Hawaiki made landfall at Nelson Haven. From this landing place, he set off to discover the local landscape by way of the Waimea Plains. There is evidence of hundreds of years of Māori cultivation on the Plains, as Ngāti Kōata and earlier iwi exercised their kaitiaki status over the Waimea River area. On the western side between Eve‘s Valley and the m outh of the Waimea, the fertility of the soils has been enhanced by vegetable matter, charcoal, sand and fine gravel. Some of these organic materials date back to the 14th Century. The archaeological evidence of this early occupation from sites near Appleby and Waimea West includes implements and personal ornaments that have similarities with Pacific Polynesian designs. The Waimea was the gateway to the trading route between Whakatū (Nelson) and Te Tai Poutini (West Coast). Goods were often exchanged between the Waimea/ Whakatū iwi and Te Tai Poutini tribes. The Waimea iwi offered kumara, dried snapper and argillite tools as valuable taonga not obtainable on the Coast. While the West Coast tribes offered raw and worked pounamu. The Waimea River and associated tributaries were an important resource gathering area for Ngāti Kōata, including the water itself, as kaitiaki over the Waimea River. The harakeke wetlands on the fringe of the Waimea estuary extended up the Waimea Valley towards Brightwater. This extensive area contained pockets of wooded areas. Kahikatea and pukatea were found in the wetter sites, and tōtara, mātai and rimu on drier sites. The Waimea River mouth provided Ngāti Kō ata with a plentiful supply of harakeke and firewood, which they collected for their own use and to trade with European settlers. In the Waimea, four varieties of harakeke could be found. The fine, long-fibred variety was suitable for net making. A coarser long-fibred type was suitable for ropes and cords, an intermediate type for kete, and a finer short-fibre variety for more delicate work, such as kākahu (cloaks) and tāniko (borders and other decorative work ). WHANGAMOA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES The Whangamoa River was another important awa to Ngāti Kōata. Kaumatua can recall this river having the biggest eels ever caught. Apart from eel, this awa also provided other mahinga kai such as birding and harakeke gathering. This awa is also important to Ngāti Kōata and sat in the middle of the Ngāti Kōata rohe where it was once an important mahinga kai. However due to lack of protection of Ngāti Kōata interests it later became a boundary marker between Ngāti Kōata and another iwi. This loss continues to be a significant mamae to Ngāti Kōat a. Statement of Coastal Values COASTAL - KAHURANGI POINT TO TE PARINUI O WHITI Ngāti Kō ata Values Ngāti Kōata ha ve always been known as a coastal people, very skilled at sea and well known for our manakitanga, especially of kai moana. The sea and coastline have always been important to Ngāti Kōata. The coastal regions from Kahurangi Point to Te Parinui o Whiti are wāhi tapu and incorporate the Ngāti Kōata cultural values of take tuku, take tūpuna and take ahi kaa roa. These areas are where our tūpuna lived and exercised mana. These areas are intrinsic to our cultural history, identity, kaitiakitanga and mauri, and incorporate our cultural values. Ngāti Kōata has mana, whakapapa associations and history along these coastal regions. Ngāti Kōata have tikanga and kawa, including tapu and noa in these wāhi tap u. Kahurangi Point to Te Parinui o Whiti are culturally, spiritually, historically and traditionally sign ificant to Ngāti Kōata as kaitiaki of the coast and who are recognised as tangata whenua in Te Tau Ihu. The coastal region from Anatoto at the mouth of the Pelorus Sounds and including Kurupongi, Ngā Kiore, Takapourewa and onto Te Hiku o te Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 63 of 163