Trust honours founding members with commemorative tree planting at Te Kōawa

Feb 12

Hundreds of native tree species have been planted in honour of four influential and much-loved past trustees of Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust – Jane Davis, George Ryan, Colin Sinclair, and Sandra Cook.

Each of the past trustees were instrumental in the acquisition or preservation of the culturally significant Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu site, situated at the foot of the Takitimu maunga (mountain) which is a tōpuni (special status) site in Jericho Valley, Southland.

A total of 585 trees were planted as part of the commemorative tree planting. This included the planting of nine tōtara in the formation of the Matariki star cluster, and a tenth tōtara represnting the star Puaka, with other mahinga kai/rongoā species planted around the tōtara to form a taonga species plant trail at the front of the site.

Importantly, fifty-five kahikatea are now in place in what will become a large kahikatea forest on the swampy land at the base of Blackmount Hill.

Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust Chair and Awarua Rūnanga representative Gail Thompson says it was the vision of the founding trustees to return a kahikatea forest to the valley floor at Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu.

“Although our four friends and are no longer with us, we know they would be immensely proud of what we have achieved.
“Saturday’s planting will create a taonga plant species trail and a mahinga kai (traditional food gathering) and rongoā (medicinal) garden for Ngāi Tahu whānui to use in years to come.
“The planting was an important milestone for the Trust, a wonderful recognition of our trustees and a great moment to work alongside whānau to reinstate taonga species to the valley.”

*Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust Chair Gail Thompson planting a kahikatea*

Mass plantings of tī kouka (cabbage tree), horoeka (lancewood) and other native species, along with pest control, and natural regeneration will encourage more native manu (birds) and invertebrate species to the site.

Thompson says the Trust has been working since its establishment in 1997 to promote and enhance the relationship of Ngāi Tahu people with the mahika kai resources of the Waiau Catchment.

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to Jane, George, Colin and Sandra whose vision of an accessible mahika kai resource in the Waiau catchment is coming to life.”

*Jane Davis and Sandra Cook on one of Jane’s last visits to Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu*

Jane Davis (1930-2019) was a founding member of Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust and served on the Board as Chairperson for 22 years until she passed away in 2019.

Jane spent much of her life advocating for Ngāi Tahu both within Murihiku and across Te Waipounamu, and was passionate about maintaining and restoring mahika kai and cultural connections to the whenua for Māori. . A highly acknowledged Kaumātua within Ngāi Tahu, she lead the way sharing her mātauranga to face the challenges impacting on the whenua.

Jane and Tā Tipene O’Regan secured the 445-hectare property called “The Jericho Block” now known as Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 2001. The ownership of the property was subsequently vested in Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust.

*Former Trustees at Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu. From right: Murray Acker; George Ryan, Colin Sinclair and Jane Davis.*

George Ryan (1933-2008) a founding member of Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust, was an active spokesperson and representative of Ngāi Tahu in matters involving the safeguarding of tribal and local natural resources such as rivers, lakes and forests. George consistently advocated for a sustainable approach to takes of natural resources and mahinga kai, “to make sure that there is something left for our mokopuna to inherit and enjoy”.

George also took a keen interest inland, in particular in the Waiau catchment with tuna. Through his involvement with Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust he was a member of the Eel Management Committee from 1996 until they became part of the Quota Management System in 2000.

George worked closely with Colin Sinclair to set up the Elver Trap and Transfer programme and migrant tuna programme in the Waiau. He worked for more than a decade for Meridian Energy doing the elver trap and transfer from the Mararoa Weir to Lake Te Anau.

Founding member Colin Sinclair (1937-2008) was the powerhouse of the Trust responsible for securing the buildings from Meridian’s second tail race project at West Arm for relocation to Te Kōawa for use as a lodge.

Along with George Ryan, Colin helped set up the practicalities of the Trap and Transfer programme for elver at the Mararoa Weir which involves trapping the elver at the weir and transferring them upstream to the Mararoa River, and lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. Colin was also involved with the migrant tuna (eels) programme (transferring adult tuna downstream) and committed much of his life to the enhancement of the Waiau catchment.

Sandra Cook (1956-2021) served as a Trustee on Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust from 2017 where she played a key role in revitalising the Trust and renewing the mahi undertaken in restoring Te Kōawa. Sandra’s vision for the site was influenced by the kaumātua that went before her.

Sandra greatly valued the importance of mahinga kai to Ngāi Tahu Whānui. She was involved in the negotiations for, and drafting of, parts of the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement. Mahinga Kai, was the ninth tall tree of Te Kereme (the Ngāi Tahu Claim). Her work included the cultural redress sections of the Deed which included the return to Ngāi Tahu ownership of the Rakiura Tītī Islands and Rarotoka. Along with her partner Cathy, Sandra lived at Te Kōawa for some time, and they instigated some of the important restoration mahi that continues today.

Gail Thompson says the future is bright and the Trust’s vision is clear.

“In the last year we have created a network of tracks across the site and implemented an intensive pest control network. A large native tree planting programme is underway with plans for 30,000 trees to be planted over the next three years,” she says. “We are striving to continue our founding Trustees’ vision for an accessible mahinga kai resource at Te Koawa Tūroa o Takitimu for the benefit of Ngāi Tahu Whānui”.

*Trustee Dr Jane Kitson gives a mihi for former chair Jane Davis, with Jane Davis’ daughter Karina Marsden-Davis supporting.*

Approximately 80 people came together on the 5th November to celebrate the lives and contributions of our past Trustees, and plant trees to commemorate them.

Jane Davis’ son, Tāne welcomed everyone with a mihi whakatau, and Te Waiau Mahika Kai Trust Chair Gail Thompson and Trustees Jane Kitson and Andrew Feierabend gave speeches, as well as some of our kaumātua, Bubba Thompson and Michael Skerrett. As part of the celebrations, we unveiled a special kaumātua seat on the deck of the lodge, from which our kaumātua can sit and look out over the maunga (mountain). A second seat was placed overlooking Redcliff Creek. Kai and kōrero were shared, and it was a great occasion to reminisce and share stories about our past Trustees, and whakawhānaungatanga with friends, whānau and colleagues who have a connection to the Valley.

Thanks again to everyone who came along and made it such a special day.

Thanks to Ministry of Primary Industries for their Matariki Tu Rākau Fund to remember special people in our community, and to Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group for their funding for this event.