Their vision is to reconnect mana-whenua to Ngā Pae Ruahine by creating sustainable jobs that enhance the mauri of our people and the taiao, thereby supporting a flourishing ecological diversity in the range and neighbouring front country.
Area: As part of the central spine of Te Ika a Māui, Te Pae Maunga o Ruahine heads South from a saddle on the Napier-Taihape Rd to the Manawatū Gorge. The total area of the Mauri Oho Project is 59,000ha in the Northern Ruahine Range. This comprises about 39,000ha on public conservation land and 7,000ha on Māori Trust Lands. The remaining 13,000ha is on streams running through neighbouring farmland in the Kererū district. Altogether the public conservation land and the Maōri Trust Lands constitute about half the total area of the Ruahine Range.
What Mauri Oho Does
- Training and Rangatahi development: Mauri Oho is experienced in mentoring rangatahi while working on the job.
- Predator control and trap servicing: Mauri Oho now services 4000+ traps monthly along the eastern Ruahine forest park-farmland boundary. Our backcountry work is in remote locations, which requires good communication and contingency plans specific to the changeable weather and rugged terrain. In the front country, we work collaboratively with farmers to service traplines and ensure our presence has minimal impact on their daily farm routine. We are skilled in building, deploying, and servicing traps using GPS navigation and online apps like Trap.NZ to manage data and reporting. If you're interested in trapping, contact via email office@maurioho.nz
- Monitoring for results (pests) and for outcomes (species and stream health): When monitoring we use a Mātauranga Māori approach. The team is proficient in cultural health monitoring. They deploy tracking tunnel index cards six-monthly to help target specific predators. Mauri Oho are experienced in eBird travelling check lists, installing Acoustic Recording Devices to monitor kiwi calling and matuku hurepō booming. Wildlife survey results show that constant predator suppression is making a difference to returning taonga species - whio (blue duck) and North Island Eastern brown kiwi.
- Riparian Restoration and farm mahi: The Team is experienced in riparian restoration work in streams and wetlands. They have skills in weed control, spot spraying and planting. Over five years, Mauri Oho has planted 171,000 plants.
- Nursery mahi alongside Whatumā Management Group: The Team contribute to nursery work using Mātauranga Māori for local seed collection and planting with hapū experts. The Whatumā nursery has launched a volunteer program held regularly on Fridays. Over recent years, the Team continue to strengthen and diversify their mahi on Tamatea and Kererū rohe. Mauri Oho has grown a solid reputation for getting the mahi done!
Achievements 2021-2026
- 40,556 traps serviced
- 2,710 traps deployed
- 14,925 catches
- 49,080 ha pest control area
- 171,00 plants planted
- 12 cultural health monitoring awa
- 30,000m fencing
- 5 huts maintained
- 38 wānanga
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