Lakes Projects
Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei are partnering with researchers and experts to study the health of our lakes and look at ways of restoring them.
Ngā moana kei roto o te Rangitīkei
Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei (NPRoR) are partners on the Lakes380 and the Our Lakes, Our Future projects which are looking at some of the lakes/roto within the Rangitīkei catchment. Included is Lake Kawau, a significant lake for Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, and Lake Oporoa, of significant cultural importance to Ngāti Hauiti.
The Our Lakes, Our Future project comprises over 40 national and international researchers and cultural experts passionate about protecting and revitalising the health of lakes in Aotearoa. Their vision is that lakes in Aotearoa are cherished and thriving. This will be achieved by implementing world-leading holistic approaches for characterising lake health, assessing their vulnerability to degradation and climate change, and enhancing lake restoration.
Our Lakes Our Future marks the next exciting phase of the comprehensive Lakes Restoration work of NPRoR. NPRoR is pleased to be partnering with and collaborating alongside the Our Lakes Our Future team to draw upon the valuable insights gained from the Lakes380 Project. Together, we aim to implement a strategic plan that will focus on maintaining, managing, and restoring the overall health of the Lakes within our Rangitikei Awa Catchment. This initiative represents a crucial step toward ensuring the sustainability and vitality of our precious natural resources for future generations
Lakes380 Project
The Lakes380 project – which took place between 2017 and 2023 – was the largest study ever conducted on New Zealand’s lakes. The project team travelled all over Aotearoa, gathering and examining water samples, lake sediment, and cores from about 10% of our 3,800 lakes. The project used advanced scientific techniques, together with cultural knowledge/mātauranga Māori, to assess both the current and historical health of these lakes. The data collected is available to the public and will contribute to global scientific research. Nga Puna Rau o Rangitikei worked with the Lakes380 team to sample and monitor two lakes in our catchment area: Lake Oporoa and Lake Kawau.
Follow the link below to the Lakes380 website for more details related to this mahi.
Whakahokia te Mauri o Oporoa
Whakahokia te mauri o Oporoa celebrates the commitment of Rangitīkei iwi to enhancing the life force and ecological health of Lake Oporoa. Ngāti Hauiti kaumātua Neville Lomax draws upon oral history in recounting the journey taken by Matangi – an early Māori explorer who traversed and named places in the Rangitīkei. Following the flightpath of a huge flock of tūī, Matangi came upon Lake Oporoa – located close to the Rangitīkei River. Two of his children remain in the lake as kaitiaki (spiritual guardians), taking form as raupō (Typha) floating in search of the taonga (treasure) located within.
NPRoR in partnership with the Lakes380 team have developed a Restoration plan. The plan outlines a vision and objectives for restoring the mauri of Lake Oporoa.
Mātauranga Māori
Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei and Lakes380 have worked together to explore the cultural ties to the significant lakes in the rohe by looking into their environmental history and integrating mātauranga Māori. By combining this traditional knowledge with scientific research, the goal is to reconnect with and revitalize these lakes while also understanding broader changes in the Rangitīkei catchment area. The insights gained will help Ngā Puna Rau o Rangitīkei in their ongoing efforts to enhance the health of the rivers and lakes by identifying changes in the catchment, potential environmental benchmarks, and key cultural and ecological indicators.
Project Partners
Cawthron Institute is New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation. We deliver world-class science that helps to protect the environment and support the sustainable development of primary industries in New Zealand and worldwide.
GNS Science are a New Zealand research institute that focuses on geological resources, environmental and industrial isotopes, and natural hazards. We apply our scientific knowledge from the atomic to the planetary scale to create wealth, protect the environment, and improve the safety of people.