The serious impacts of water degradation exposes many flaws in the way our vital water systems have been managed and monitored.

However, a local Rotorua collective are rising to the challenge of reconnecting with their traditional role of hunga tiaki (water guardians) and mobilising to care for their wai using a combination of Western science and Māori knowledge.

Healthy Families Rotorua are providing the backbone support for a prototype between Te Arawa River Iwi Trust, a local Primary School, its neighbouring marae and Ngāti Pikiao academic Dr Kepa Morgan.

Tamariki will learn to combine hapū knowledge, the Kete Waiora testing kit, the MauriOmeter developed by Dr Morgan and the Te Arawa maramataka to measure and record the health and mauri of the river.

Follow the link to both the:
Te Arawa Wai Warriors Kaupapa Overview
Te Arawa Wai Warriors Digital Story