Rongowhakaata iwi relate to fertile, well-watered land on the East Coast, Te Tairāwhiti. While taha Māori (ways of life ) were impacted culturally, spiritually and economically by land confiscations, logging and disrupted ecosystems, the knowledge of the whenua and te ao Māori drives us all to work to heal Papatūānuku. Rehabilitating and developing wetlands, planting riparian margins to stabilise banks and clean water, and applying mātauranga for new and old ways of living are the focus on my tūrangawaewae.