A recent article in the Southland Express discussed the special relationship Ngāi Tahu have with the nine mātaitai in the Southland Council area. This is a relationship Ngāi Tahu have with all of the 29 gazetted mātaitai in our takiwā.
Nigel Scott, Principal Advisor – Mahinga Kai, says mātaitai symbolise the special relationship Ngāi Tahu have with traditional fishing grounds. “They also ensure Ngāi Tahu are able to establish excellent working partnerships with communities, community groups and research providers such as Otago University which act to protect our in-shore resources; they allow us to improve our understanding of the local ecosystem and are ensuring we are able to effectively monitor resources and mātaitai have also created an increased interest among tribal members in marine science, research and academia. Likewise, they have increased interest from scientists in the benefits of studying customary approaches which have worked for centuries; and they have acted to empower community members to protect and enhance their local natural resources and mahinga kai.”
The key factors for an area to be granted mātaitai status include whether the area is a traditional fishing ground, whether there is a desire from Ngāi Tahu to be more active in managing the area, and determining what impact the mātaitai will have on existing users.
As part of the on-going monitoring work the Ngāi Tahu State of the Takiwā Monitoring Team is undertaking in this space through our research partnership ‘Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai’, three monitoring surveys were completed in Murihiku in 2015/16 in conjunction with Otago University. Derek Richards, Senior Environmental Advisor – Mahinga Kai Monitoring and Enhancement, summarises each of the efforts as follows:
Te Whaka a Te Wera Mātaitai
(Paterson Inlet, Rakiura)
“The aim of this work was to established eight permanent monitoring sites for future monitoring of important kaimoana (four inside and four outside the Bravo Island pāua closed area) in Te Whaka a Te Wera Mātaitai. During the six days of sampling a total of 1910 pāua were counted and measured.
Furthermore, the team quantified the composition of benthic habitats (e.g. algae and substrate type) that support this customary fishery.”
Waikawa/Tumu Toka Mātaitai
“Team members undertook a second mahinga kai survey within the Waikawa/Tumu Toka Mātaitai during November 2015. Three main mahinga kai species were surveyed during the six days of sampling – Tuaki, Tuna (eel) and Patiki (flounder).10,835 tuaki were counted from 1,214 quadrats and 6,264 of them were measured for size frequency analysis. Tuna were surveyed in seven rivers that drain into the mātaitai using two methods (hinaki & night spotlighting) over four nights. Over three days & nights two methods were utilized to survey pātiki; night spotlighting & drag netting. Nutrient (nitrate, ammonium and phosphate) levels were sampled over a three day period in the same seven rivers.”
Waitutu Mātaitai
“Team members conducted a resurvey of the Waitutu pāua population. This survey followed up on 2010 baseline surveys undertaken prior to the establishment of Waitutu Mātaitai. The team focused on the abundance and distributions of important kaimoana with particular emphasis on pāua and the composition of habitats that support this customary fishery. The information gained from the resurvey will provide robust information on the abundance, size and distribution of pāua in this area and will enable insight into the population dynamics within this region.”
State of the Takiwā monitoring team member undertaking a benthic habitat and pāua survey.
Mātaitai in our rohe.