Waitangi in Aotearoa / New Zealand will become a focal point for Indigenous ocean leadership next month with the return of Taiātea: Gathering of the Oceans Voices, Views and Leadership Symposium, a wānanga focused on the protection and restoration of the Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean).
The ten-day gathering will take place across Te Ika a Māui (North Island).
More than 20 Indigenous leaders, marine scientists and researchers from Canada, Australia, Hawai'i, Niue, Rapa Nui and the Cook Islands will participate.
The symposium will focus on marine protection, ocean resilience and climate change and Indigenous knowledge will be shared to inform decision making and future planning.
This year's event centres on a public forum at Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae, also known as Te Tii Marae.
The forum will be held on 4 February and coincide with Waitangi celebrations in Paihia.
The Chair of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae compared the moana (ocean) to the marae (meeting ground) as a taonga (treasure) to be protected.
"We are looking forward to again welcoming our manuhiri from the Pacific and the motu (country), as the Taiātea Forum shares and discusses the practice of Tino Rangatiratanga (self-determination) and Mana Motuhake (autonomy)," Mr Taituha said.
The symposium was last held in 2019 and Taiātea leaders describe the hui as an opportunity to strengthen global Indigenous relationships.
"We are connected through our shared kaitiakitanga of taonga and our ecosystem," Ms Waitai said.
"As kaitiaki of the moana, it is important we come together to discuss what others have achieved with similar constraints, learn about what is working, what isn't, and move forward together with purpose."
Following the public forum, participants will travel to the Tūwharetoa and Whanganui regions.
The visits will involve knowledge exchanges with haukāinga and discussion of specific case studies.
Taiātea Lead Researcher, Lisa Te Heuheu (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto), says the gathering continues kōrero (discussions) on the protection, preservation and promotion of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and taonga tuku iho (cultural heritage), aligning with the Wai 262 'Tiaki Taonga' framework.
"The knowledge held by our haukāinga is at the heart of this kaupapa," Ms Te Heuheu said.
"These exchanges create space for people to share their lived experiences, learn from one another and strengthen our relationships to the ocean."
Organisers have extended an invitation to marae, hapū and iwi, as well as non-government organisations, agencies and environmental, marine and ocean researchers to attend the Waitangi forum.
"As with every year at Waitangi, this is an open forum, everyone is welcome," Ms Waitai said.
"This is about growing the collective to gain momentum in the protection of our moana and in that way our knowledge exchange is inclusive."
