Kuia Ōi Wānanga

Noema 2, 2024

Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae

11am

The Ngāti Awa cultural practice of harvesting Kuia - otherwise known as Oi or the Grey-Faced Petrel - from Moutōhora Island was halted in the late 1950s. In 2012, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa initiated a project to revitalize the traditional practice and knowledge of the tribe’s cultural harvest of Kuia on Moutōhora. The kaupapa was set up to ensure the survival of Ngāti Awa Kuia Harvesting techniques by placing uri with Kaumātua who harvested Kuia on Moutōhora in their youth, thereby transferring the knowledge.

Following the revitalization of the Kuia Harvest in 2012, the focus of the 2013 harvest was to establish a core group of harvesters to become specialists in these practices and techniques. This group has now become the pounanao, who are responsible for leading the annual Kuia Harvest, and they will be at the Kuia Oi Harvest wānanga to share their knowledge.

To register for the Kuia wānanga please fill in your details below so that we can ensure that we have enough kai for everyone.

Important: In previous years, attending the wānanga was required to participate in the harvest. However, while it’s not a strict condition this year, the wānanga is an incredible opportunity to gain mātauranga and support our kaupapa but it is not the only condition to become a kainanao and participate in the harvest.

However, if you are keen to participate in the harvest then please reach out to one of the following pounanao:

- Hakopa Tarau (Ngāi Taiwhakaea)

- Dallas Cole (Te Wharepaia)

- William Stewart (Ngāti Hokopu)

- Vincent Shortland (Te Patuwai)

- Puke Ratema (Rangitāiki)

- John Eruera (Rangitāiki)

- Genesis O'Sullivan (Poroporo)

Or if you want to help the plucking and processing then speak to Pou Huhuti: Kylie Wharewera.