Tokatea, Mihirau, Heruika, Pūrakino, Rakaupounamu, Uenuku (son of Ruawahia), Hineweo, Hinenō, Te Hihiotū, Kahukura, and Mutunga.
Traditional Rohe
63,200 hectares (156,000 acres) of ancestral territory
Waka Heritage
Descendants of Tokomaru, Tahatuna and Ōkoki waka
Historical Hapū
Eight distinct hapū including Te Kekerewai and Ngāti Hinetuhi
Kaitiaki Mission
Protecting environment for future generations
The traditional rohe of Ngāti Mutunga is indelibly etched into both physical and historical landscapes, extending from the Papatiki stream in the north to the Waiau River in the south, encompassing our sacred waterways and ancestral sites.
Our Iwi Environmental Management Plan
Our IEMP is a mandated set of policies that codifies Ngāti Mutunga values to support and educate iwi members working on environmental issues. The IEMP has a legal effect under the RMA and should influence external agencies to work more closely and effectively with Ngāti Mutunga in environmental management within our rohe.
Develop Capacity
Continue to develop our capacity to engage in environmental issues
Encourage Rangatahi
Encourage our rangatahi to pursue studies in relevant environmental fields
Environmental Monitoring
Look for opportunities to involve our people in environmental monitoring
Iwi Collaboration
Work with other iwi groups on issues of mutual interest
This 'Mauri Compass Project,' supported through Te Wai Māori Trust, is one example of how we are implementing our IEMP. There are three high-level outcomes that we want to achieve through the implementation of our IEMP.
The Urenui River
The name Urenui derives from Tu-Urenui, the son of Manaia, who commanded the Tahatuna waka. As an acknowledgement of his mana in the area, Manaia named the area after his son. The river was also known as Te Wai o Kura, after Kura, the ancestor of the Ngāti Kura hapū.
Cultural Significance
The Urenui River was referred to as "he wai here Taniwha" - this figurative expression was used because of the large number of pā along the banks of the river, including:
- Pihanga
- Pohokura
- Maruehi
- Urenui
- Kumarakaiamo
- Ohaoko
- Pā-oneone
- Moeariki
"Mai Te Wai o Mihirau (Mimi River) ki Te Wai o Kuranui (Urenui), koia tera ko te whakararunganui taniwha"
The Urenui River is a treasured taonga and resource of Ngāti Mutunga. Traditionally the Urenui River and, in times past, the associated wetland area have been a source of food as well as a transport waterway.
The Mimitangiatua River
The full name of the Mimi River is Mimitangiatua. The river is also known as Te Wai o Mihirau. Mihirau was an ancestress of the Te Kekerewai hapū and was a prominent woman of her time.
Historical Settlements
Many pā and kāinga located along the banks including Mimi-Papahutiwai, Omihi, Arapawanui, Oropapa, Pukekohe, Toki-kinikini, and Tupari
Warrior Heritage
Arapawanui was the pā of Mutunga's famous grandsons Tukutahi and Rehetaia, celebrated warriors who took the stronghold of Kohangamouku
Preservation Practices
The river and associated huhi, ngahere, and repo were used by Ngāti Mutunga to preserve taonga in swamps during times of war
"Without healthy water you won't have a healthy rohe. And without a healthy rohe you can't have healthy people" – Jamie Tuuta
To the people of Ngāti Mutunga, all the rivers and their respective valleys are of the utmost importance because of their physical, spiritual and social significance in the past, present, and future.
The Mauri Compass Project
Planning and logistics for this Project began in earnest in October 2019 with the mātauranga Māori and mahinga kai wānanga occurring over January and February 2020. Data analysis and report writing concluded in June 2020.
October 2019
Project planning and logistics commenced
January-February 2020
Mātauranga Māori and mahinga kai wānanga conducted
June 2020
Data analysis and report writing completed
Ngāti Mutunga recognises that everything has a mauri or life force, and all elements of our environment are interconnected. In order for our people to be healthy and happy, everything around them needs to be healthy too.
Over the last ten years, we have become increasingly involved in the RMA process with the renewal and issuing of Resource Consents that have the potential to impact negatively on our freshwater fisheries.
