Since their arrival in Te Tau Ihu, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu has harvested resources from the Pelorus River catchment. Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu view all natural resources as being gifts from ngā atua kaitiaki (spiritual guardians). Tangaroa is the spiritual guardian of ngā awa and Tane Mahuta of the forests, trees and birds. Traditionally, the Pelorus was well stocked with tuna, which formed a part of the customary diet of tūpuna. Mahinga harakeke associated with the Pelorus provided raw products, such as building materials, rongoā and weaving materials. The harakeke wetland areas and forests provided an important habitat for nesti ng birds and fish species. A la rge number of fres hwater fish species were harvested including kōkopu, paraki (smelt), īnanga, korokoro (lamprey), tuna and kōaro. Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu has maintained customary practices associated with the Pelorus River for many generations. The taonga, wāhi tapu and customary practices associated with this awa were integral to the spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu iwi. WHANGAMOA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES The Whangamoa River is an important and sacred awa for Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu. Almost the full length of the Whangamoa River, from its tributary sources in the hills near the summit of the Whangamoa Saddles to the sea at Kororua Inlet, forms the south-eastern boundary of the Wakapuaka Block. Since their arrival in Te Tau Ihu, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu have harvested resources from the Whangamoa River and its surrounds. Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu view all natural resources as gifts from ngā atua kaitiaki (spiritual guardians). Tangaroa is the spiritual guardian of ngā awa and Tane Mahuta of the forests, trees and birds. Traditionally, the Whangamoa River was well stocked with tuna, which formed a part of the customary diet of tūpuna. Mahinga harakeke associated with the Whangamoa provided raw products, such as building, rongoā and weaving materials. The Whangamoa River remains important for the exercise of customary traditional practices enjoyed by Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu whānau whanui and others of Māori and European descent. In season, tuna and īnanga are taken from its waters. Harakeke and toitoi still grow in profusion in some areas adjoining the river, and introduced watercress is harvested from several of its tributary streams. Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu has maintained customary practices associated with the Whangamoa River for many generations. The taonga, wāhi tapu and customary practices associated with this awa were and continue to be integral to the spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu iwi. KAKA POINT / KAITERITERI SCENIC RESERVE Kaka Point and the surrounding a rea is pivotal to Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu. Kaka Point is a wāhi tapu, and of special significance to Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu whānau through their ancestral and spiritual links to the natural world. The mauri of Kaka Point embodies the life force that binds the spiritual world with the physical world. Kaka Point was important in the lives of Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu tūpuna and remains central to the lives of whānau in the present. Kaka Point extends its influence onto various papakāinga at Kaiteriteri across to Riuwaka, Motueka, and Separation Point. Beneath Kaka Pā, generations of whānau have lived, cultivated land, collected resources and harvested food. Kaiteriteri's attractiveness was sufficient for a defended pā to be built on Kaka Point. A series of ditches were constructed across the narrow area between the point and the rest of the mainland. On the point itself were terraces for house sites and pits for food storage. The steep cliffs provided strong natural defences and are protected on the Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements Page 96 of 163