In this pānui, we’re proud to share the fourth of nine pānui from Mapping the Incorporation of Te Ao Māori in the Freshwater Biosecurity System, each spotlighting Māori leadership and solutions in biosecurity.
Snow Tane: Leadership Rooted in Whenua
In this edition, Snow Tane leads a powerful example of mana motuhake in action - restoring land, integrating mātauranga Māori, and building community resilience through bold, whānau-led environmental stewardship.
Photo © NZ Herald
Snow Tane, General Manager of Te Roroa Development Group, has catalysed change in environmental restoration and pest management. His leadership in the Te Toa Whenua Project, restoring 900 hectares of pine forest to native land, and managing the Kauri dieback crisis are just a few of his impactful initiatives. Snow’s approach blends traditional Māori knowledge with modern science, creating sustainable solutions for the future.
Through proactive action, Snow led Te Roroa’s independent response to Kauri dieback, a challenge that initially lacked national support. Their efforts helped shape the National Pest Management Plan and demonstrated the power of self-reliance in tackling urgent environmental issues. Snow’s work emphasises the importance of integrating mātauranga Māori in decision-making, as evidenced by a key moment when a consultant's plan to build a water system was halted by an elder's knowledge of the land.
Key Insights from Snow
📌 Take proactive action in addressing issues like Kauri dieback without waiting for external support.
📌 Plan for succession by involving rangatahi in environmental projects.
📌 Integrate mātauranga Māori in all decision-making to preserve cultural values.
📌 Build resilience by upgrading water infrastructure in vulnerable communities.
Jobs for Nature
🌿 Snow's focus on succession planning ensures that future generations will continue his important work.
🌿 His Jobs for Nature team, established in 2020, is actively addressing the social aspects of climate change alongside its environmental goals.
Explore the Kaupapa
Discover more about Snow’s leadership and the kaupapa behind his mahi.
Visit the MEA website or download the report from the DOC website here:
Whakapa Mai: Stay Connected
Although sold out, we’re giving two wāhine the chance to experience the power of Karanga in the upcoming Wāhineahuone Karanga symposium hosted by Kurawaka Retreat and NUKU.
The Karanga Symposium is a powerful gathering created to awaken the voice within. It’s a chance to be immersed in the teachings of karanga, to listen, learn, and prepare for the pae.
To enter the competition:
1️⃣ Sign up for our newsletter here.
2️⃣ Tag your hoa haere that you’d love to share this journey with on the MEA Facebook page.
3️⃣ Tell us why you want to go. Is it healing? Reconnection? Learning something new? It doesn’t have to be long, but we would love to know.
This day wānanga is a space for deep reflection, reclaiming your voice, and reconnecting with the wisdom of our atua wāhine.
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