Sharing cultural knowledge and ecological research about our lakes.
Lake Stories Aotearoa New Zealand is a collection of personal memories, cultural knowledge and scientific information about lakes in the Wairarapa, Rangitīkei and Otago regions. It is intended to stimulate fresh conversations around enhancing lake health and mauri.
Lakes380 was a public science project that aimed to characterise the health of the lakes of Aotearoa New Zealand by analysing sediment cores from 380 locations nationwide. It was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment under the title, Our lakes’ health – past, present, future. The project involved a large team of biophysical scientists, social scientists and Māori researchers from across New Zealand, and was co-led by Susie Wood (Cawthron Institute) and Marcus Vandergoes (GNS Science).
Click on the link above to explore the huge range of content, organised by location, with videos ranging in length from 7 to 30 minutes. Or click on the headings below to visit the stories most relevant to your area.
Wairarapa Moana Kete Pūrākau focusses on Lakes Wairarapa, Onoke/Ferry, Pounui and Nganoke in the southern Wairarapa. A range of kōrero explores tuna, kākahi, impacts of colonisation and land changes, restoration planting and pūrākau from local kaumātua.
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.
Whakahokia te mauri o Oporoa celebrates the commitment of Rangitīkei iwi to enhancing the life force and ecological health of Lake Oporoa. Ngāti Hauiti kaumātua Neville Lomax draws upon oral history in recounting the journey taken by Matangi — an early Māori explorer who traversed and named places in the Rangitīkei. Following the flightpath of a huge flock of tūī, Matangi came upon Lake Oporoa — located close to the Rangitīkei River. Two of his children remain in the lake as kaitiaki (spiritual guardians), taking form as raupō (Typha) floating in search of the taonga (treasure) located within.
