In this fourth pānui from Mapping the Incorporation of Te Ao Māori in the Freshwater Biosecurity System, we spotlight Matua Rereata Mākiha, a maramataka expert whose mātauranga is reshaping biosecurity through tikanga-led, whakapapa-driven approaches that honour the rhythms of the taiao and uplift rangatahi.
We’re also giving away two tickets to the sold-out Wāhineahuone Karanga Symposium! See below for how to enter.
Win Your Way to the Sold-Out Wāhineahuone Karanga Symposium
Although this beautiful wānanga has officially sold out, we’re excited to offer two wāhine the rare chance to attend the upcoming Wāhineahuone Karanga Symposium, hosted by Kurawaka Retreat and NUKU.
This is more than an event, it’s a powerful space to awaken your voice, learn the practice and purpose of karanga, and prepare yourself for the pae through deep listening, reflection, and connection.
How to enter:
- Sign up for our newsletter here.
- Tag your hoa haere on the MEA Facebook page, someone you'd love to share this experience with.
- Tell us why you want to attend. Whether it’s for healing or to begin your karanga journey, we’d love to hear from you.
This one-day symposium offers space to reflect, reconnect, and stand strong in the legacy of our atua wāhine.
Entries close soon! Share your voice with us.
Maramataka Matters: Insights from Matua Rereata Mākiha
Photo © Te Tira Whakamātaki
Matua Rereata Mākiha, a renowned maramataka expert from Hokianga, is reshaping environmental management with Māori knowledge. His deep understanding of Te Ao Māori and decades of experience bring maramataka to the forefront of freshwater biosecurity.
“Everything has a purpose in the taiao,” he says, emphasising that even pests have roles in ecosystems. Instead of eradication, Rereata advocates for guiding pests to designated spaces, rooted in ancestral tikanga.
Key Insights from Matua Rereata:
📌 Maramataka in Action: Rereata uses maramataka to predict ecological events with incredible precision. “I can tell you when the inanga will run, day, date, time,” he says, offering a powerful tool for managing freshwater ecosystems.
📌 Honouring Tikanga: For Rereata, protecting taonga species like tuna involves honouring whakapapa and traditional practices like placing tuna in reporepo (wetlands). These ancient methods once kept ecosystems in balance.
📌 Rangatahi Rising: Rereata is hopeful for the future, seeing rangatahi actively learning and applying traditional knowledge in environmental stewardship.
📌 Clearing the Path: Challenges remain. Mainstream systems often overlook Māori knowledge, and ecosystems suffer from human impact. Rereata calls for Māori-led solutions, independent learning institutions, and more Māori decision-making in biosecurity.
“Work with the tides”
Rereata urges, with Māori leadership, a more sustainable future is within reach.
Matua Rereata’s Call to Action:
✅ Integrate maramataka into biosecurity strategies
✅ Empower Māori-led learning and decision-making
✅ Restore traditional habitats for taonga species
✅ Build cultural competence within DOC
Explore the Kaupapa
Discover how Matua Rereata Mākiha is using maramataka and tikanga Māori to guide biosecurity and environmental restoration.
Visit the MEA website or download the report from the DOC website here:
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