Te Hokinga Tuna is a kaupapa Māori initiative based in Te Tai Tokerau, dedicated to restoring the health of waterways and reviving traditional knowledge around tuna (eel). Michelle Wilson-Astle and Tamati Astle are raising funds to support the foundational works of their very own tuna Hatchery, alongside the delivery of a unique educational curriculum that weaves together mātauranga Māori, science, and hands-on learning. This programme engages tamariki and rangatahi from early childhood through to tertiary levels, fostering kaitiakitanga, cultural identity, and environmental leadership through the story of our tuna.
Based in Tāheke, Northland, Michelle and Tamati are partners in life and kaupapa. They are raising their tamariki in a world shaped by mātauranga Māori, opportunity, and the revitalisation of whenua, wai, and wairua. Guided by the four winds and grounded in whakapapa, they are carving a pathway forward where culture, innovation, and legacy walk hand in hand.
They say - when we uplift our people through the whenua and wai, we are restoring balance to "Te Whare Tapa Whā" ō tēnei Ao, the four pillars of wellbeing that guide our hauora. By reconnecting with the land and waterways, we strengthen and advocate for each concept weaving the strands into our future generations.
In a world that often disconnects us from who we are and where we come from, grounding our people in the practices of our tūpuna, through mātauranga, kai, restoration, and collective purpose, allows us to rebuild strong foundations of holistic oranga.
"Mā te hiahia ka kitea he huarahi – Where there is a will, there is a way.”
