Mauri Compass · Wānanga
Kia ora ai te whānau
Introducing the Mauri Compass framework for taiao restoration and mahinga kai in Te Riu o Waiapu.
Programme
4 hoursWhakatau & Karakia
Welcome and Opening
Introductions and setting the kaupapa. Acknowledging the connection to this place — Ko Hikurangi te maunga, Ko Waiapu te awa, Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi.
Introduction to Mauri Compass
Framework Overview
Overview of the 3-Kete approach and the 12 attributes. Positioning the Mauri Compass as a tool for internal planning, cultural vitalization, and environmental stewardship — assessing performance through a Te Ao Māori lens.
The Waiapu Context
Te Ao Taiao & Te Wai Māori
Discussing local environmental challenges — sedimentation, pest devastation in the Raukūmara — and reviewing recent eDNA results from the Maraehara River. What the data tells us about catchment health and the species still present.
Morning Tea
Break
Break and informal kōrero.
5-Minute Bird Count
Group Field Activity
Hands-on group activity using the DOC 5-Minute Bird Count tool on mauricompass.one. Break into groups, pick a station around the marae, count what you see and hear. Connecting the terrestrial story to the freshwater story.
Hands-on Workshop
Using the Platform
Practical session using mauricompass.vip. Running a live Strengths & Needs Analysis together — group discussion to score attributes using the 1–5 scale. Discussion questions, wall summary, and facilitator notes.
Lunch
Shared Kai
Shared kai together.
Monitoring Tools Demo
mauricompass.one
Quick demonstrations of the practical field survey tools on mauricompass.one — Tuna Health Survey, Water Quality, and SHMAK (the school already has a kit). Showing how these connect to the eDNA findings.
Action Planning & Next Steps
Weaving the Compass Forward
How to weave the Mauri Compass into the 'Kia ora ai te whānau' kaupapa. Discussing how the tool supports community-led restoration and future monitoring across the Waiapu catchment.
Wrap Up & Karakia Whakamutunga
Closing
Final questions, reflections, and closing the wānanga.
How We Assess Our Environment
We look at three areas of our world — our people and culture, our freshwater, and our natural environment. Each area has four things we score from 1 to 5.
Te Ao Māori
People, Culture & Governance
Te Wai Māori
Freshwater Health & Taonga Species
Te Ao Taiao
Natural Environment & Catchment
Scoring Scale
Timeline of Work
The journey from research to restoration — key milestones in the Waiapu Mauri Compass project.
Waiapu Project Research
Foundational research — tangata whenua interviews, catchment assessment, Māori values framework development
Tuna Survey
13 longfin eels measured at Te Korowai o Waikākā. GPS, Maramataka, and species data recorded.
eDNA Sampling & School Sessions
Water samples collected from Maraehara River. Two school groups at Tairawhiti Marae with hīnaki and nets.
Wilderlab Submission
eDNA sample submitted for comprehensive multispecies analysis (Job #607571).
Results Analysis
eDNA results analysed — 5 native fish species, TICI 96.35 (Average), cattle DNA detected.
Hinepare Marae Wānanga
Introducing the Mauri Compass framework and field tools to the community. You are here.
Our River, Our Story
The story of our river, our land, and why we’re here today.
2024 Fieldwork — Tairawhiti Marae, Rangitukia
Whānau and tamariki at Tairawhiti Marae — morning session
13 November 2024, 10:23 AM
Tamariki with hīnaki and nets — ready for the awa
13 November 2024, 12:09 PM
Afternoon group with hīnaki — Rangitukia School
13 November 2024, 2:05 PM
"The river is our taonga and our life essence. Land erosion reflects how we are becoming as a people. We are losing our mana."
— Tangata whenua interview, Waiapu Project Research
km² catchment area
tonnes suspended sediment / year
Māori population in catchment
Raukūmara Challenge
Pest devastation — deer, possums, and goats — has severely impacted 200,000 hectares of shared land over 20 years. Forest clearance from 1890–1930 for pastoralism stripped the catchment of its natural protection.
