Lake Ngātu is situated a couple of kilometres inland from the Waipapakauri ramp at Te One Roa a Tōhē, the 90 Mile beach. Today, most members of the NgāiTakoto people live throughout New Zealand, and internationally. Within any Maori community, the traditional landscapes of the iwi provides a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life. Lake Ngātu was once a prestine body of water that was central to the the kāinga, and people of NgāiTakoto. The lake is home to a reed called 'kuta', this reed is used for weaving tāmata (traditional mats), moenga (traditional bedding) and rain capes.
Rangitāne Marsden described why Lake Ngātu is so culturally significant to the iwi of NgāiTakoto and explained that plans to improve the water quality need to be taken serioulsy. For some time the run off from kauri mining and intensive agricultural activities have impacted on water quality. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO ON THIS LINK:
Sourced online from: https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-tv/haukainga/5662/lake-ngatu
"Ngā pai te tai, Ngatu te Kuta"
(Whakatauki o Tohe as retold by Shane Jones)
Te Hiku Dune Lake Team at Lake Ngatu (Photo credit: Wendy Henwood)
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