We believe that it is our responsibility to look after for future generations. It is a treasure that has been passed down by the ancestors. Waikato people and the river cannot be separated. We belong to the river and the river belongs to us. E whakapono ana mātou ko tā mātou, he tiaki i taua tāonga mō ngā uri whakatupu. E kore e taea te wehe te iwi o Waikato me te awa. Waikato of a hundred chiefs, on every bend a taniwha (chief). The Waikato River is a tupuna (ancestor), a taonga (treasure), and the mauri (life force) of Tainui Waka and Ngti Twharetoa. Sir Robert Mahuta summarised the Waikato-Tainui view of the river best when he said: The tribes of the Waikato River are river people - generations of Waikato Mori have lived close to the river and it is deeply important to them. This would happen through rāhui (prohibition), for example, banning the collection of kai after there has been a drowning in the river. If the river is in an unhealthy state, then tikanga might say that activities that damage the river further will stop for a period of time. Mamae connects to Te Pūaha o Waikato and is very knowledgeable of the local history and mātauranga of the River. From it comes the life force and the sustainable livelihood of the people. Mamae Takerei outlines the significance of the river to her identity. Despite this, the iwi has maintained strong cultural ties to the river that continue today. In 1863, the Crown set in motion events that dispossessed Waikato-Tainui of the land and the river by 1865. Until the 1860s, Waikato-Tainui possessed the river and the lands surrounding the river. Submission on Te Ture Whaimana, the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River, Kaitumutumu Marae, Huntly, 2009, cited in the Waikato River Independent Scoping Study, p.19 Awen is an important symbol in Celtic culture.It’s a symbol of creativity, imagination, and aesthetic sensibility.In the Celtic language, Awen means essence or poetic inspiration.While seemingly simple in appearance, the Awen holds deep symbolic meaning. Our tupuna awa is part of our life as our tupuna awa is the main blood vein of Waikato-Tainui, which encompasses all lakes, tributaries, puna and groundwater flows. It acknowledges the connection between the river and the people. Taniwha (a guardian) is used as a metaphor for a chief and recognises the many communities along the Waikato River. One of these is “Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha” or “Waikato of a hundred chiefs, at every bend a chief”. Waikato-Tainui have many pepeha or sayings that acknowledge the connection between the river and the people. It is likened to the blood running through our bodies and is seen as being part of the bloodline of the people. The river is seen as a living being that has supported the people of Waikato-Tainui. The iwi refers to ‘te mana o te awa’ – the spiritual authority, protective power and prestige of the river. Rahui Papa describes the river as a taonga that has been handed down to be looked after for present and future generations.

Awa meaning