Latest news with #NgāiTahu
Scoop
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ Olympic Team Honour Pounamu Journey With Inaugural Winter Wānanga
The New Zealand Team in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, has completed its first-ever Winter Wānanga in Māwhera (Greymouth) to strengthen the connection between New Zealand Team athletes, Paralympic athletes and Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the true kaitiaki (guardians) of pounamu. For the past 20 years, each Olympic and Paralympic team member has been gifted a pounamu pendant carved by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, to help unite and inspire athletes while competing for their country. Five NZ Team Olympic athletes and one Paralympic athlete to Milano Cortina attended the wānanga alongside Chefs de Mission Marty Toomey and Jane Stevens. The two-day cultural immersion was created to give athletes and staff a deeper cultural understanding and connection to Poutini Ngāi Tahu, pounamu, and te ao Māori, through shared learning, reflection, and whakawhanaungatanga. The Winter Wānanga marked a significant milestone in the New Zealand Team's ongoing commitment to upholding a team culture of manaaki with a programme centred around three themes - People, Place, and Pounamu. Athletes were immersed in the whakapapa of pounamu, including the creation, artistry, sustainability and its significance as a taonga shared across Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. Olympic gold medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott said she felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the meaning and history of pounamu. 'The pounamu we receive at the Games is incredibly special, but having this experience gives us a deeper understanding of what it truly represents,' she said. 'This is the first time I've ever been a part of something like this, and it's really special to have been welcomed so warmly, with Poutini Ngāi Tahu sharing their history, culture and family with us.' Ngāi Tahu Operations Manager Chantal Tumahi says it was a full circle moment to host the inaugural wānanga, marking the first time athletes have had input into the design of the pendants that will be made for the Milano Cortina Winter Games. 'Pounamu connects the wearer to whenua (place), whānau (people) and whakapapa (ancestry). When gifted to our Olympic athletes pounamu becomes a powerful symbol of connection - grounding them in Aotearoa, reminding them of where they come from and linking them to one another. 'All pendants gifted to NZ Team and Paralympic athletes are carved from a single piece of Pounamu. This shared origin unites every New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic athlete, binding them through the mauri (life force) of the stone. When one athlete wears their pounamu they carry with them the strength, support, and presence of every other athlete – a permanent bond forged through the enduring nature of pounamu.' Pounamu is a cornerstone of Te Kapa o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Team. It is a prized taonga that has become a symbol of pride, mana, and excellence for all Olympic and Paralympic athletes of Aotearoa New Zealand. Pounamu holds deep spiritual and cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu. The taonga is a powerful representation of identity, ancestry and connection to people and place. As kaitiaki of all pounamu within their takiwā (territory) Poutini Ngāi Tahu have a deep responsibility to protect and preserve the mana of the stone. Pounamu plays a vital role in maintaining traditions, upholding cultural practices and supporting the aspirations of Poutini Ngāi Tahu. For the first time since it was presented to the New Zealand Team by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu in 2004, the mauri stone, a symbol of life force and spiritual connection to Aotearoa, returned home to the Arahura river, carrying with it the collective energy, stories and mana of every athlete who has represented our nation on the world stage. 'It was very humbling to return the New Zealand Team mauri stone to its home in Arahura, to replenish the mauri of the stone and strengthen the relationship of NZOC and Poutini Ngāi Tahu as kaitiaki of the stone,' said Nicki Nicol, CEO of the NZOC. The Winter Wānanga marked a meaningful step in the New Zealand Team's cultural journey, deepening athletes' connection to pounamu and home.
