Te Pātaka Kai o Tūwiriroa
Restoring lakes and wetlands on the Taiari Plains
Kā Roto o Waipōri, o Waihora ki Taiari, Kāi Tahu ki Ōtākou
Te Pātaka Kai o Tūwiriroa shines light on the formerly bountiful food storehouses of Tūwiriroa, the Kāti Māmoe rakatira. It alludes to the work of restoring healthy waterways and replenishing native birds, fish and plants that traditionally sustained takata whenua for many generations. Treasured mahika kai (food-gathering places) include Waihora ki Taiari (Lake Waihola) and Waipōuri (Lake Waipori), remnants of an expansive wetland ecosystem in the lower Taiari catchment. The return of Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau / Sinclair Wetlands to Kāi Tahu in 1998 empowered Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou members to lead environmental restoration efforts.
A note on the correct spelling of place names: Taiari (Taieri), Waihora ki Taiari (Waihola), Waipōuri (Waipori), Maitāpapa (Henley), Ōtākou (Otago).