The March 2020 COVID lockdown provided a catalyst for change in Jana Davis’ life. He had spent the last two decades working overseas in the oil and gas industry. When the pandemic forced him to return to Aotearoa, he decided it was time to make a change. 

Jana looked to his talents. “I’ve always tried to bring my values and beliefs into the mahi I do, and I started to feel I could put my skills to better use, my tūpuna were calling… so I’ve come home” says Jana. 

“I’ve always had a deep connection to our land and water – it’s my whakapapa. We can’t keep taking from the land and water without giving back. It’s time we address this imbalance and as a community get back to mauri.” 

Te Tapu o Tāne has been established by the four Papatipu Rūnanga o Murihiku in a united approach to connect and reconnect tangata whenua & tangata tiriti to Te Taiao. “Ultimately the mana of our mahi sits with mana whenua. We are essentially a toolkit to help build towards a climate resilient community.” 

With funding from Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation, Te Tapu o Tāne has launched a 12 month rangatahi program with a focus on Mahinga Kai (Cultural Harvest). 

Jana says “Mahinga kai isn’t necessarily about the harvest but the eco-system that supports our ability to harvest… without the ecosystem the people will not be sustained.” 

Te Tapu o Tāne also offers catchment rehabilitation from a te ao māori perspective, environmental project management, native trees and plants and reforestation services.

“This exciting kaupapa is rangatahi focused and the aim of this project is to empower the next generation and equip them with the matauraka of our tūpuna with a focus on mahika kai and taoka species,” Jana explains. “We’re excited to be enabled by Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation to impact the next generation.”