We had been looking for a monitoring tool that would assist us in fulfilling our kaitiaki responsibilities and enable us to play a proactive role in environmental management, particularly around the priority area of freshwater governance.
Project Aim
The purpose of this Project was to use the Mauri Compass tool to assess the mauri of the Urenui and Mimitangiatua rivers utilising mātauranga Māori and the practice of mahinga kai at eight key sites. It also enabled our iwi members to upskill themselves in the longterm monitoring of our tupuna awa.
Eight Mahinga Kai Sites
Four on the Urenui awa and four in the Mimitangiatua awa for comprehensive assessment
Historical Significance
Shared the cultural and historical importance of each monitoring site
Water Quality Recording
Documented comprehensive information on the water quality of our rivers
Taonga Species Knowledge
Enhanced understanding of our freshwater taonga species and their health
Wairua
Ensured spiritual protection of our team through karakia and cultural protocols
Physical Safety
Maintained team safety through comprehensive health and safety procedures
Mauri Compass Methodology
The Mauri Compass was developed by Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa and the Gisborne District Council and is being used in a RMA context for wastewater and stormwater management in the Tairawhiti region. It was also used by Te Aitanga a Mahaki to compare the mauri of the Waipaoa River Catchment in 2008 and 2018.
Te Ao Māori
Tangata Whenua connection, Tikanga practices, Wairua spiritual connections, Mahinga kai traditions
Nga Tini A Tangaroa
Kai species richness, Taonga species abundance and health, Catchment ecosystem health
Te Ao Taiao
Natural habitat quality, Biodiversity levels, Biohazards, Chemical pollution
Ian Ruru and his sons Riaki and Manawa helped us to use the tool and to apply the assessments. We will also be trained up as accredited Mauri Compass assessors so that we can continue to monitor our mauri restoration projects.
Mātauranga Māori Framework
Through wānanga, we began by answering a set of questions and calculating scores based on our knowledge of our tupuna awa. We calculated scores for the historic or pre-European state and for the current state for the Urenui and Mimitangiatua. There are up to one hundred questions to answer. Each set of questions feed into the twelve indicators that form the Mauri Compass.
Wānanga Sessions
Community knowledge-sharing sessions to gather traditional understanding
Question Framework
Up to 100 questions covering all aspects of river health and cultural connection
Historical Comparison
Scoring both pre-European and current states for comprehensive analysis
Twelve Indicators
All questions feed into the comprehensive twelve-indicator assessment framework
Data Visualization
Raw scores entered into Excel algorithms to generate bar charts and dashboards
Ground-truthing
Cross-referenced scores with local reference material for validation
A three-year-old Riaki Ruru under the guidance of his grandfather Bill in 2003 (left) and with his brother Manawa and Anne-Maree McKay from our Ngāti Mutunga team in 2020 (right). Bill Ruru was a quiet but key proponent for developing the framework.
Summary Table of Scores
The raw scores from our wānanga were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with algorithms and used to generate bar charts and dashboards. The bar charts and dashboards provided excellent visual reminders of the mahi that we have to do to restore the mauri of our tupuna awa.
We also cross-referenced and ground-truthed our scores with local reference material to ensure accuracy and cultural authenticity.
Mahinga Kai: Traditional Food Gathering
Mahinga kai is about mahi ngā kai – the way we gather resources, where we get them from, how we process them, and what we produce. These places, processes, and skills are an essential element of Ngāti Mutungatanga. Our tūpuna were able to feed, clothe, and house themselves using the resources provided by Papatūānuku.
Habitat Destruction
European settlement disrupted traditional cycles by clearing forests and draining wetlands
Introduced Species
New species eat or outcompete native species (possums, cats, trout)
Land Confiscation
Separation from traditional resources, unable to live from the land as tūpuna did
Species Decline
Marked decrease in availability - some species gone, others scarce
Our Objectives
Tradition Preservation
Retain our traditions around mahinga kai, and pass those traditions on to future generations
Waterway Restoration
Improve the health of our waterways to support mahinga kai, so we can teach our mokopuna
Mahinga Kai Field Research
Our comprehensive field research involved visiting eight mahinga kai sites across both river systems, combining traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods.
