COME SWIM WITH US.

Reconnecting people to the moana (ocean) through Indigenous wisdom, modern science, and hands-on guardianship.

We are a Māori-led ocean restoration movement.

Through the creation of ocean gardens, the training of community guardians, and the protection of cultural knowledge, we heal the bond between land, sea, and spirit. Our work bridges ancestral teachings with modern tools — regenerating ecosystems, restoring food sovereignty, and building a living legacy for future generations.

Get in Touch

Mohimohi Moana is not simply an organization.

It is a living movement born from the tides of history, the breath of ancestors, and the urgent needs of today’s oceans and communities. It exists because the bond between people and the moana — once sacred, intimate, and reciprocal — has been frayed. And yet, the spirit has not been broken. It endures.

This is Who We Are.

Rooted in whakapapa, guided by mātauranga, and driven by purpose — this is how we care for the moana, our people, and the generations still to come.

Māori-Led

Living Knowledge Systems

Ocean Gardens in Action

Recognized Consent and Autonomy

Community-First Model

Movement for the Next Generation

Our Values Guide and Shape How We Live, Work, Swim and Engage.

Whanaungatanga (Kinship and Connection)

We recognize the ocean, the land, and each other as family, bound together in reciprocity.

Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship and Stewardship)

We take seriously our sacred duty to protect and nurture the moana for future generations.

Manaakitanga (Care and Hospitality)

We uplift, respect, and welcome all who join us in this journey of restoration.

Rangatiratanga (Autonomy and Leadership)

We govern ourselves with dignity, drawing on the teachings of our ancestors and the needs of today.

Manawaroa (Resilience & Strength)

We adapt and persist through challenge, knowing our work is a continuation of generations before us.

Wānanga (Knowledge Sharing)

We honor both ancestral wisdom and scientific insight, blending them to heal and grow.

Aroha (Passion and Enduring Commitment)

We are driven by deep love — for our people, our ocean, our culture — and we protect that flame with fierce devotion.

Whakapapa Moemoeā (Legacy and Inspiration)

We live knowing that future generations are our lifeline — we inspire, uplift, and equip them so that the line never breaks.

Meet our team.

Our team leads with wairua, wisdom, and lived experience.

Each role reflects a deeper way of being — kōrero (to speak), titiro (to see), and whakarongo (to listen). Together, these values guide how we learn, lead, and protect the moana.

Robert Carpenter

Chair

Kōrero (To speak or to communicate)

Albert Pita Elder

Trustee

Titiro (To look and see)

Howard Reti

Secretary & Treasurer

Whakarongo ( To listen and hear)

"The ocean has a voice; it speaks to us, as it has spoken to our ancestors, the people of the water, for generations. But now the ocean cries. The gift of seafood is vanishing, and our children’s children may never know the bounty it once offered. Yet there is hope. Together, we can restore life to the ocean and return what we have taken, ensuring a future where our children’s children can once again share in its gifts."

Written by Moana Tepano

"Ko te reo o Tangaroa ka ngunguru i te ao, i te pō. Nō mai noa tōna reo e tohu mai ana ki a mātou, ngā iwi o te moana. E papaki tū ana ngā tai. E ngaro haere ana ngā uri o Tangaroa, ā tōna wā e kore pea a mātou mokopuna e mōhio ki te matomato, ki te māmona o ēnei taonga. He rā kei tua! Kei ō tātou ringaringa te mahi nui ki te whakaora, me te whakahoki mai i ēnei taonga, hei painga mō ngā whakatupuranga e anga mai nei."

Translated into Te Reo Kawiti Waetford

Ready to Come Swim with Us?

There are many ways for you to get involved and work alongside Mohimohi Moana. Want to find out how you can contribute and become an ocean guardian?