Turoa Karatea
Born into a family of 5 siblings in rural Manawatū {Te Reureu}, Māori principles of enviromental protectionism were instiled upon us from an early age. We learnt from Kaumātua and uncles and aunties the uniqueness of our water ways and the histories that had been passed down from generation to generation. Thier message was simple but clear, abuse it and lose it. How true are those words today when our customary fishery in Te Reureu has collapsed due to the pollution of all our waterways.
A large part of my working life revolved around commercial fishing locally and internationally. After some years I realised the destruction that the method that we used was destroying the coral reefs that so many of the fish species lived in. Technology has grown so quickly in this industry that bottom trawling will, if not checked,will destroy the marine enviroment. I would like as a trustee to put my expertise towards the waterways both marine and fresh in rebuilding the purity, habitat and long term sustainability so all fish life will survive within. One such project that I was involved in was the Lake Rotoaira indigeonous report on health and wellbeing of the lake. Currently I am working on enviromental issues that are adversly affecting the Rangitīkei river.