Current cover: Exotic forest 26%, pasture 37%, native 21%
Geology: Crushed mudstones — "rocks like Weet-Bix"
Signs of Resilience
Despite degradation, eDNA confirms native freshwater species are still present — taonga species that signal catchment health worth protecting and restoring. The Ruma Initiative partnership with DOC has employed local kākahi in pest control.
Longfin eel, inanga, torrentfish still detected
Ruma Initiative: hapū + DOC partnership active
Community engagement and local employment growing
Step Into the Rohe
Drag to look around — these 360° photos let you stand at the marae and at the replanting site before the mahi begins.
Hinepare Marae
Mauri Compass Biosphere — where the wānanga was held
Replanting Site
This is the site before replanting begins — have a look around
Replanting Site — Another Angle
Same site, different view — shows the full scope of the area
We'll come back and retake these
These 360° photos are our 'before' shots. As the replanting grows, we'll retake them from the same spots — 1 year, 3 years, 5 years — so everyone can see the progress.
Maraehara River — eDNA Results
Environmental DNA sampling confirms species presence through DNA traces in water samples. The Maraehara is degraded but not dead — there are taonga species to protect.
Tuna Survey
eDNA Sampling
River Health Score
How healthy is the life in the river?The river is under pressure but still has life — there’s something to work with
Native Fish Species
Anguilla reinhardtii — Possible Misidentification
The speckled longfin eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) is an Australian species not native to New Zealand. Its detection (987 reads — the highest count) may represent a Wilderlab database misidentification, possibly matching closely related NZ eel DNA. This should be discussed with Wilderlab and flagged for review.
Invertebrates & Aquatic Life
Other Organisms Detected
Tuna Length Data — 8 October 2024
13 longfin eels measured at Te Korowai o Waikākā. Range: 24cm – 80cm. Average: 52.2cm.
Total Tuna
Avg Length (cm)
Range (cm)
Key Takeaways
How Clean Is Our Water?
This data comes from regular testing of the Waiapu River. It shows us how clean the water is and whether things are getting better or worse.
View on LAWA| Indicator | 5yr Median | Band | State | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | 104.5 n/100ml | D | Best 50% | Indeterminate |
| Clarity | 0.12 m | N/A | Worst 25% | Not Assessed |
| Turbidity | 33 NTU | — | Worst 25% | Not Assessed |
| Total Nitrogen | 0.14 mg/L | — | Best 25% | Indeterminate |
| Ammoniacal N | 0.017 mg/L | B | Worst 25% | Very Likely Degrading |
| Nitrate N | 0.06 mg/L | A | Best 50% | Likely Degrading |
| DRP | 0.01 mg/L | B | Worst 50% | Indeterminate |
| Total Phosphorus | 0.0545 mg/L | — | Worst 25% | Very Likely Degrading |
Key Concerns
Clarity 0.12m — worst 25% nationally, massive sediment loading
E. coli Band D — poor for swimming and contact recreation
Total Phosphorus — worst 25% and very likely degrading
Ammoniacal Nitrogen — worst 25% and very likely degrading
Positives
Total Nitrogen low — best 25% nationally
Nitrate Band A — good for aquatic toxicity
Nitrogen is not the primary driver of degradation here
The story the data tells: Sediment and phosphorus are the primary concerns — consistent with the massive erosion in the Waiapu catchment and cattle access to waterways confirmed by eDNA. Fencing, riparian planting, and erosion control are the priority interventions.
Tools We’ll Use
Field survey tools on mauricompass.one selected for their direct relevance to the 2024 eDNA findings and Waiapu catchment context.
Let’s Count the Birds!
ACTIVITYWe’ll go outside in groups, stand quietly for 5 minutes, and count every bird we see or hear. It’s easy and fun — all on your phone.
