Mahinga kai

'Te toto o te tangata, he kai; te oranga o te tangata, he whenua'- Food supplies the blood of the people; their welfare depends on the land

These days, we are all custodians of the land and the resources they contain. What we do in our own backyards helps to protect and enhance our environment, as Ngāi Tahu tūpuna, or ancestors, did before us.
There is something special about providing the best environment for these mahinga kai treasures, and watching them do well.

Mahinga kai literally means 'to work the food’ and relates to the traditional value of food resources and their ecosystems, as well as the practices involved in producing, procuring, and protecting these resources.

Mahinga kai is about living and connecting in this world. For Ngai Tahu, it is about thriving and maintaining those things that sustain and nourish us, and that bring us wellbeing – clean water, clean air, clean soil, and sufficient shelter.  It includes access to clean and healthy kai, and doing this in a sustainable way, considering our future generations.

Watch these videos to help understand the ongoing importance of mahinga kai to Ngāi Tahu people. 

'Ka hāhā te tuna ki te roto; ka hāhā te reo ke te kaika; ka hāhā te takata ki te whenua' - If there is no tuna (eels) in the lake; there will be no language or culture resounding in the home; and no people on the land; however, if there are tuna in the lake; language and culture will thrive; and the people will live proudly on the land - Nā Charisma Rangipuna i tuhi

Mahinga kai areas are likely to be those special areas on a property that are already been actively taken care of for their environmental or biodiversity significance - but it could also be for things that you were not aware of - the small and little things.

Mahinga kai refers to numerous species and inter-relationships rather than something specific. It includes things such as species, natural habitats, materials and practices used for harvesting food, and places where food or resources are, or were, gathered.

'Toitū te marae o Tāne; toitū te marae Tangaroa; toitū te iwi' - If the forests of Tāne are protected; and the oceans of Tangaroa are protected; so too are the people.

EVERYONE has a part to play in protecting and enhancing mahinga kai, as an important part of sustainable environmental management. Looking after mahinga kai sits alongside ecosystem health and biodiversity as an essential environmental objective in our region.

FARMERS who require land use consents to farm now also have a new responsibility to address mahinga kai. They need to be aware of the mahinga kai values and risks on farm, and address these when applying Industry-agreed Good Management Practices. This will include actions such as:

• Protecting mahinga kai species and habitats when waterways are managed or cleared;
• Sustaining mahinga kai through management of remnant native vegetation and wetlands.

Listen to the Radio NZ story where Environment Canterbury Cultural Land Management Advisor Mananui Ramsden and Ecan Ranger Makarini Rupene talk about mahinga kai with Leeston farmer Carey Barnett.