Traditionally, ngā awa provided a wealth of resources to sustain tūpuna. Ngāti Kōata view all natural resources as being gifts from He Atua. Legends state that Tangaroa is the spiritual guardian of ngā awa and Tane Mahuta of the forests, trees and birds. These guardians were central in the lives of tūpuna and remain important for whānau living in the present day. Without He Atua and these guardians, Ngāti Kōata would have no resources or taonga to maintain their spiritual, cultural and economic prosperity in the Pelorus, Maitai, Waimea and Whangamoa. For generations, Ngāti Kōata has used these waterways to access resources further inland. Traditionally, the Pelorus, Maitai, Waimea and Whangamoa Rivers provided many resources such as tuna, manu, rongoā and weaving materials to sustain ngā tūpuna. These resources were important in maintaining the spiritual, cultural and economic prosperity of Ngāti Kōata. Below is a description of the resources common to all awa with which Ngāti Kōata has an associatio n. Ngāti Kōata associations with ngā awa are central to our history, identity, kaitiakitanga and mauri. Ngā awa incorporate our cultural values; Ngāti Kōata has mana, whakapapa associations and history with ngā awa. Ngāti Kōata have tikanga and kawa, including tapu and noa with ngā aw a. The traditional kaitiaki relationship is emphasised through the spiritual relationship between Ngāti Kōata and the natural environment. The mauri is a critical element of the spiritual life force of ngā awa, and is therefore an important relationship for Ngāti Kōata. Ngāti Kōata are identified as tangata whenua of ngā aw a. Tuna Ko te kai reka o nga awa, he tuna. Tuna is important to Ngāti Kōata, who have a kaitiaki role over them. Purakau of Te Tau Ihu o te Waka a Maui tell of the origins of tuna. Maui killed a taniwha called Tuna. Maui enticed Tuna across nine skids and repeated a karakia as Tuna crossed each skid. When Tuna reached the ninth skid, Maui killed him. This story is similar to other Te Waka a Maui iwi who believe that Tuna‘s head became the tuna (river eel) and his body, koiro (conger eel). The Pelorus, Maitai, Waimea and Whangamoa were well stocked with fish and water birds which formed part of the customary diet of Ngāti Kōata. Tuna are taonga and a species which has been central to the lives of Ngāti Kōata for generations, as kaiti aki over flora and fauna of these awa. Although tuna are still widespread, they are no longer as abundant as they were. The places where tūpuna harvested eels were and are important tribal areas - gathering and processing tuna was a customary practice that strengthened the kinship of iwi and whānau. Custo mary manag ement practices followed the lifecycle of the tuna, and harvesting was regulated according to the seasons. Mahinga Harakeke Harakeke was an important resource for tūpuna. Mahinga harakeke associated with the four awa provided raw products f or rongoā and weaving materials. The two main industries associated with W ha katū - pakohe and fishing - utilised large quantities of flax. Pakohe was carried out of the Maitai River catchment using flax kete and harakeke fibre was used to catch fish in the rivers a nd adjacent estuary areas. Ngāti Kōata identity and pride is associated with the ability to produce beautiful korowai from traditional resources. The harekeke wetland areas and forests associated with the four awa provided an important habitat for nesting birds and fish species. A large number of freshwater fish Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 60 of 163