including the gravel extractions, to ensure the mauri of the awa is protected and enhanced. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui tūpuna 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 Motueka, the relationship of people with the river and their dependence on it, and tikanga for the proper and sustainable utilisation of resources. All of th ese values remain important to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui today. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui strongly associate to the Motueka River and it is often referred to in whaikōrero by kaumātua and other iwi member s. This awa is highly significant to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui iwi, hapū and whānau. Te Ātiawa o Te W a ka-a-Māu has mana, whakapapa associations and history, and we have i tikanga and kawa which involve tapu and noa here. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui mana, take tūpuna and our intense relationship with the Motueka River incorporates our cultural values. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui exercises kaitiakitanga with the strongest customary authority over the Motueka River, delta and catchment. Kaitiakitanga is both a right and a responsibility associated with lands and environmental resources, as well as material treasures within the Motueka River. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui, as kaitiaki of Motueka te Awa, is concerned with protecting the mauri of the awa. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui must ensure that the mauri of the awa is safe and that removal of any taonga must be under TeĀtiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui tikanga and kawa. The lifeforce and the resources of the aw a are the responsibilities of Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māu i. TĀKAKA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES Tākaka te awa is sacred and highly significant to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui. The relationship Te Āt iawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui has with the Tākaka River relates to th e protection and use of numerous resources associated with this taonga, and encompasses both the spiritual and physical realms. The spiritual realm is reflected in the legend of Huriawa. Huriawa is a tupuna and kaitiaki taniwha (guardian) who works her way through the lands of Mōhua. Mōhua is the domain of Hine Tu Ahoanga (the Sandstone Lady). There are large areas all over the region showing the handiwork of Hine Tu Ahoanga, including rock formations, tunnels and caves. These were all places that acted as shelter for both the living and those who had passed on. Huriawa lives and travels in the waters that flow through the domains of this Lady of the Stone. Through whakapapa, she has connections between Mōhua, the northern areas of the North Island and Te Wai Pounamu. Huriawa is also the kaitiaki of the sacred carved prow piece of the waka “Uruao” that was ceremoniously invested in the mouth of the Waitapu River; the river that was once called Ngā Waitapu o Uruao (the sacred waters of the Uruao ). Huriawa travels across Te Tau Ihu clearing the waterways from the effects of storms. She tosses fallen trees and tangled vegetation out of the rivers to free the flow, and with the help of her children she guards the top of the waka (canoe). When the rains come, Huriawa dives deep beneath the land and sea. It is she who churns up the waters when fresh water is found rising through the sea far from shore. The waters in the Tākaka River catchment where Huriawa resides are sacred. These waters are used for ceremonies, offerings, blessings and for healing purposes. For generations, Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui have talked about the significance of the area as a mahinga kai, and of the abundance and variety of food to be gathered there. The Tākaka River includes the Cobb, Anatoki and Waingaro tributaries, and each have a special significance to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Mā ui. Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 127 of 163