Area of Study: Mohi-Mohi Moana Ocean Garden

On October 18th–21st 2024, I travelled to Whangaruru, Northland, Aotearoa (New Zealand) to learn about the Mohi-Mohi Moana Ocean Garden project, led by the local Māori community. As a young Polynesian from Rapa Nui, I found deep cultural resonance with their Tikanga (protocols) and worldview yet also discovered many new insights about this sacred land and its relationship with the Moana (ocean).

The Mohi-Mohi Moana initiative is rooted in restoring marine ecosystems while honouring centuries of Māori knowledge. Key goals include sustainable fishing using Rāhui (temporary restrictions), cultivating “ocean gardens” that grow sea life like seaweed and shellfish, and supporting ecological restoration by removing invasive species from both land and sea. Central to the project is reviving mātauranga moana—ancestral knowledge about ocean life—and fostering a new generation of kaitiaki (guardians).

Whangaruru, meaning “a place of shelter,” has nourished its people for over 500 years. The project aims to protect its rich biodiversity—pāua, scallops, snapper, crayfish, and more—while adapting to climate change and warming seas. With its blend of environmental action, cultural revival, and community education, Mohi-Mohi Moana offers a powerful vision rooted in the past, but looking a thousand years ahead.