Open the Tool
Go to mauricompass.one/bird-count on your phone. Fill in site name: 'Hinepare Marae'. Select Standard (14 Groups).
Safety & Scan
Run through the safety checklist. Tap 'Scan Environment' to auto-capture GPS, weather, lunar, and solar data.
Count for 5 Minutes
Hit Start. The timer counts down. Tap +/- for each bird group as you see or hear them. Add notes and photos.
Compare & Export
Come back together. Compare results across stations. View diversity indices in the Results tab. Export as PDF.
Suggested Stations at Hinepare Marae
Group A
Marae grounds — open area near the wharenui
Group B
Nearest bush or riparian edge from the marae
Group C
Near the Maraehara River if accessible
Standard Mode — 14 Bird Groups
Our Digital Tools
Scan these QR codes with your phone to open the tools we’ll be using today.
What to Bring on the Day
Come prepared for both indoor sessions and an outdoor bird count activity.
Phone or Tablet
For mauricompass.vip and mauricompass.one — charged and with data/wifi
Pen & Notebook
For notes, reflections, and action planning
SHMAK Kit
The school's SHMAK kit if available — we may use it for a demo
Warm Layers
For the outdoor bird count activity — dress for the weather
Camera
For photos during the bird count and field activities
What We Found
We’re setting a starting point today — so we can measure how things change as the replanting grows.
What the Databases Already Know
SI-2026-0322-489B · 22 March 2026 · 4 km radius
Automated scan of 5 national databases centred on Te Riu o Waiapu (-37.7724°S, 178.4592°E). Run the day before the wānanga to establish what the databases already know about this rohe.
6 samples
eDNA
1 site
1 site
LAWA
Worst: Band D
9 species
Fish DB
7 threatened
0 barriers
Fish Passage
No data
34 species
iNaturalist
41 obs
River Comparison — TICI Scores
6 samples · Feb 2024 · Rangitukia Rd Bridge
1 sample · Nov 2024 · Te Korowai o Waikākā
The Poroporo scores significantly higher than the Maraehara — suggesting less pressure from land use at that reach. Both rivers are within the same catchment, making this a useful comparison for tracking restoration progress.
Poroporo River — LAWA Water Quality
| Indicator | Median | Band | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 0.0106 mg/L | B | Degrading |
| DRP | 0.008 mg/L | B | Improving |
| E. coli | 195 MPN/100mL | D | Not Assessed |
| Nitrate | N/A | A | Not Assessed |
| MCI | 97.0 | C | Indeterminate |
| QMCI | 4.59 | C | Degrading |
| ASPM | 0.29 | D | Indeterminate |
NZ Freshwater Fish Database — 9 Native Species
EN = Endangered · VU = Vulnerable · NT = Near Threatened · LC = Least Concern. 7 of 9 species are threatened.
iNaturalist Biodiversity — Native vs Exotic
Plants (64.7%)
Insects (14.7%)
Fungi (8.8%)
Molluscs (5.9%)
Arachnids (2.9%)
Other (2.9%)
Notable: Pōhutukawa, pūriri, ramarama, māpou (native canopy) alongside gorse and garden snail (exotic pressure). Foundation for restoration exists.
What We Collected Today
Baseline surveys before the replanting project begins
SHMAK Survey
School SHMAK kit — stream habitat, water quality, invertebrate assessment. Results to be entered after the field session.
Awaiting field data
5-Min Bird Count
DOC 5MBC protocol — 3 stations around Hinepare Marae. Diversity indices and native/exotic ratio.
Awaiting field data
Tuna Health
Freshwater eel survey — CPUE, condition, lengths. Builds on the Oct 2024 baseline (13 longfin, avg 52.2cm).
Awaiting field data
Predator Control
Trap line assessment — species, catch rates, trap condition. Critical for the replanting project — protecting new growth from browse.
