TUAMARINA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES Tuamarino te awa begins at the head of the Waitohi valley and winds itself through the valley. For the greater part of the length of Para Swamp, the Tuamarino River traverses it in a channel with banks only two to three feet high and slowly winds itself into the Wairau River. The correct name is Tuamarino, tua meaning beyond, and marino meaning clear or open, or smooth, referring to the early explorers view of the plains from the hills. The Koromiko Stream, named after the veronica flowering plant, and the Para Swamp which has various meanings, including frostfish (pāra); fragments; dust, remains; a tuber; a large edible fern-root; a kind of cordyline (ti-para); to make a clearing in the bush, are important connections into the Tuamarino River. For Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui, Tuamarino te awa is highly significant to the iwi and in particular to the Waitohi, N gākuta and Waikawa Pā, as Tuamarino supplied these Pā sites with many valuable resources. This outstanding natural wetland and awa is home to spawning trout, fresh water flounder, adult whitebait and a range of vulnerable flora species. The bird species include grey teal, pūkeko, mallard, grey duck, shoveller and Australasian bittern. Tuamarino, Koromiko and the Para Swamp were good gathering grounds for the particular type of flax necessary for weaving. Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui whānau would travel down to Waikawa from Taranaki and gather harakeke to take home because of its excellent quality. Eels were often collected from the area using the common technique of spearing. Tines of hardwood or the hard black part of the tree fern would be used as spears. Eels were speared all year round usually at night. Both the Turamarino and Koromiko were favoured Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui sites for tuna. Fresh water mussels were another important food sources fo r the P ā. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui tūpuna had considerable knowledge of the whakapapa, traditional trails and places for gathering kai and other taonga. They also developed tikanga based on the relationship between the people and the resources of this area to ensure the sustainable utilisation of resources. All of these values remain important to Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui today. MOUTERE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES Moutere te awa is an important and significant awa for Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui. At the mouth of the Moutere River is the tidal Moutere Inlet, once a forest, which is highly significant to Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui. Traditionally, Moutere te awa and inlet provided a wealth of resources to sustain Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui tūpuna. Moutere te awa an d the Inlet had many important fish and abun dant shellfish su pāua, mussels and waders or ch as oysters, cockles, shorebirds and black phase oystercatchers. Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a-Māui has maintained customary practices associated with the Moutere River fo r many generations. The taonga, wāhi tapu and customary practices associated with this awa were integral to the spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui iwi. TURIMAWIWI RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES The Turimawiwi River and the associated coastline was a significant mahinga kai for Te Ātiaw a o Te Waka -a-Māui. Kai moana, particularly pāua, was collected at the mouth of the awa. Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 134 of 163