Ngā manu The birdlife associated with awa was plentiful. Kererū, kākāpō, tui, korimako, weka, kaka and kiwi were found in the forests which hugged the river valleys and pūkeko and ducks were harvested from the wetland areas. The Blue Duck or Whio was common on the faster flow ing waters. Ngā manu we re not only important as a source of food, but were also valued for their plumage which was used for decorative purposes. Harakeke Mahinga harakeke associated with the awa provided raw products, such as building materials, rongo ā and weaving materials. The harekeke wetland areas and lowland forests associated with the river catchments provided an important habitat for nesting birds and fish species. A large number of freshwater fish species were harvested, including kōkopu, paraki (smelt), īnanga, piharau (lamprey), tuna and kōar o. Traditionally, papakāinga along the river had an abundant supply of timber. The river flats were heavily forested with totara and rimu, along with lush dense stands of other native timbers. Trees also provided a source of food. A vast range of edible products were harvested from the forests, including karaka berries, ngaio, kawakawa, rimu, matai, supplejack, hinau, miro and totara, as well as the young leaves, hearts and shoots of the nikau palm. Rata blossom honey, the fruit of kiekie, the trunk pith and frond stems of mamaku (black tree fern), and the taproots of cabbage trees were all harvested by tūpun a. Mātauranga associated with the collec tion of resources from ngä awa o Te Tau Ihu was central to the lives of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui tūpuna and remains a significant part of the cultural identity of whān au to day. This mātauranga is part of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui un extinguished nati ve customary rights to the present day and exemplifies the tikanga and kawa associated with gathering and utilising resources. Examples inclu de the collection of plants for medicinal purposes (rongoā), the harvesting of different species according to the seasons or tohu (signs), and the collection of plants for dying a nd weaving kete. Mātauranga Māori is intertwined with awa and the many resources associated with their waters. Ngä awa are important mahinga kai, known particularly as a source of tuna (eel) and whitebait. Our tüpuna had considerable knowledge of whakapapa, traditional trails and tauranga waka, places for gathering kai and other taonga, ways in which to use the resources of the river, the relationship of people with the river and their dependence on it, and tikanga for the proper and sustainable utilisation of resources. All of these values remain important to Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui today. MAITAI RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES Mahitahi te awa is sacred to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui. Traditional ly, the Mahitahi River provided a wealth of resources to sustain our tūpuna. The name “Mahitahi” is thought to relate to tūpuna working as ‘one’ with the pakohe (argillite) to produce tools. Mahitahi means ‘hard’, or ‘excellent’ in Māor i. The high-grade pakohe found in the valley became known as Mahitahi, as the stone was hard and excellent for working into weapons and fine tools. The Mahitahi River was rich in mahinga kai, rongoā, weaving and building materials. The natural resources available in the catchment attracted tūpuna from as far away as Motueka. Whāna u would camp and harvest the plentiful supply of resources found in the estuary, the channels and wetlands at the mouth of the Mahitahi and the adjacent lowland valley forests. A favourite site was Matangi Āwhio. Established by Pohea in the 15th century, this flat north-facing kāinga was used by succeeding iwi, hapū and whānau for hundreds of years. Pikimai and Koputirana are other sites in the lower Mahitahi catchment where Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 122 of 163