Tangata Whenua
We’re proud to work alongside local tangata whenua as kaitiakitanga of the Russell peninsula to protect our precious taonga!
Itiiti tui, teitei kahikatea ka taea.
The Russell Landcare Trust is proud to recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a living document that is integral to the life of Aotearoa.We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are committed to upholding its values.
We work closely with mana whenua—including Ngāti Kuta, Patukeha, Ngāti Mana, and the Kororāreka Marae Kōmiti—honouring their strong connection to the land and Treaty claims across the Russell Peninsula. Russell Landcare Trust supports restoring the natural environment and embraces te ao Māori values. Throughout the wider Bay of Islands area, Russell Landcare Trust works with other hapū-led predator control groups to share knowledge and strengthen our collective impact.
We’re committed to growing our cultural understanding, and we participate in the PF2050 Kaitiakitanga Pilot, which guides us in embedding kaitiakitanga and aligning our work with mana whenua priorities. Our strategy reflects ongoing learning and respect of Mātauranga Māori, ensuring our actions honour and support the aspirations of tangata whenua.
Kororāreka Marae
Maiki te maunga, te moana pikopiko i white, Taumarere te Awa, Kororāreka te marae, Haratu te whare, Te Kaupapa kotahitanga.
Te au hononga tai. Te au hononga iwi.
Kororāreka Marae was formed in 1991 to establish a community Marae in Kororāreka for the benefit of all, young and old, and to celebrate and uphold the mana of te reo me ōna tikanga o Ngapuhi. The Marae whare, Haratu, was opened in 2009 on the Kororāreka waterfront where it welcomes people from ngā hau e whā as a place for hui, for community connection, for celebration – a hāpori hub.
A key part of its kaupapa and its hapū plan is to be tangata kaitiaki for te taiao of the Kororāreka rohe which is why its komiti and whānau have always supported Russell Landcare’s mahi in biodiversity restoration. For many years the Trust met at Haratu before moving to its current premises at Matauwhi Bay.
Ngāti Manu
Ngāti Manu is a hapū of the Te Tai Tokerau whose ancestral lands span the Kāretu Valley, the Taumarere River, and the Bay of Islands region. Their marae at Kāretu Marae sits in the Kāretu Valley, near the sacred river of Taumarere, a waterway they whakapapa to and stand as kaitiaki over.
In 2016, the Russell Forest was collapsing due to pests such as possums. Ngāti Manu were key in assisting with the reestabishment and protection of the forest. Through strategy, organisation and collaborative efforts, Russell Forest was able to make a full turnaround.
As rangatira of land and water, Ngāti Manu uphold their role as guardians of the natural world, rooted in the principle “Ko au ko te awa, ko te awa ko au / I am the river, the river is me”. Through initiatives like marae‑based environmental education and biodiversity management programmes, they combine mātauranga Māori and contemporary techniques to protect their ancestral whenua and wai.
Patukeha
Patukeha is a coastal hapū based in Te Rāwhiti, Bay of Islands. As tangata whenua, they carry the responsibility of kaitiakitanga of land, sea, and ancestral sites in their rohe. Their connection to places like Rakaumangamanga and Maunganui Bay is more than geographical—it is woven into their identity, heritage, and ongoing role as stewards.
As kaitiaki, Patukeha leads conservation efforts within their marine and terrestrial environments. Drawing on mātauranga Māori, they have championed sustainable harvesting practices, monitoring of fish stocks, and the protection of wāhi tapu such as Te Araaka. Their efforts are about restoring the mauri of ecosystems, preserving cultural values, and leaving a healthy environment for future generations.
Ngāti Kuta
Ngāti Kuta are a hapū based in the Te Rāwhiti Bay of Islands region, holding deep responsibility as kaitiaki of both whenua and moana. Their connection to places like Rakaumangamanga underpins their identity and role in preserving their ancestral environment.
Their conservation vision is guided by the values of rangatiratanga, kaitiakitanga and intergenerational care. By weaving their traditional knowledge with active restoration efforts, they strive to ensure their rohe remains healthy, vibrant and resilient for future generations.
Ngāpuhi
Ngāpuhi is the largest iwi in Aotearoa, with ancestral ties across Te Tai Tokerau, including the Hokianga, Taumarere, and Bay of Islands. As kaitiaki of these lands and waters, Ngāpuhi carries a deep responsibility to protect and restore the environment through both mātauranga Māori and modern conservation methods.
The iwi leads and supports initiatives such as Ngā Wai Ora o Ngāpuhi, a waterway restoration project in Kaikohe, and collaborates on predator control, native forest regeneration, and the return of culturally significant sites to hapū governance. These efforts aim to revive biodiversity, safeguard sacred places, and uphold the mauri of the natural world.
Ngāpuhi’s approach to conservation is guided by the values of kaitiakitanga, rangatiratanga, and intergenerational care. By weaving traditional knowledge with contemporary tools, they ensure that their whenua and wai remain strong for future generations.