The Whanganui River is a living being that nourishes and sustains the land and the people both physically and spiritually from the Mountains to the Sea, known as Te Awa Tupua. 

To Whanganui Iwi and hapū (tribes), the health and wellbeing of one element of the River is intrinsically connected to the health and wellbeing of the whole River, and to the people of the River.

For decades, people in past governments have rejected this view and have treated the River as a commodity, breaking it down in parts and overriding our concerns, causing harm to our waterways and ecosystems.

In a world first, the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017 has given the River its voice back, and it is calling on the wider community to now view it holistically, as a living and indivisible whole.

By working together and making collective decisions to keep the River clean and healthy, we represent a long-overdue paradigm shift, and a move towards restorative justice and sustainable practices for healthy waterways.

For more information about Te Awa Tupua and our story click here or to get in touch click here