Site Visits
Eight mahinga kai sites - four on the Urenui awa, and four in the Mimitangiatua awa
Historical Sharing
Shared the historical significance of each site with participating whānau
Water Quality
Recorded comprehensive information on the water quality of our rivers
Taonga Species
Learnt about our freshwater taonga species and their current health status
Spiritual Safety
Ensured spiritual safety through karakia and cultural protocols
Physical Safety
Maintained team safety through comprehensive health and safety procedures
Rawiri McClutchie, Riaki Ruru, Anne-Maree McKay, Te Araroa McKay demonstrating textbook net-setting techniques. All nets were unbaited, set perpendicular to the stream and retrieved the next morning.
Field Data Collection
Mahinga kai river data was recorded at each site, providing comprehensive baseline information for our assessment.
Monitoring Sites
Comprehensive coverage across both river systems
Water Parameters
Clarity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH
Age Range
Whānau participation from toddlers to elders
A drone video has been produced to highlight our rohe and mahi, our team in action and on location. We had a very enjoyable time connecting with our ancestral waterways and sharing knowledge across generations.
This process involved Ngāti Mutunga whānau aged from 2 to 70 plus and it will be easy to involve the whole Ngāti Mutunga whānau during any future surveying we do.
Bar Chart Analysis
The Urenui River bar chart reveals the comprehensive nature of environmental decline across all measured indicators.
Universal Decline
Every attribute value has declined dramatically since pre-European settlement
Tuna Crisis
Most significant declines related to Kai Species (Tuna) Richness, Abundance, and Health
Biohazard Concern
Biohazard attribute scored absolute minimum due to septic tank human sewage pollution
Cultural Disconnection
These factors contribute to reduced Ngāti Mutunga connections with our awa
The Mimitangiatua River shows similar patterns of decline, with identical 80% reductions in tuna-related indicators and severe biohazard issues from sewage pollution.
River Comparison Analysis
Comparing the current states of both rivers reveals important differences in accessibility and management impacts.
Urenui River Advantages
- TRONM received land around river mouth during settlement
- Access to awa at Okoki pa included
- Easy public access despite campground and reserve status
- Higher Tangata Whenua connection score (68% vs 45%)
Shared Challenges
- Lowest possible biohazard scores due to human sewage
- 80% decline in all tuna-related indicators
- Significant habitat modification
- Reduced cultural practice opportunities
The elevated Tangata Whenua connection with the Urenui compared to the Mimitangiatua awa reflects the importance of land ownership and access rights in maintaining cultural connections to waterways.
We note the lowest possible score for Biohazards in the Urenui awa due to human sewage/septic pollution, highlighting urgent infrastructure needs.
Mauri Compass Dashboards
The dashboards provide immediate visual representation of the dramatic changes in mauri between pre-European and current states for both river systems.
Restoration Potential
"Mauri, in any form, no matter how weak it may appear, can be nurtured and restored; the dashboards above illustrate how dire the situation is and has sparked our motivation to urgently intervene and act accordingly."
Biodiversity Context
The 'biodiversity' indicator for the pre-European state is not 100% because we assume the impact of customary fishing on the biodiversity of our awa.
Mahinga Kai Scope
The 'mahinga kai' indicator includes all mahinga kai species, while 'kai species' indicators relate specifically to Tuna as our sentinel species.
The 'biohazard' and 'chemhazard' results were derived from Taranaki Regional Council Reports, providing scientific validation for our cultural assessments.
Mahinga Kai Practices Assessment
Mimitangiatua 52% vs Urenui 56% - these closer values reflect the universal decline in available mahinga kai on both rivers, particularly in their estuaries.
Mimitangiatua Average
Total eels per site (2.7 upstream, 2.8 downstream)
Urenui Average
Total eels per site (1.8 upstream, 1.2 downstream)
Longfin Dominance
Species ratio: 94% Longfin, 6% Shortfin eels observed
Confirmed Knowledge from Personal Memories
Tuna Decline
Decline in size and numbers of Tuna (linked by participants to commercial fishing)
Piharau Loss
Decline in Piharau (linked to sedimentation, but uncertain)
Species Diversity Loss
Piharau from Mimitangiatua, Tuangi from Mimitangiatua no longer present
Commercial take has had a huge impact, with development occurring in three phases: exploitation (1965-1980), consolidation (1980-2000), and rationalization (2000 onwards).
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga