Te Taiao & Mātauranga Māori: Restoring Land, Reviving Knowledge

Come along to hear inspirational stories from Dr. Rob Whitbourne, Graeme Atkins, and Wiremu Wharepapa - three widely respected voices in Mātauranga Māori in te Taiao.

Wiremu 'Wongi' Wharepapa (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is the project manager for the huge Raukūmara Pae Maunga Restoration Project - a project which has become Wiremu's life's work and covers 40,000 hectares. Wiremu has also been Pou Uruao Hāpu Activator for Save The Kiwi

Rob Whitbourne is from Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and has worked in taiao kaupapa and conservation for 20 years, mostly with iwi of the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti (East Cape) regions. He also has a PHD, involving work with traditional crop (kūmara and potato) growers from the East Cape and the Cusco region of Peru.

Graeme Atkins (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine) has had decades of experience of being a DOC ranger. He is one of the creators of the Pae Maunga Restoration Project, the 2020 winner of the Loder Cup awarded by DOC, and named a semi-finalist in the 2024 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Through their presentations you’ll discover how traditional Māori knowledge is as relevant today as ever, helping to guide modern predator control and the protection of our native taonga.

When: Thursday 17th July, 6 pm-7.30 pm
Where: Surfdale Hall, 6 Hamilton Road