Ports of Auckland commit to fund Te Moananui o Toi Restoration Trust

Jan 13, 2023

Ports of Auckland has agreed to fund the newly established Te Moananui o Toi Restoration Trust with $100,000 annually which will support initiatives that directly benefit the Waitematā Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

Kelly Klink from Protect Aotea and Roger Gray Ports of Auckland CEO have today established the Te Moananui o Toi Restoration Trust. The Trust which will be funded by Ports of Auckland for 15 years is designed to support projects that enhance and restore the mauri of the Waitematā Harbour and te Moananui o Toi, and provides scholarships for postgraduate studies related to the mauri of the moana.

Roger Gray, CEO at Ports of Auckland and Kelly Klink from Protect Aotea signing documents establishing the Trust

Kelly Klink, who is passionate about the protection of te Moananui o Toi and has been a driving force behind the Trust’s establishment, is hopeful with today’s signing.

“While this isn’t the outcome that Protect Aotea had hoped for, this does provide Protect Aotea with the means and resources to fund research and projects that aim to protect and restore the mauri of the moana. Ngāti Rehua has always aimed to protect te Moananui o Toi as kaitiaki and mana moana of Aotea – Great Barrier Island. We will continue to do so through this Trust and the doors it will open financially and institutionally” she says.

Ports of Auckland requires deepening of the Rangitoto Channel for safe passage of larger ships to the port. Recognising that there were concerns from Protect Aotea on the disposal of dredged materials from the channel deepening, the Trust also includes a commitment to fund projects to monitor the disposal from a Mātauranga Māori perspective.

Restoration and protection of te Moananui o Toi will take generations and requires long-term commitment.

“I am pleased to form the Trust today. As one of the largest users of the Waitematā Harbour, we are committed to ensuring we do our part to look after it. Restoration and protection of the Gulf is not a short-term project and I’m proud that the port will be part of this work over the next 15 years” says Gray.