the stream running beside the cliff. Tamati Parana and Wi Parana had cultivation sites in the Sandy Bay, Marahau area, but also had tauranga waka sites to access the waterways for kaimoana and other coastal resources. The Riuwaka River is inseperably connected with Puketawai, a Te Ātiawa o Te Waka -a- Māui pā site, located on a low hill at the mouth of the Riuwaka River within Tapu Bay. Tamati Parana, a revered tohunga, lived at the northern end of Tapu Bay at a site close to the tapu R iuwaka River. As a tohunga, h e placed his tūāhu (altar) near to the Riuwaka in order to be close to the source of his medicine: the white healing stones within its waters. These stones continue to be of great cultural significance to Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui for healing purpose s. Traditionally, the Riuwaka River catchment was an abundant food basket with diverse ecosystems and species associated with its habitats. The estuary area where the Riuwaka River flows into the sea was rich in pipi, tuangi (cockles), tio (oyster), titiko (mud snails) and other shellfish. Pātiki (flounder), kanae (mullet) and kawhai were al l plentiful, and tāmure (snapper) dominate the middens in the area. Pā sites and kāinga associated with the Motueka River catchment were plentiful. One pā named Pounamu was located at what is now known as Staple St on the southern side of the awa. Whakapaetuara Pā was situated on the north bank of the Motueka River. “Whakapaetuara” superseded the old pā “Hui Te Rangiora”, which was situated at the mouth of the Riuwaka River. The Motueka estuary, sandspit, Kumara estuary, including Raumanuka, and the Motueka River delta consisting of the river mouth are very important areas for the Tuturiwhatu (the banded dotterel) and for Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui who lived, gardened and navigated these waterways. The Godwits stay for seven months at Motueka, and can easily be seen in the low dunes and feeding in the nearby estuaries. The whole area is ecologically important with extensive areas of rush land and salt marsh where w hitebait spawn. T e Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui continue to monitor the impact of aggregate (gravel) extraction on the environment. Moutere Inlet was another important source of kaimoana. Traditionally, Moutere te awa and Inlet provided a wealth of resources to sustain Te Ātiawa o Te Wa ka-a-Māui tūpuna with many im portant fish, abundant shellf es, pāua and ish, such as oysters, cockl mussels, and numerous bird species, including waders, shorebirds and black phase oystercatchers. Whakatū Mackay's Bluff, near Nelson on the landward end of the Boulder Bank, was an important fishing station. Whakapuaka was a popular watering hole for Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a- Māui kaitangata visting whāna u. Whakatū and its environs contained many important fishing stations and tauranga waka. Matangi Āwhio was one o in the Whakatū area. It f the most important sites consisted of a large pā and kāing a complex overlooking a beach where waka could be safely landed. Rabbit Island was another important seasonal campsite, particularly for the resources from the Estuary and the close proximity to the Waimea Gardens and walking trail to the lakes. Bells Island and Best Island were also important sites due to the bird life that these isles attracted. Waimea and Mahitahi Estuary were both rich in mahinga kai, rongoā and weaving and building materials. The natural resources gathered in the catchment attracted tūpuna from as far as Motueka and the Lakes. Whānau would camp and harvest the plentiful supply of resources found in the estuary, the channels and wetlands at the mouth of the Mahitahi and Waimea, and the adjacent lowland valley forests. Several pakohe quarry Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 142 of 163