were processed on site and transported back to coastal papakāinga for later use or elsewhere for trading. Lake Rotoroa provided a plentiful supply of food and other resources needed to replenish supplies. Freshwater mussels, a highly valued mahinga kai, were collected from Lake Rotoroa. Tuna, whio, and other birds such as kōkako, weka and bush wren were also abundant. The shrub neinei was also found in this location. The Nelson Lakes are the source of the Kawatiri, Motueka, Motupiko, Waiaau-toa and Awatere Rivers. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui have responsibilities and obligations as kaitiaki to protect the Lakes and the source of the rivers, inclu ding their cultural, historic, spiritual and traditional va lues. All elements of the natural environment possess a life force and all forms of life are re lated. Mauri is a critical element of the sp iritual relationship of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a- Māui with this Lake. The mauri of Lake Rotoroa represents the essence that binds the ph ysical and spiritual elements of all things together, generating and upholding all life. The spiritual and cultural integrity of the waterways throughout the rohe of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui are inseparable from the essence of our identity as an iwi. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui have an inalienable whakapapa connection with freshwater that is recorded, celebrated and perpetuated across the generations. WESTHAVEN (TE TAI TAPU) MARINE RESERVE AND WESTHAVEN (WHANGANUI INLET) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESERVE Westhaven Marine Reserve (Te Tai Tapu) and Westhaven Wildlife Reserve (Whanganui Inlet) are of immense historical, traditional and cultural significance to Te Ātiawa o Te Wak a-a-Māui. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui are coastal people and we have a strong ass ociation with the sea and the water within our rohe as well as the mountains that wa tch over us. As tangata whenua we have obligations and responsibilities to this place an d its cultural, spiritual, historical and tradit ional values. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui have whakapapa connections with Te Tai Tapu. We also have long standing knowledge of traditional trails, tauranga waka, the best places for gathering kai and other taonga, and developed well established tikanga for the proper and sustainable utilisation of resources acknowledging the relationship of our people with Te Tai Tapu and the Whanganui Inlet and their dependence on it. There are a number of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui wāhi taonga within the wetland area, including mid dens and other evidence of historical occupation. These are important places holding the memories of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui. Toiere, on the southern shores of Whanganui Inlet, was a Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui pā site. Rakopi was a traditional fishing camp for Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui. Middens and ovens as well as rock and cave shelters recorded along Te Tai Tapu coast mark both longe r-term habitation sites and the campsites of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui who came to gather resources from Whanganui Inlet for their journey south to Te Tai Poutini. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui whānau living in Mōhua and across Te Tau Ihu made seasonal journeys to Te Tai Tapu/Whanganui Inlet to collect mahinga kai, rongoā and other natural materials. In earlier times, whole Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui com munities would relocate their villages to harvest resources from this huge and abu ndant food basket. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui gatherings occurred frequently, dep ending on the seasonal resources avail land and sea. Each able for harvest from sea son of the year brought different res ources to fruition for h arvest. A natural wonder, with a thriving estuary and marine life, Whanganui Inlet is h om e to a huge number of shellfish, crabs and other invertebrates. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui collected tuangi (cockles), pipi, tuatua, pūpū, kūtai (mussels) and tio (rock oysters) Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 114 of 163