Help establish Te Oro o Te Rakau Eco Cultural Sanctuary.

In New Zealand or Aotearoa when a Chief was asked "who owns this land" the concept was outlandish and alien to us, like asking who owns the air or the stars.

The closest word was - kaitiaki, caretaker.

The land, Papatuanuku is our ancestor, she is the host of life force or Mauri Ora, she sustains us and gave us life. in turn we revere her and her husband, the sky, Ranginui.and all the Maori Atūa, (gods).

We take our responsibility seriously, we see the only solution to establish more conservation and cultural sanctuaries.

The land is to be used by multiple generations of people alike to learn the modern and traditional methods of kaitiakitanga.

Redefining and protecting culture.

At an investment of $1 million we can secure the purchase of this culturally valuable resource.

Te Oro o Te Rakau Eco Cultural Sanctuary & Food Forest (Manga Hutiwai Tongaporutu) is an initiative of Nga hapu o Poutama, to protect and manage the valuable wetlands and ngahere of Poutama iwi to bring back the birdsong to the region.

We are actively researching and preparing plans to preserve this valley, with help and funding from DOC

Including pest and weed control, water monitoring, cutting tracks and building huts.

The project is part of a national network of Maori driven eco sanctuary projects being set up by Victoria University

This project is on a 607 hectare Maori Freehold block Mohakatino Parininihi 8 and 9, which is adjacent to the block we wish to purchase.