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Sights set on resurrection
It is a bold scenario worthy of a hollywood director. Imagine the camera rising to an extreme long shot, revealing a dramatic landscape dotted with large flightless birds. Genetic engineering firm Colossal Biosciences is offering a hint that one day this image will become less film fiction and more scientific fact. It recently announced plans to resurrect the extinct South Island giant moa in collaboration with the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, film-maker Sir Peter Jackson, scientist Paul Scofield and the University of Canterbury. Standing up to 3.6m tall and weighing 230kg, the giant moa disappeared from Te Waipounamu about 600 years ago, hunted to extinction two centuries after Polynesian settlement. Colossal will work closely with the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre to integrate mātauranga Māori, traditional knowledge, in its approach, providing for indigenous leadership in scientific innovation. Ngāi Tahu Research Centre director Prof Mike Stevens said during the 14th and 15th centuries, moa provided meat for sustenance and bones and feathers for tools and decoration, especially in Te Waipounamu. "The loss of moa, through over-harvesting and habitat modification, was a salutary lesson as to the New Zealand archipelago's 'fragile plenty'." Ngāi Tahu was particularly excited by this project because of the extent to which it enabled Ngāi Tahu to exercise rangatiratanga (leadership) and tikanga (customs) and the potential to bring ecological and economic aspirations into a singular frame. Colossal chief science officer Beth Shapiro said birds were among the most endangered species in New Zealand and around the globe, but had the fewest biotechnological tools available to protect them. "Because of their unique reproductive system, for example, it is not possible to 'clone' birds in the way that Dolly the sheep was cloned, so a new approach is needed to pass edits in DNA to the next generations." As Colossal developed tools for intra-species surrogacy, captive management and re-wilding, each of these technologies would be extendable to other species. "We will create genomic resources for living species that improve our capacity to manage them and participate in ecosystem restoration projects that will benefit living species." Colossal gained worldwide media attention recently when it revealed what it described as the return of the dire wolf, an American predator that had been extinct for more than 10,000 years. Using ancient samples of dire wolf DNA and genetic engineering as well as domestic hounds as surrogate mothers, three dire wolves were birthed. To resurrect the giant moa, Colossal was evaluating two of the closest living relatives of moa as surrogate hosts, the tinamou and the emu, Dr Shapiro said. "This is a long-term project and partnership and we are hopeful that the first chicks will be born within a decade." Whether de-extinction is legally possible within the country's existing biotechnology and environmental laws is something that will require further investigation. As a new concept, as far as she was aware, no country had laws explicitly focused on de-extinct species, Dr Shapiro said. "Our goal is to work with our partners in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore the regulatory frameworks that would apply to our and other conservation work and to develop pathways for these tools to be used to introduce de-extinct species and augment existing conservation work."
Otago Daily Times
22-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Plantations daunting for neighbours
PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE A Hindon farmer is calling a new pine plantation next door an "ecological disaster" but the company managing the forest says it is a good neighbour and is taking appropriate measures to address concerns. The 170ha property of beef farmer Cathy Anderson neighbours Wainuku Forest in Hindon, north of Outram. Wainuku Forest is owned by Ngāi Tahu Forestry and managed by Wenita Forest Products. Ngāi Tahu bought sheep and beef farms, totalling nearly 2500ha, to plant more than 1500ha of trees. Ms Anderson's concerns about the new forestry include it being a breeding ground for pests. The pests would destroy fences, pasture and crops and increase the risk of bovine tuberculosis spreading, she said. Other farmers in Hindon shared her concerns about pests, especially wild pigs. Hindon sheep and beef farmer Boyd Tisdall said the wild pig population was "out of control" since forestry had been established near his farm. Pigs turned over grass, reducing the amount of grazing available to livestock, he said. The pasture damage needed to be repaired by farmers. "If you don't do anything, weeds grow and sheep get cast." Pigs destroying pasture was frustrating and tough on the mental health of a farmer. "You try and keep your farm tidy and