environment
Te Taiao
Iwi Environmental Plan
Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara is deeply committed to sustainable management and the stewardship of our whenua. To guide our environmental efforts, we have developed an Iwi Environmental Plan (IEP), which outlines our goals, aspirations, and strategies for the future. This plan reflects our rangatiratanga and acknowledges our kaitiaki roles, ensuring the protection and enhancement of our natural resources for generations to come.
The IEP explores the history of Ngāti Kerara Ngāti Tuara at Horohoro and Tarewa in Rotorua, including our land blocks, reserves, and significant cultural sites. It also outlines our partnerships with key stakeholders and the strategies being employed for environmental sustainability.
This living document will continue to evolve to address the needs and challenges of the present, while preparing us for the future.
Read the full Iwi Environmental Management Plan here:
Te Whakamaru
o Horohoro
Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara has a vision of creating a sanctuary – restoring the forest and the birdsong of Horohoro maunga.
Since 2018 we have been working towards restoring and protecting the forest. Our research showed that there are high numbers of possums,
rodents (rats and mice) and mustelids (ferrets and stoats) on Horohoro maunga. Our goal is to reduce the numbers of these pests to allow our native forest to regenerate and our native birds to flourish.
During this work we also discovered that there is a population of longtailed bats (pekapeka) on the maunga. Pekapeka are very rare so this has been an exciting find and has motivated us to work harder to protect this taonga species.
A pest control programme is underway on the 568 hectares Horohoro Bush and Mountain Reserve and — ha of conservation land on west of the maunga.
Te Mana o te Wai
Ngati Kearoa Ngati Tuara is working to clean up the waterways in Horohoro as part of the wider goal to clean up the Waikato River. Over the last few years our enviornmental team has been clearing and planting waterways on some of our hapū farms in Horohoro.
In 2018-2019 water monitoring of the Pokaitu Stream was undertaken, the results showed that tributaries of the Pokaitu Stream contain an unacceptable level of farming nutrients. This baseline data allows us to
work towards reducing those nutrients.
The plants for these projects are sourced from our own native plant nursery.
Micro-hydro Plant
As part of Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara plans to be self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable, the iwi set up a Microhydro plant in December 2013, partly funded by Te Arawa River Iwi Trust. It is located at Kearoa Marae, on our awa Pokaitu, above the waterfall, Te Arero.
The Microhydro utilises water from Pokaitu to generate enough power so the marae and the iwi-owned farm behind the marae are almost self-sufficient in electricity.
Recent Stories
Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara is working to revive our cultural heritage. We remain committed to ensuring our reo programmes strengthen excellence on our paepae. We also provide support to our mahi toi programme to revive the skills of raranga and whatu.
Te Arakari a Tūtānekai
Our first taonga pūoro wānanga in some time, Te Arakāri a Tūtānekai, brought Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuarā together at Tārewa Pounamu Marae for a day of learning, connection, and oro. From exploring the whakapapa of taonga pūoro to crafting our own kōauau from rimu and rātā, whānau shared mātauranga, laughter, and aspirations for the future.