Help Te Matau a Māui hunt "The Beast"

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, tēnā koutou e hika mā,

Te Matau a Māui is a double-hulled ocean going voyaging canoe that resides in Te Matau a Māui (The Hawkes Bay) She is owned and cared for by the people of Ngāti Kahungunu and a wider waka family. Te Matau a Māui is also a teacher, a historian and a voice for Tangaroa (Māori god of oceans) she has an important role in protecting the ocean, she is an ocean warrior.

The waters of Te Matau a Māui and Te Ikaroa (East Cape - Wellington) are under threat. The world’s largest seismic survey vessel, the Amazon Warrior ("The Beast") is currently conducting seismic blasting in Te Ikaroa to test for oil. Seismic testing is extremely harmful to fragile ocean environments and ocean creatures. The sound blasts are so loud that they disturb, injure or kill marine life, harm commercial fisheries, and disrupt coastal economies. These blasts are repeated every ten seconds, 24 hours a day, for days and weeks at a time.

Iwi and hapū along Te Ikaroa identify ourselves as descendants of these waters and its’ creatures who we regard as ancestors and kin. We are the moana (ocean) and oil drilling and seismic testing violates the moana and our relationships with her.

So, it is not surprising that the people of Ikaroa Rāwhiti have been clear in our opposition to oil and gas drilling at every opportunity. 80 hapu and iwi along Te Tairāwhiti have endorsed a message to the surveyors Statoil and Chevron, that we take our climate responsibilities seriously and do not welcome oil and gas in our region. And we will voice our opposition again.

Te Whainga, The Mission:

Te Matau a Māui is purpose built to carry the voices of whānau, hapū and iwi across the moana and take the fight to the Amazon Warrior, our way - kanohi ki te kanohi face to face. Te Matau a Māui will lead a non-violent direct action flotilla to bear down on the Amazon Warrior. But we need your help.

It is extremely difficult to track, intercept and confront "The Beast" which has relied upon being out of sight and out of mind.

Te Ikaroa is asking the public to support Te Matau a Māui to sail to the Amazon Warrior. Operating a double-hulled voyaging canoe, while low impact on the environment is a high financial cost. It takes many years to fundraise for any expedition. Unfortunately, there is no time. The harm that the Amazon Warrior is causing on the environment is happening now.

We need your help. Please help send this ocean warrior, Te Matau a Māui to hunt "The Beast"

Please donate.

Mā tō whakaaro a Matau a Māui e whakatere ki te karo i te waka patu tīpuna. E'O.