Learn how to look after our water with Wai Ora

Creating the next generation of eco warriors! 

Water management issues are never far from the headlines and an Awanuiārangi environmental expert is urging more people to learn how to look after our water as a taonga. 

Mereaira Hata is National Programme Coordinator for the Wai Ora programme at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. She explains that, while there are many education programmes that teach western approaches to conservation, the value of learning through a Māori lens cannot be under-estimated. 

“It’s more important than ever that we understand the environmental impacts that effective water management can have. Water is a taonga and our iwi and hapu know that Māori mātauranga and tikanga (knowledge and customs) can contribute solutions to many of today’s climate and ecological challenges.” 

Having taught the Wai Ora programme since 2019, Mereaira is aware of how important it is to apply the knowledge passed on through generations. 

“There are so many examples of ways that mātauranga Māori can support global objectives. For example, Māori are taught to always throw the first fish we catch back into the water. It’s only as we get older that we realise how important that tikanga is to preserving the resource. My role at the Wānanga is to help tauira learn how to apply traditional knowledge to benefit their communities.” 

Wai Ora offers certificates in aquatic ecology and water resource management at levels 3 and 4, empowering people who want to work in taiao projects for iwi, local council or even at a national level. Some tauira choose to take their studies to a Bachelor level or beyond, and others choose to study for other reasons. 

“We currently have a women’s diving club studying with us at Level 3, and they are loving it!” 

Classes are delivered online – two classes a week – and there’s a monthly noho where theory can be put into practice. That might involve pipi gathering, fishing or even whitebaiting at the right time of the year. 

And with growing demand for this knowledge, Mereaira is looking to recruit both students and teachers for 2025.  

“We currently have cohorts of students in Torere and Omarumutu. But if you think that you’ve got what it takes to be a kaiako Wai Ora and run a cohort in your own rohe, then I’d love to hear from you.” 

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi will be taking student enrolments for 2025 via their website later in September.