MAUNGANUI BAY

The Hapu

Ngati Kuta and Patukeha are the two resident Hapu or clans of Te Rawhiti.  They are the descendants of the Maori chiefs who have lived in Te Rawhiti Rakaumangamanga for many generations.  Under customary lore, as kaitiaki or guardians of Rakaumangamanga, they have responsibility for the health of their traditional lands and fishery.  This includes Maunganui Bay on the Cape Brett Peninsula in the Bay of Islands.

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Ngati Kuta and Patukeha are coastal people, who live from the sea.  Their community and way of life is structured around the fishery and sustainable harvesting.  They hold traditional knowledge on fishing practices, such as fishing for certain species at certain times and in certain places.  This ensures that enough fish are left for stocks to regenerate.

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Since the early 1960s, Maunganui Bay has been continuously over-fished.  This has resulted in the gradual depletion of fish stocks over time.  The goal of Hapu is to restore the fishery to a healthy state and then to protect it for future generations.