productive and there's hectares of it ploughed up." None of the forestry neighbouring his farm was owned by Ngāi Tahu, he said. Wild deer numbers had also "exploded" but controlling them was easier than pigs. "You can hunt deer and lower the numbers a wee bit, whereas the pigs are so cunning and such prolific breeders, they are a different problem." Forestry management companies had been willing to pay for half of the cost of pest control. "They've been helping out but the horse has bolted. There should have been more hunting pressure on them than what there has been." Hindon sheep and beef farmer Paul Joyce said he farmed near Ms Anderson and a new forest was established on the boundary of his farm. Rubble covers Game Cock Stream after bulldozer work to establish Wainuku Forest in Hindon. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The forest was owned by Swiss-company Corisol and managed by Wenita. "I have a wild pig problem. I've never had before." Mr Joyce found Wenita good to work with. Another Hindon sheep and beef farmer, who lives near Wainuku Forest and asked to not be named, said pigs numbers were "horrendous" and the pest had been killing lambs. The issue had spurred a local farmer to remove sheep from his system and focus only on beef cattle, which could defend themselves against a pig. "The pigs are rife." Ms Anderson was more concerned about other issues relating to the establishment of Wainuku Forest. Wenita began preparing the land for tree planting in 2022. That preparation included bulldozing a rock bank at the top of a gully. Falling rubble covered a section of Game Cock Stream, a tributary of Taieri River. The critically endangered, non-migratory freshwater fish Eldon's galaxias lives in the stream, she said. Destruction of the environment was a contradiction to Ngāi Tahu's "clean, green image", Ms Anderson said. Wenita also used bulldozers to clear native vegetation to plant pine trees. As a result, large piles of native vegetation cover historic sites including water races in Game Hen Stream and Game Hen Mine. An article in the Otago Daily Times in 1892 describes the mine "as rich a gully as was ever opened in Otago, the prospectors getting four pounds weight of gold off the bottom of a small shaft". The mine was named in the honour of a woman who worked at a local pub, who was nicknamed "The Game Hen", the ODT said. Ms Anderson's family history in Hindon dates back to gold mining in the area from 1863. The pub mentioned in ODT was The Game Cock Hotel, she said. She was calling for Ngāi Tahu and Wenita to do more to protect waterways and historic sites. "This shouldn't be happening." Forestry regulations need to change, Ms Anderson said. Hindon beef farmer Cathy Anderson is concerned about how the new Ngāi Tahu pine plantation Wainuku Forest is impacting the environment. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Changes needed included independent auditors being appointed to monitor for any environmental damage from forestry "to rectify any damage already done", she said. Before any property was cleared for forestry, a landowner should need to gain a consent. "The damage occurs at the land preparation stage." She told Heritage New Zealand of her concerns for the historic mining sites and reported rubble in Game Cock Stream to the Otago Regional Council. A visit by ORC staff resulted in Wenita being issued an infringement notice, she said. Wenita had completed remedial work to the stream but more needed to be done, Ms Anderson said. "The job's not done. The fish still can't swim upstream because there are boulders blocking it." Due to concerns for the waterway, she had fenced a 2ha area of her farm at the head of the stream and planted it out with native vegetation. Ms Anderson spoke about her environmental concerns at a Dunedin City Council meeting. A resulting site visit from DCC staff resulted in formal warnings being issued to Ngāi Tahu Forestry and Wenita for bulldozing native vegetation, she said. She was calling for a consent process so all forestry would require an 100m-wide setback from any boundary, waterway, historic site and native bush. Setback areas should be planted in native bush and then maintained by the landowner to reduce fire risk. All forestry should feature compulsory dams and fire breaks to help protect the community during a blaze. Forestry consents should require a pest control plan, which were then independently monitored. "Our waterways, our endangered species, our heritage sites and our native bush needs protection but they are blatantly bulldozing them and no-one is accountable. They're getting away with it. "You shouldn't be able to do this." Wenita Forest Products Wenita chief executive David Cormack said Wenita had about 400 neighbours around the properties it looked after. "We work hard to establish good relationships." Forests did not benefit from having wild animals living in them, he said. "We would rather they didn't, so animal pest control is an important forestry operation." Vegetation cleared to plant pine trees covers a section of Game Hen Stream in Hindon. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Wenita spent a considerable amount on animal pest control each year and encouraged people to hunt in most of its forests using an online booking system. Nearly 2500 pigs were removed from Wenita forests in the 12 months up to June this year. Other pests to be removed included about 5800 possums, 2000 rats, 1000 hedgehogs, 500 rabbits, 120 goats, 100 deer, 70 stoats and 30 feral cats. Wenita supported the Predator Free Dunedin Halo project, he said. Nearly $1 million had been invested by Wenita since 2022 to establish a trapping network in Mt Allan Forest, Maungatua Forest, parts of Berwick Forest and on public land within the Silverstream water supply area. A professional hunter was contracted by Wenita to remove animal pests in Wainuku Forest, he said. Wenita was aware of the concerns of Ms Anderson. "We have taken her concerns seriously." Wenita had worked with ORC on issues raised around Game Cock Stream, he said. "After being made aware that rubble had been pushed into the stream by accident. We worked with council to obtain a retrospective resource consent so we could remediate the stream." The work was completed under the supervision of a freshwater ecologist and signed off by ORC as being fully compliant. DCC had responded to a complaint about possible district plan breaches for vegetation clearance. "While the council determined these breaches were likely, no formal compliance actions were pursued, but rather recommendations around further afforestation works were made." Wenita was aware of its responsibilities regarding historical sites and worked with consultant archaeologists New Zealand Heritage Properties to assess the property prior to planting, to ensure it met its responsibilities. All of Wenita's forestry operations complied with the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry, which covered the environmental impact of commercial forestry, Mr Cormack said. Ngai Tahu Forestry Ngāi Tahu Holdings chief executive Todd Moyle said Ngāi Tahu Forestry had expectations for Wenita to prioritise the remedial work of Game Cock Stream to the highest standards in 2023. "We were supportive of the process Wenita followed and pleased that their work met all compliance requirements. We were especially pleased that galaxias were observed swimming in the area following this remediation." Ngāi Tahu Forestry had no plans to expand the radiata planting in Wainuku Forest. "However, there are plans for 40ha of indigenous planting along the upper banks of the Taieri River." Otago Regional Council A bulldozer clears native vegetation to prepare land to establish Wainuku Forest in Hindon. PHOTO: SUPPLIED ORC compliance manager Simon Wilson said three infringement notices, totalling $1750, were issued to Wenita in relation to activities within Game Cock Stream in 2022. Resource consents were issued to disturb the bed and divert the water of Game Cock Stream for the purpose of remediation works by the consent holder. The work was completed in full compliance with consent conditions. ORC continued to monitor the resource consents, he said. When asked if ORC was considering implementing any of Ms Anderson's calls for change including all forests to have: • A 100m-wide setback from shared boundaries, waterways, historic sites and native bush. • Compulsory fire breaks and dams to store water to fight fires. • A landowner needing to gain a consent to prepare land for tree planting. • A pest control plan, which was independently monitored. Mr Wilson said many of the activities associated with forestry were managed under the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry. The standards set national requirements for how forests were planted and managed, and auxiliary activities were to be undertaken. "There is only a limited ability for regional councils to set stricter rules in regional plans." The government was consulting on amendments to the standards to further limit the ability for councils to be more stringent than the national standards, Mr Wilson said. Dunedin City Council DCC customer and regulatory acting general manager Paul Henderson said DCC issued formal warnings to Ngāi Tahu Forestry and Wenita Forest Products in 2023 in relation to native vegetation clearance in the area. "No further concerns have been raised since then and we are not aware of any ongoing issues." Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga An Otago-Southland area office spokeswoman said staff were aware of archaeological sites in Wainuku Forest. The office was comfortable with measures in place to mitigate the impact on archaeological sites. "We understand that an archaeological assessment had been undertaken by consultant archaeologists and appropriate plans had been made to avoid damaging archaeological sites."
