Te Ārohirohi o Raukawa i Waikato is a freshwater assessment framework that supports Raukawa to carry out freshwater monitoring in a way that reflects and prioritises the unique worldview and practices of Raukawa. The purpose of Te Ārohirohi o Raukawa Freshwater Assessment Project was to research, develop and test a monitoring tool to assess and monitor the health and wellbeing of wai Māori through a Raukawa lens and to use the results to develop restoration and protection strategies.
For Raukawa the management of wai Māori is an intergenerational responsibility that is taken seriously. Raukawa have always and continue to advocate for the management of water in ways that recognise the interconnectedness between land, water and other ecosystems and we promote the intrinsic value of water as a taonga in and of its own right.
This framework supports us to tell our stories and assess the health of our waterways in a way that supports whānau to reconnect with the environment, to practice our own tikanga and kawa, and to participate in decision making and planning for our environment and waterways.
Te Ārohirohi o Raukawa Freshwater Assessment Framework serves first and foremost as a resource for our people and has been designed to maximise its potential application to serve the multiple and ongoing conversations regarding freshwater management within our rohe.
This presentation we look to share our journey of empower our Raukawa Whanau as we seek to reclaim and enhance our Raukawa Kaitiakitanga through Te Ārohirohi o Raukawa.