Skip to main content

Story: Economy and the environment

Gathering shellfish at Motunui reef

Audio file

These Te Āti Awa kuia (female elders) are collecting seafood in the early 1980s in the traditional manner, not far from a proposed outfall from the Motunui synthetic petrol plant. The Waitangi Tribunal, however, in a landmark decision, ruled that the Crown had to protect traditional Māori fishing grounds. Eventually an existing outfall was used instead.

Listen to the report about protecting Te Āti Awa fishing grounds.

Using this item

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Reference: 26843

Image: Private collection, by Fiona Clark

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Eric Pawson, Economy and the environment – Regulating economy and environment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/21661/gathering-shellfish-at-motunui-reef (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eric Pawson, published 26 February 2010.