band together
The area or rohe of Harataunga lies on the eastern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula and is largely home to Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga ngā Hapū e Toru.
Located in this tranquil seaside settlement of Kennedy Bay, lies 11,500 hectares of underutilised and undeveloped whenua, which is recovering from deforestation.
In 2019, Māori landowners from three separate blocks , began work with Te Puni Kokiri’s Whenua Māori Service, who helped them to form the Harataunga Collective. The Collective was set up with the purpose of utilising their indigenous forest for future biodiversity and productivity work.
Harataunga Collective’s Project Co-ordinator Sally Steedman says the collective has ‘big dreams’ for their whenua.
"We are determined to establish papakāinga, horticulture, agriculture, reclamation of wetlands and other industries that have a low environmental impact, which will allow our whānau to be fed, sheltered and prosperous as we care for this whenua," says Sally.
Link to article: SunLive - Coromandel landowners band together - The Bay's News First
