Family restores island ecosystem in New Zealand
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Opo Ngawaka, his wife Elaine, and their son Jeremiah Ngawaka live on Māhuki Island, a small, remote island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, where they act as guardians of the land.
The Ngawaka whānau moved to the island in the early 1980s, finding it overrun with rats and largely covered in grass. They began working to restore the native ecosystem, creating a home for their family and a place for future generations to return to.
Opo built their home and is now constructing a papakāinga, a traditional communal settlement, next to it. He recalls a time when whales were common in the surrounding waters, a sight that has disappeared due to environmental changes. This has led him to believe people must change their relationship with the natural world. The family has worked to remove invasive species like cattle and rats, which preyed on native birds and plants.
They found that gorse, a thorny shrub, actually sheltered native trees, allowing them to regrow. Now, native trees are thriving, birdlife is returning, and a conservation project called Tū Mai Taonga is helping with predator control. Jeremiah Ngawaka assists with trapping and baiting, continuing the work of restoring the whenua, or land. Opo hopes to pass on a positive story of environmental recovery to his grandchildren, ensuring the lessons of the past are not forgotten.