Awaiting field data
Why baseline matters: These four surveys establish the pre-planting condition of the site. As the replanting project progresses, repeating these surveys at regular intervals will show measurable change — more birds, healthier tuna, cleaner water, fewer predators.
Photos from the wānanga will be added here
Group activities, field work, and key moments from the day
What We’re Going to Do
Here’s our plan — what we can start today, what we’ll do in the next few months, and how we’ll keep tracking progress as the replanting grows.
Start Today
Can begin today with what we have
SHMAK water quality testing at Maraehara
Driver: E. coli Band D, cattle DNA detected
5-Minute Bird Count baseline at Hinepare Marae
Driver: No terrestrial baseline exists yet
Tuna Health Survey at Te Korowai o Waikākā
Driver: 13 longfin eels measured Oct 2024 — track population
Predator monitoring near replanting sites
Driver: Raukūmara pest devastation — protect new growth
Next Few Months
Aligned with the replanting project timeline
Stock exclusion / fencing assessment for Maraehara tributaries
Driver: Cattle DNA in eDNA + E. coli Band D
Riparian planting plan for priority reaches
Driver: Clarity 0.12m (worst 25%), total phosphorus degrading
Repeat eDNA sampling at Maraehara
Driver: Compare to Nov 2024 baseline (TICI 96.35)
Run Site Intelligence again to track LAWA trend changes
Driver: QMCI degrading, ammonia degrading — are interventions working?
Predator bait station / trap line establishment around planting sites
Driver: Protect new plantings from possum and goat browse
Keeping Watch Over Time
Tracking change as the replanting establishes
Seasonal SHMAK + Bird Count cycle (quarterly)
Track seasonal variation and year-on-year trends
Annual eDNA sampling — stream + soil
Stream for aquatic health, soil for predator presence and terrestrial biodiversity
Annual Mauri Compass scoring review (wānanga)
Community-led assessment using mauricompass.vip — track all 12 attributes
Compare Poroporo vs Maraehara trajectories over time
SI baseline shows Poroporo TICI 97–100 vs Maraehara 96.35 — track convergence
Predator catch rate trends
Declining catch rates = success. Compare with bird count diversity indices
Photo point monitoring at replanting sites
Fixed photo points — visual record of canopy establishment over years
The Replanting Connection
Every action in this plan connects to the replanting project. Fencing keeps cattle out so seedlings survive. Predator control protects the birds that disperse seeds. SHMAK and eDNA track whether the water is getting cleaner as riparian cover establishes. Bird counts show whether the forest is coming back to life. The Mauri Compass ties it all together — a holistic view of progress through a Te Ao Māori lens.
Fence
Exclude stock
Plant
Riparian cover
Protect
Predator control
Monitor
Track change
What People Said
Voices from the whānau after the wānanga.
"Iron sharpens iron. The Mauri Compass was put to the test today by Te Riu o Waiapu. Patrick Tangaere brought his tauira from kura, teaching tomorrow's scientists today. Taiao expert Graeme Atkins rode his horse across the Waiapu from Tikapa, saving the taiao and fuel along the way. For Te Riu o Waiapu, we calibrated baseline monitoring with our end to end suite of riparian, inanga, eDNA, tuna, SHMAK, predator control, and birdsong to produce irrefutable proof that biodiversity is indeed good for the taiao and its people. Was awesome thanks."
Facilitator
Mauri Compass
"An absolutely fabulous day with the whānau enjoying more mātauranga, tools and tips so generously shared by you Ian Ruru. Kāre e mutu ngā mihi ki a koe and can't wait to keep building that observations base to help track our progress. Blessed also to have Graeme Atkins with us too to share his mōhiotanga, sharp senses and connection to the taiao!"
Organiser
Te Riu o Waiapu
"VERY cool day, great learnings with some of our very own masters — Graeme Atkins and Ian Ruru."
Participant
Hinepare Marae