Mana whenua day Registration
Ko Te Mauri He Mea Ngaro Ki Te Moana
Kaupapa
Ngahere o te Moana - monitor our kelp forest within Enclosure Bay to maintain the balance of our ecosystem (an opportunity to holistically harvest kina for whānau)
Date: Saturday 21st February 2026
Location: Enclosure Bay
Time: 8am - 4pm (day long event and this tiime includes ferry travel from Auckland)
Limited spaces - This event is open to Ngāti Pāoa and is limited to 40 people (with 20 spots available for the guided snorkel). To register, complete the form below
Included: Fullers360 Ferry tickets - if coming from Auckland, transport to and from Matiatia will be provided and lunch is included. Please note any dietary requirements on the registration form.
Activities: Guided snorkeling to the Kelp Gardens to harvest kina (20 participant places total), Kayaks will be available to explore Enclosure bay and we will provide a WMP wānanga.
Important Information;
Water Safety
Please be aware that this event is based on the edge of the Moana and so we ask that all participants are water safety conscious.
Swimming ability - Must be able to swim 200m unaided in the ocean to participate in the guided Snorkelling. Please note this is not a teaching opportunity to learn how to snorkel, snorkel participants must already know how to snorkel.
Snorkeling gear - Epic Scuba and Surf will provide participants with all the gear required for the guided snorkel. You must register your details to ensure they bring the right gear for you. If you would like to bring your own gear please ensure that it is of high quality eg - Wetsuit Full arms and legs, 5mm minimum..
To participate in the whānau day, please complete the following registration form now as there are limited spaces.
Please reach out to us by email if you have any pātai.
Nga mihi mahana kia koutou.
About the Pipi - signup to participate
The Kelp Gardeners Project is a community and manawhenua led conservation and regeneration activity, managed via Waiheke Marine Project. Our kaupapa (reason) operates at the intersection of various knowledge systems, including science, place-based wisdom, and notably, mātauranga Māori, this project places knowledge from Ngāti Pāoa ki Waiheke rōopū at its forefront. Our aim is to encourage volunteers, local community and manawhenua to reflect more deeply on the moana (ocean) and the broader mauri (life force) of Tīkapa, Te moananui ā Toi, our Hauraki Gulf.
Across Raumati (Summer) we have 6 engagement dives, where we get our incredible volunteers in and under the moana to help us rebalance our inner-shore reef system at Enclosure Bay on Waiheke Island. We do so through the respectful removal of our kina, guided by tikanga and with a Te Ao Māori lens. By engaging in the practice of Kelp Gardening, our volunteers gain a profound understanding of and actively contribute to marine care in their local environment.
Haere mai, join us and help lend a helping hand in revitalising the mauri of our local marine ecosystems. We can't wait to have you join us and have you be a part of the wider Kelp Gardeners whānau.
If you have any further pātai (questions) about the project, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our Coordinator Maia at pipi@waihekemarineproject.org
All of the information in this form is confidential, only to be shared with our Project Coordinator and dive provider EPIC Scuba.
Our Coordinator will be in contact leading up to the day after completing this form to get you sorted with any additional information.
This is a fantastic chance to help fulfil our role as kaitiaki (guardians) of the local marine environment.