Korehāhā Whakahau is hosting a wānanga (meeting or seminar) to amplify the voice, role, and leadership of Mana Whenua towards a predator free future.

The first iwi led Predator Free 2050 Limited (PF2050 Ltd) project, Korehāhā Whakahau seeks to eradicate possums from 4700ha within the Ngāti Awa rohe over a five-year period.

Manager Taiao Michal Akurangi says while eradication of possums is the end goal, Korehāhā Whakahau is doing things differently to other predator free projects and seeing the results.

'Korehāhā Whakahau is one of many projects being led by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and a key goal is to contribute to the capacity and capability of the iwi to be kaitiaki and provide employment that elevates the wellbeing of te taiao in the tribe's rohe. We want to build a biodiversity workforce.

'The foundations of our project are based in the vision of our iwi, which is articulated in the statement of: Ko Ngāti Awa te Toki. And, we have applied many of the principles of te ao Māori within our project, so we are always guided by our tīpuna and our iwi.”

Michal says Korehāhā Whakahau is an example of what can happen if mana whenua, those with authority of the land, can lead the activity.

Michal Akurangi.

That's why when PF2050 Ltd asked Korehāhā Whakahau to host a wānanga, Michal says it was clear that it would be a good place to share the project's story and encourage conversation about what does genuine partnership actually look like.

'Korehāhā Whakahau, and in turn Ngāti Awa, is not offering to teach specific tools or applications that can generally solve environmental problems. Rather, we are wanting to provide a safe place for pest eradication projects and their Tiriti partners to have conversations about opportunities for te taiao that working in partnership can provide and to share our experiences, so we all have a greater understanding.

'Tangata Whenua are always being asked how we want to be engaged with, but what we are saying, and showing through Korehāhā Whakahau, is that there are so many benefits to stepping back and allowing mana whenua to lead.

'We have invited all of the PF2050 Ltd landscape projects, but we have requested they come with their Tiriti partners.”

PF2050 Ltd CEO Brett Butland says as a company, they are delighted that Ngāti Awa is partnering with us to host a wānanga to support the unique leadership role mana whenua can have to help our landscape projects achieve a predator-free outcome.

'It will be an opportunity for not only the projects but for each of us to learn and better understand the value Tiriti partners can bring, and for mana whenua to build their involvement and capacity in the projects.”

The Taurikura Anamata wānanga will be held at Te Manuka Tutahi Marae in Whakatāne on March 3 and 4. Speakers will include Tame Malcom, who is investigating what pest management would look like if it were designed and implemented from a te ao Māori perspective for his PhD, and Mahuru Wilcox, who has studying biocultural approaches in New Zealand's conservation future.

It will also involve workshops where participants can learn about working alongside iwi and hapū or funding and project management. On the second day, participants can choose to hear about the gathering and use of pigments and soils in traditional dying, or native trees and rongoa on field trips.