Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o Te Ika warmly welcomes today’s announcement by the Crown confirming the establishment of a public reserve at Te Motu Kairangi / Watts Peninsula, to be known as Mātai Moana.

The creation of this approximately 72-hectare reserve represents the culmination of years of advocacy and shared commitment between Taranaki Whānui, the Crown, Wellington City Council, and the Department of Conservation.

“This whenua is a representation of our mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga. Its cultural, ecological, and historical significance was maintained by our tūpuna, recently advocated by our whanaunga, and will be valued by our uri of Taranaki Whānui, the wider community, and the nation for years to come,” said Te Whatanui Winiata, Chair of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust.

“It contains wāhi tapu, pā sites such as Te Whetūkairangi, mahinga kai, and sites of national defence heritage. The establishment of Mātai Moana Reserve ensures that these taonga are preserved, restored and shared with uri, the wider community and the nation.”

Taranaki Whānui will contribute $250,000 annually to the operation of the reserve, alongside $750,000 per year from Wellington City Council. This co-investment reflects the joint commitment of mana whenua and the city to ensure the reserve thrives as a place of restoration, learning, and national pride.

“This is about more than creating a reserve to mana whenua,” said Mr Winiata. “It is about collectively promoting the mouri of our whenua, acknowledging our whakapapa, and establishing a place of wānanga where all generations can engage in our cultural practices, tikanga, and history. Mātai Moana is a tūpuna, a living legacy for our mokopuna.

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Today marks the acquisition of a pae-tata as we move towards our pae-tawhiti, alongside the Crown, Council, and wider communities.”

Taranaki Whānui Chief Executive Kara Puketapu-Dentice acknowledges the role of the Crown, particularly Ministers Chris Penk and Tama Potaka, and the officials of LINZ and DOC who have supported this kaupapa over many years. “We also acknowledge the commitment of Wellington City Council officials and Councillors, and in particular the leadership of Mayor Tory Whanau, whose support has been critical in reaching this milestone” says Mr Puketapu-Dentice.

The new Mātai Moana Charitable Trust, comprising representatives from Taranaki Whānui, Wellington City Council, and the Department of Conservation, will lead the future management of the reserve, including public consultation and the development of a 100-year vision for the whenua.

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