Tūranganui-a-Kiwa
Tūranganui-a-Kiwa is special due to its deep connection to the Rongowhakaata iwi, whose ancestral lands encompass diverse ecosystems like mountains, forests, wetlands, and rivers. The landscape holds immense cultural significance, with the iwi’s whakapapa (genealogy) tightly interwoven with the land. From 1865 to 1974, over 1 million acres of land were confiscated, causing significant disruption to traditional practices and resource spaces. Today, the Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust (RIT) leads efforts in ecological restoration and cultural preservation, focusing on sustainable practices and revitalizing their ancestral lands. This is done through three main initiatives: reconnecting key ecological corridors (Turanga Whenua), strengthening cultural knowledge and resilience through storytelling (Turanga Tangata), and fostering social cohesion through art and tradition (Turanga Toi). These initiatives aim to restore vitality to the community, aligning with environmental and cultural sustainability goals. Climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise and temperature fluctuations, further highlight the importance of this work. The collaboration with the Preserving Legacies program will bring cultural, environmental, and relational benefits, blending indigenous knowledge with global climate action strategies.
