What Is Kaitiakitanga?
Kaitiakitanga is the Māori concept of environmental guardianship — the responsibility to protect, nurture, and sustainably manage the natural world. It is grounded in the understanding that humans are not owners of the environment but caretakers of it on behalf of present and future generations. In te ao Māori, the health of the land, water, and sea is inseparable from the health of the people who belong to it.
The Romangatouhou Project's Kaitiakitanga Programme puts this principle into practical action across the rohe, combining indigenous knowledge with modern ecological methods.
Programme Objectives
The programme was established with three core objectives:
- Restore native biodiversity: Rehabilitate degraded land and waterways through native planting and pest management.
- Protect wāhi tapu and significant sites: Identify, map, and safeguard culturally and spiritually significant places across the rohe.
- Build community capacity: Train and involve whānau, rangatahi, and hapū members as active kaitiaki (guardians).
Current Workstreams
1. Riparian Planting and Waterway Restoration
Healthy awa (rivers and streams) are central to Māori wellbeing and identity. Across multiple sites within the rohe, the programme has been working with landowners and regional councils to plant native species along stream banks. Native plantings reduce erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for birds and aquatic life. Species prioritised include harakeke (flax), kiekie, cabbage tree, and various native sedges.
2. Pest and Weed Control
Introduced predators and invasive plant species pose one of the greatest threats to native ecosystems. The programme operates a network of predator traps and coordinates with neighbouring landowners and local councils on co-ordinated control efforts. Rangatahi have been actively involved in monitoring trap lines, providing both conservation outcomes and valuable environmental education.
3. Mātauranga Māori Integration
A key differentiator of the programme is its commitment to integrating mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into all ecological work. This includes:
- Using traditional planting calendars based on the Māori lunar calendar (maramataka) to guide planting and harvesting.
- Consulting with kaumātua to identify historically significant ecological sites and understand traditional land management practices.
- Incorporating karakia at the start of planting and restoration days to acknowledge the spiritual dimensions of environmental work.
4. Wāhi Tapu Mapping
Working with a specialist cultural heritage surveyor, the programme is building a GIS-linked database of culturally significant sites across the rohe. This information supports resource consent submissions, planning processes, and Treaty of Waitangi claims, ensuring that significant sites are recognised and protected in formal planning frameworks.
Community Involvement
The programme runs regular planting days open to all whānau — from toddlers helping tuck seedlings into the soil to kaumātua sharing knowledge about traditional plant uses. Schools within the rohe have also been invited to participate, with educational sessions that connect ecological science to te ao Māori perspectives.
Get Involved
If you are a landowner within the rohe interested in participating in planting or pest control initiatives, or if you hold knowledge about significant sites that should be documented, the programme team welcomes your contact. Kaitiakitanga is not the responsibility of a few — it is a collective obligation that we all share.
Contact the project office for details on upcoming planting days and how to register your interest.