An organiser of an East Coast hapū initiative to map the land and waterways says the move will help to combat the rapid decline of freshwater species.
Small longfin eel. Photo: Tony Foster (CC BY-ND 2.0).
Manu Caddie is part of a hapū collective that is creating a digital map and database of the streams and land in the Hikurangi Takiwā.
The latest wānanga comes as The Society for Conservation Biology releases a report showing 74 percent of native freshwater fish, mussel and crayfish species are threatened with extinction.
Mr Caddie said mapping the environment allowed hapū to know which sites need restoring and protection.
He said it was alarming how rapidly freshwater species were declining, and if there was no action now, there would be nothing left for the next generation to fish and enjoy.
Mr Caddies is urging other iwi to get on board with the kaupapa.