fundamentally important in the way Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui view their relationship with Port Gore. Port Gore holds an important place in Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui tribal history, as this location was one of the tribe’s major triumphant battle sites. These particular skirmishes in the early 1800’s gave Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui a kaitiaki role over Port Gore. The unextinguished native customary rights of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui in Port Gore gave our iwi responsibilities, and gives meaning and effect to the customs of kaitiaki, tikanga and man aakitanga. This includes acknowledging the history of the whenua, the moana, the awa, the many various taonga and the tāngata and wāhi Māori of Port Gore. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui manaakitanga seeks common ground upon which an affinity and sense of sharing and respect can grow. It is a deep-rooted concept in Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui culture. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui kaitiaki role involves recognising the responsibilities passed down from our tūpuna to protect places of significance such as wāhi tapu, natural resource s and the many other various taonga within Port Gore. It is an obligation of the hapū and whānau who are kaitiaki of the land to look after and protect the physical and spiritual wellbeing of all treasured resources, places and sites of significance. Port Gore was an important site of a permanent settlement, acting as a focal point for food gathering (both whenua and moana). It has consequently played a vital part in Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui history as a major arrival and departure point for all those engaged in exploration, trade, warfare and migration. Port Gore was a main settlement for Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui with lookout points at Cape Jackson, Cape Lambert and Alligator Head, which cover the Cook Strait inland areas. The hills were used as signal points. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui has close ties to both the moana and the whenua of Port Gore. For Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui, the coastal and marine resources (kaimoana) are regarded as treasures from th e sea (Tangaroa). Whales, dolphins and seals were regular visitors to Port Gore and are treasured taonga for Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui. When the heke of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka- a-Māui arrived from Taranaki, it is told that Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui planted titoki trees in Port Gore on the hills, the descendants of which still stand there. The blooming of these trees was used as a natural indicator for a season of abundant hapuku. The flowering of the white manuka suggested crayfish was ready, which was popular in Port Gore, and that the kina were fat. The flowering of other plants also indicated that it was time to harvest, for example, when the cabbage tree flowered, mussels were said to be plump and ready for collection. A number of caves along the coastline in Port Gore were used for food storage and urupā purposes. At Anamāhanga (Port Gore) there is a flat rock called Te Ope o Kupe (The Expedition of Kupe) which is said to bear th e footprints of Kupe and his d ogs. Two large rocks nearby are named after his daught ers - Mata and Ihara. Inside Jackson’s Head is Te Kupenga o Kupe (The Net of Kupe) Such landmarks are where he hung his net to dry on the cliffs. of special cultural significance to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui and to New Zealand Māori as a whole. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui view ourselves as part of the natural flora and fauna within Port Gore an d the wonderful taonga which have been bestowed upon Port Gore. The relationship of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui with these taonga is central to our identity and our cultural and spiritual wellbeing. Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 120 of 163