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Scientists launch effort to resurrect extinct giant flightless bird
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The South Island giant moa was the tallest bird which ever lived, growing up to 3.6m tall. SINGAPORE - At up to 3.6m tall, the South Island giant moa was the tallest bird that ever lived. It roamed New Zealand's South Island before becoming extinct around 600 years ago. Now, a team of scientists is trying to bring it back. This effort is led by Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, which on July 9 added the bird to the list of extinct animals it hopes to resurrect , by altering the genes of the giant moa's closest living relatives. Other animals on their list include the dodo, woolly mammoth and thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger. To resurrect the giant moa, Colossal is working with New Zealand's Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, which is housed within the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. The project is also backed by several high-profile investors, including Mr Peter Jackson, the New Zealand-born director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Mr Jackson has one of the largest private collections of moa bones, reported the Associated Press. Moas played an essential role in natural ecosystems, and for early ancestors of the indigenous Ngāi Tahu tribe in New Zealand. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student who used AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore Jail for contraband cigarette syndicate member over conspiracy to give bribes to security officer Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore at Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Professor Mike Stevens, the research centre's director, said in Colossal's press statement: 'During the 14th and 15th centuries, moa provided meat for sustenance, and bones and feathers for tools and decoration. 'And the loss of moa, through over-harvesting and habitat modification, was a salutary lesson as to the New Zealand archipelago's 'fragile plenty'.' New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot due to its isolation from the rest of the world and natural history, with a high proportion of endemic species - or species found only in a single defined geographic location - Colossal added in a media statement. 'Colossal Biosciences has committed a large investment to New Zealand to build biotechnology within and protect its unique biological heritage, including flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth,' it said. But many scientists are sceptical of the ethics behind such costly 'de-extinction' efforts, which sap funds that could otherwise be used to conserve currently endangered species. Setting out to revive extinct species may be 'intellectually interesting, but really should be a low priority,' Dr Scott MacDougall-Shackleton told the CNN. 'If we are concerned about island bird conservation there are hundreds of threatened and critically endangered species in New Zealand, Hawaii and other Pacific islands that need conservation resources more urgently,' added the co-founder and director of the Advanced Facility for Avian Research at Western University in Canada. Whether or not 'de-extinction' is even possible is also a contentious issue among members of the scientific community. In April 2025, Colossal made the news for announcing the birth of three pups of the dire wolf - an extinct canine predator - which they had birthed by partially altering the genome of its closest modern-day relative, the grey wolf. 'Is de-extinction possible? No, it is not possible. What you could potentially do - we'll see - is create a genetically modified organism that may contain some appearance traits that are linked to a previously extinct species based on what we think they were like,' Dr Tori Herridge, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Sheffield, told The Guardian.
Geek Tyrant
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Director Peter Jackson Joins the Mission to Bring Back the Extinct Giant Moa with Colossal Biosciences — GeekTyrant
Sir Peter Jackson is best known for bringing Middle-earth to life on the big screen, but now he's helping bring back from the giant moa from extinction. In a groundbreaking partnership, the Lord of the Rings filmmaker has teamed up with Colossal Biosciences and New Zealand's Ngāi Tahu Research Centre to resurrect the South Island Giant Moa, a massive flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand's forests and grasslands before vanishing over 600 years ago. Joining Jackson on this wild scientific journey are Colossal CEO and co-founder Ben Lamm and Ngāi Tahu archaeologist Kyle Davis, who talked about how this unique collaboration came together, and what it means for science, culture, and the future of extinct species. Jackson, whose passion for prehistoric creatures dates back to childhood dreams of resurrecting dinosaurs, shared that his involvement began through filmmaker Michael Dougherty ( Godzilla: King of the Monsters ), who connected him with Lamm after making a documentary for Colossal. Jackson said: 'I did a Zoom call, met Ben, and I was disappointed in a way. Because I had a look at their website beforehand, and they were talking about bringing the Mammoth, the Dodo, and the Tasmanian Tiger [back], but there was no sign of the Moa. As soon as I got on the call with them, I said, 'Why not the Moa?'' Lamm, for his part, was thrilled to have Jackson (and Fran Walsh) on board, not just as supporters, but as key collaborators. 'Having someone like Peter involved, and Fran is amazing. Not only are they great investors and very thoughtful business people, but they also help us think through all these things. They've been incredible [and opened] up their homes to us.' Jackson and Walsh's personal bone collection turned out to be a crucial asset for Colossal's genetic reconstruction work. That led to connecting the company with the right people, including archaeologist Kyle Davis, who has deep cultural and scientific ties to the moa's legacy. Davis said: 'It's just one of those iconic lost species or lost environmental entities that captures the imagination. As a career archaeologist and environmentalist, the prospect of understanding those dynamics more to add to our own tribal story is very, very exciting.' Despite his deep involvement, Jackson isn't planning to direct a documentary on the moa project. For him, it's a passion project separate from his filmmaking life. As for what's next in Middle-earth, Jackson gave a quick update: 'The Hunt for Gollum, which is a Lord of the Rings-connected movie that Andy Serkis, who played Gollum, will direct. But we're working on the script and producing it. So that's something for next year. Yeah.' Resurrecting the giant moa may sound like something out of Jurassic Park, but this isn't fiction, it's real science, real collaboration, and a real chance to restore a lost part of the planet's ecosystem. More details you can watch the videos below from CBM.
