Te Waipounamu: Protecting Mahinga Kai

Te Puni Kōkiri is supporting Ngāi Tahu’s Wairewa Rūnanga to complete a successful trial investigating the feasibility of creating a permanent outlet canal from Wairewa/Lake Forsyth to the Pacific Ocean, to restore the health of the lake. The purpose of this trial is to reverse the current state of the environment within the lake by using tidal energy to flush toxic algal blooms from the lake. “The project will ensure the health of the tuna fishery and the return of other mahinga kai,” says Wairewa Rūnanga Chairman Robin Wybrow.