We are a Māori-led Ocean Restoration Movement.

Close up shot of KelpClose up shot of a starfish

Moemoera (Vision) – The Thousand Year Plan.

To heal the bond between people and the ocean, restoring life, culture, and spirit through the practice of guardianship by 3025.Mohimohi Moana exists because the ocean is an ancestor, a source of life, and a sacred trust. In a world where traditional relationships with the sea have been severed by colonization, exploitation, and modernization, Mohimohi Moana is rebuilding that bond.

FROM HUNTER & GATHERER TO GARDENER

Our challenge is to change our mindset as a collective from our historical ways of hunting and gathering to becoming a Gardener of the Ocean. A massive shift, but not an impossible one.
Grounded in maatauranga Māori and guided by mana whenua, in collaboration with marine scientists, we will work together to harness the essence of Mohimohi Moana—which translates to “taking care of the ocean.” This work is an ongoing replenishment and kaitiakitanga of the moana.

To heal the bond between people and the ocean, restoring life, culture, and spirit through the practice of guardianship by 3025.

Mohimohi Moana exists because the ocean is an ancestor, a source of life, and a sacred trust. In a world where traditional relationships with the sea have been severed by colonization, exploitation, and modernization, Mohimohi Moana is rebuilding that bond.

a thousand year plan.

Seven Generations Back and Seven Generations Forward.

Underwater shot of algae on the sea floor

Past

-500 years

Underwater shot of sea urshins on the sea floor

Present

+500 years

Underwater shot of the sun beaming through a kelp forest

Future

In 1990, we looked both back and forward — 500 years into the past to 1590, imagining the world as it once was, and 500 years into the future to 2490, dreaming of the world we want to create. Change takes time, and we are working steadily toward our 1000-Year Plan — a long-view commitment to restoring balance between people and planet for generations to come.

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.
Learn More About Us
Māori-Led

Founded and governed by Māori leaders with direct ancestral ties to the moana and the lands they protect.

Living Knowledge Systems

Bridging traditional practices with western scientific methods to create a new, regenerative model of ocean stewardship.

Ocean Gardens in Action

Real, working, thriving ocean gardens have been established — not just in concept, but on the seafloor, feeding families and communities.

Recognized Consent and Autonomy

Successfully navigated one of the most complex legal consent processes to secure ocean space for community use for the next 35 years, creating a replicable model for other hapū.

Community-First Model

Every garden is owned by the hapū it serves — ensuring true sovereignty, not organizational control.

Movement for the Next Generation

Focused relentlessly on training, inspiring, and empowering young guardians to carry this work forward long after the founders are gone.

We Love Whangaruru.

Mohimohi Moana is rooted in Whangaruru, Aotearoa New Zealand — a coastal haven in the north where ocean and land still speak to one another.

This region holds deep ancestral significance, rich in Māori knowledge systems, intergenerational stewardship, and community resilience.

Whangaruru is where our first ocean gardens are being restored, because this is a place where the moana still remembers.

The community here is ready to lead, to teach, and to show the world what happens when guardianship is lived, not just learned.

Our Areas of Focus.

We have four focus areas for:
Sustainable Fishing (Rāhui Practices)

We follow rāhui, a Māori way of letting the ocean rest so it can thrive again. It’s not just about taking less — it’s about knowing when to give back. These practices keep our waters abundant for future generations.

Ocean Gardens

Each hapū has one hectare of ocean to create its own garden, filled with native species and local knowledge. These are places of food, healing, and guardianship, led by community, for community.

Restoring Whangaruru

We’re clearing pests and weeds so native trees can return to our hills and valleys. When the land is strong, so is the sea. Restoration starts at home, with hands in the dirt and roots in the ground.

Bringing Back Wildlife

We want the forest to sing again. Think birds in the trees, insects in the underbrush, rivers flowing into living seas. When we care for land and ocean together, life returns. That’s the future we’re growing.

Mohimohi Moana Walks Between Worlds.

We bring together the strength of ancestral knowledge and the tools of modern science to heal, protect, and pass on a thriving ocean. Bridging cultural wisdom and modern science to protect the moana, for today and forever.

cultural heritage

Living by Ancestral wisdom.

  • Guided by the teachings of our tüpuna (ancestors)
  • Honoring the moana as a living ancestor
  • Practicing kaitiakitanga, guardianship of land and sea
  • Reviving indigenous knowledge systems through action and education
Western Science & support

working with the modern world.

  • Integrating scientific research to strengthen restoration efforts
  • Navigating legal frameworks and securing marine resource consents
  • Building alliances with researchers, funders, volunteers and policymakers
  • Using technology to monitor, protect, and regenerate ocean ecosystems.

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?

Get in Touch