Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative to Deliver a Blue Carbon Economy in Aotearoa, NZ

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (November 15, 2022) – Today at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), Conservation International Aotearoa (New Zealand) launched the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative, in partnership with Māori tribes, to deliver self-determined and Indigenous-led Ocean climate leadership.

Mere Takoko, Vice-President of Conservation International Aotearoa said: "Hinemoana Halo provides a high impact and scalable solution that will value and finance natural climate solutions in Aotearoa. This will reconnect the nation to their Ocean heritage and legacy as kaitiaki (guardians) of the moana (ocean)."

Conservation International supported the largest Māori delegation to ever participate in a side event in a Climate COP in support of Hinemoana Halo. 

Delegation participant, Lisa Tumahai, Chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, said: "Hinemoana Halo is an opportunity for Iwi to create one of the first indigenous-led voluntary blue carbon regimes in history and to be progressive in this space, building our knowledge and leadership for Aotearoa."

The new ocean initiative supports Māori to protect, care, manage and monitor Aotearoa’s coastal waters and high seas in partnership with local communities, using both traditional approaches and current science. Efforts will focus on marine conservation and providing direct benefits to Māori Tribes and coastal communities, from jobs to infrastructure. This will promote inter-Indigenous economic relations and trade across Aotearoa and the Pacific.

Hinemoana Halo will also establish a marine recovery plan with Māori to accelerate the recovery of populations of taonga (scared) species, from whales to sea lions, dolphins and manta rays.

The ocean initiative is named for the Māori ocean goddess Hinemoana and Conservation International’s new Blue Halo model, launched at G20 on Sunday, November 13.

Blue Halo is a conservation solution designed to pay for itself. This integrates two elements of marine management often seen as being at odds: environmental protection and economic production. Under the Blue Halo model, the economic benefits of sustainable marine management are reinvested in environmental protection, sustaining the natural resources which underpin economic and livelihood security.

Conservation International Aotearoa launched Hinemoana Halo at two COP27 panel events, at both the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion. There they explained their plans with Iwi/Māori and Pacific peoples – along with scientists, economists and investors – to deliver the Initiative within Aotearoa and how they will further scale this to the Pacific Islands region.

The Māori delegation:

• Lisa Tumahai, Chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
• Hilton Collier, Ngāti Porou
• Wayne Mulligan, Taranaki Whānui (BioForestry)
• Paul Morgan, Ngāti Rarua (Wakatū Inc)
• Haami Piripi, Te Rarawa
• Sheridan Waitai, Ngāti Kuri
• Aperahama Edwards, Ngāti Wai
• Huhana Lyndon, Ngāti Wai
• Mike Neho, Ngā Rauru
• Marijke Warmenhoven, Whānau a Apanui
• Rikurangi Gage, Whānau-A-Apanui
• Rāhui Papa, Waikato -Tainui

 Learn more at www.conservation.org/hinemoana.

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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and  YouTube.