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A rähui prohibiting the harvesting of of kütai/mussels between Bushy Point, on the Wairoa River, and Te Kopua Point, on the Arapaoa River, will take effect on January 10.
The rähui is part of a mussel restoration project being coordinated by the Tinopai Resource Management Unit and Tinopai community members. It will cover only mussels and will not prevent the harvesting of other shellfish.
Organisers says mussels were once abundant in the Tinopai area when people came from all over the Kaipara to harvest them.
“The restoration project has generated great enthusiasm from the community and the discovery of hundreds of small mussels, near the Tinopai wharf, prompted our group to embark on this venture,” spokesperson Mikaera Miru says.
“The kütai that washed up at the wharf came from divers inspecting the pylons of the wharf for Kaipara District Council. The community came together to gather the mussels and relocate them to a safe place in the inter-tidal zone.”
Four pilot monitoring sites have since been stablished around the Tinopai inter-tidal zone.
Kütai function as natural bioengineers in coastal ecosystems, providing vital services and physical structures that support broader marine life.
Children from Tinopai School are playing an essential part in the project and have been involved in the initial gathering of the mussels, relocation and creating rähui signage.
“They are tomorrow’s kaitiaki (caretakers) so it is crucial to have them involved.
“For mana whenua, restoring kütai is restoring our whakapapa to Tangaroa, which enables manaakitanga (caring for our manuhiri).”
An open invitation has been extended to anyone interested in attending the rähui ceremony, which will be held at the Tinopai community hall on Saturday January 10. It will start with a pöwhiri at 11am and a hangi will be provided as the häkari to celebrate the occasion.
