Ngā manu, te taiao, me te Reo

Honouring birds, land, and language in Aotearoa

Aotearoa New Zealand is home to many special native birds — ngā manu — that are found nowhere else on Earth. From the tuneful tūī to the hidden kākāpō, these ecologically vital taonga are central to te ao Māori (the Māori world). They are considered older siblings to human beings and, along with all life, they live in Te Wao Nui a Tāne: the great forest of Tāne.

In the past, birds played a paramount role in Māori life. They were tohu (signs) at many levels, guiding life and beliefs. Some birds were sources of food and fibres, and perhaps most importantly, their songs provided the soundtrack and colour for everyday life and thought.  Tangata whenua relate closely with ngā manu and followed their behaviours to understand weather, the seasons and deeper meanings of life and death. This knowledge system still exists today, but declining bird populations and numerous extinctions make it harder to hold onto.

Public access to the outdoors—whether through ngahere (bush), farmland, or wetlands—offers opportunities to reconnect with ngā manu, te taiao (the land, the environment) and to support conservation. Restored urban forests, for example, have seen the return of native birds, such as the tūī and pīwakawaka, especially where community involvement and predator control are in place.

For the birds’ sake, we should balance that access with respect for tikanga whenua. Tikanga whenua, the protocols for behaviour in the outdoors, emphasise whakapapa and the connections between people and nature. Tikanga begins with getting the right permissions, preparing properly and respecting all life around us. People are part of the ecosystem: to put it another way, we are family members of everything that lives in the taiao.

Te Reo Māori plays a crucial role in protecting our manu. It carries the values and knowledge systems—mātauranga Māori—that underpin kaitiakitanga. Initiatives like the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey now include te reo Māori resources, helping tamariki and whānau engage with conservation through an ao Māori lens.

By weaving together public access, environmental restoration, indigenous knowledge, and Te Reo Māori, Aotearoa can protect both its biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Initiatives that help us link te Reo Māori, ngā manu and public access include:

• Hapū and iwi-led restoration projects that integrate mātauranga Māori and scientific knowledge.
• Public access policies that are developed in partnership with mana whenua to ensure respect for whenua and local tikanga.
• Bilingual resources and signs in reserves and parks to weave te Reo Māori into our understanding of nature.
• Use of rāhui as a conservation tool to empower kaitiaki to manage access and use of natural resources.
• Ecological restoration projects to bring native birds back into cities, towns and places where people live, fostering everyday encounters with te taiao.