Restoring a Sacred Mountain in Newsealand Through Ecological and Cultural Regeneration (Coming Soon)

🧭 Introduction to the Metaproblem

Across Aotearoa, native ecosystems are under siege from invasive species, habitat degradation, and the loss of intergenerational stewardship. Colonization and ecological collapse have severed the deep-rooted relationship between people and land—placing both biodiversity and cultural identity at risk.

To heal these lands, we must restore not only nature, but the guardianship that sustains it.

🌍 Core Problem in the Bioregion

Taranaki Mounga—one of Aotearoa’s most iconic landscapes—has suffered decades of ecological decline. Invasive pests, habitat loss, and degraded watersheds have put immense pressure on native wildlife like the kiwi and whio/blue duck. Without urgent action, these taonga (treasured species) and the cultural legacy of Taranaki iwi may be lost.

💡 Proposed Solution

The Taranaki Mounga Project is a bold, 20-year collaboration between iwi leaders, the Department of Conservation (DOC), and philanthropic foundations—uniting communities in an unprecedented ecological restoration initiative.

Spanning 34,000 hectares, the project works to:

• SECURE biodiversity by eradicating goats and controlling predators across the entire national park
• RESTORE native species like kākāriki, toutouwai/robin, kākā, kiwi, and long-tailed bats
• SUSTAIN the land through deep community engagement, intergenerational knowledge-sharing, and youth-led kaitiakitanga

From the peaks of Taranaki to the Moana (sea), this initiative is reviving sacred connections between people, place, and planet.

🌱 What Makes it Unique

🌋 First of Its Kind – Aiming to make Te Papakura o Taranaki New Zealand’s first ungulate-free national park
🤝 Iwi-Government Partnership – A powerful model of bicultural restoration and shared governance
🦜 Species Reintroduction & Protection – Boosting populations of native birds, bats, and seabirds across land and offshore islands
🌿 Cultural Regeneration – Honoring mātauranga Māori and reviving local guardianship
🌊 Ecological Corridor – Building a biodiversity halo from mountain to sea

This isn’t just conservation—it’s cultural revival through ecological action.

❤ Why People Should Donate

By supporting Taranaki Mounga, you are investing in:

• The survival of Aotearoa’s most beloved native species
• Intergenerational kaitiakitanga (guardianship) led by iwi youth and elders
• A living blueprint for ecological and cultural co-governance
• The restoration of 34,000 hectares of whenua (land) and awa (watersheds)

Your donation empowers a community-led movement to restore balance, biodiversity, and belonging.

🚨 Call to Action

🌿 Donate now to protect the heart of Taranaki and restore its sacred ecosystems.
🦅 Be part of a pioneering restoration model where iwi, government, and community rise together.
📣 Share this mission to uplift biodiversity, culture, and future generations.