First Marae Based Fresh Water Testing Science Lab Grand Opening 16-17 May 2025

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti Paki is excited to announce the opening of our Freshwater Science Laboratory at Winiata Marae, SH1 8197, Taihape.

This freshwater science laboratory is the first in the world to be based on a marae.

Made possible through our partnership with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, the lab will amalgamate the best of both mātauranga Māori and western scientific methodologies in order to protect wai Māori (freshwater) and build the capacity and capability of iwi freshwater practitioners, or “Kaitiaki Rangers”, of all ages.

Our team of experts will utilise the facilities to: educate and train others; test and then provide information; to provide a platform for socialisation of iwi, hapū and community knowledge; to support the ongoing monitoring and freshwater management strategies of our hapū, iwi and community into the future; in our quest for pristine water quality within our rohe and best practise management strategies of wai Māori. The following main disciplines will be available immediately after the opening, but we envision the list will expand with time.

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