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December 31, 2025
Hori Te Moanaroa Parata Awarded MNZM for Lifetime Service to Conservation and Māori
Matthew Tukaki
Posted On December 31, 2025
Respected kaumātua and rangatira Mr Hori Te Moanaroa Parata has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his outstanding services to conservation and Māori, recognising decades of leadership grounded in kaitiakitanga, mātauranga Māori and service to iwi and hapū.
Mr Parata (Te Waiariki, Ngāti Kororā, Ngāti Takapari, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine) is widely regarded across Te Tai Tokerau as a tireless advocate for the protection of taonga species, the restoration of whenua and moana, and the intergenerational transmission of Māori knowledge and leadership.
Throughout his life, Mr Parata has been at the forefront of conservation efforts in Northland, raising awareness of the deep connection between ecological health and Māori wellbeing.
Through his leadership, critical protections have been advanced for taonga species including:
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Kiore (native rat)
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Tuatara
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Kauri
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Tohorā (whales)
His work has consistently reinforced the Māori worldview that humans are not separate from the environment, but part of an interconnected system of whakapapa and responsibility.
One of Mr Parata’s most significant contributions has been the revitalisation of cultural practices and protocols surrounding tohorā.
He has worked on more than 500 whale strandings, leading and training individuals, hapū and iwi across the country through his response group Manu Taupunga. His leadership has ensured that responses to whale strandings are grounded in tikanga Māori, respect for taonga species, and the wellbeing of communities involved.
Mr Parata also played a key role in developing co-management frameworks between mana whenua and the Department of Conservation, including the now nationally recognised whale stranding protocol, which has become a benchmark for international, national and regional conservation responses.
Mr Parata has been instrumental in bridging mātauranga Māori with contemporary scientific approaches to conservation.
His work with initiatives such as Kauri Ora has helped integrate tikanga, whakapapa and Indigenous knowledge with modern biosecurity and ecological science to protect kauri from disease and ensure long-term forest health.
This approach has influenced how conservation is practiced across Aotearoa, demonstrating the strength of Indigenous-led solutions.
Mr Parata worked for the Ngātiwai Trust Board for several decades, supporting iwi development, environmental stewardship and governance.
He has also been a strong advocate for He Whakaputanga 1835 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, contributing to the publication ‘Ngāpuhi Speaks’, an important resource developed during the Ngāpuhi Stage One Claim, which documents Māori perspectives on sovereignty and rangatiratanga.
In addition to his regional work, Mr Parata has contributed at a national level as a member of several Māori advisory bodies, including:
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Wai 262 – Taumata Whakapumau
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Environmental Protection Authority – Te Herenga Māori Advisory Group
Through these roles, he has helped ensure Māori voices and values are embedded in environmental decision-making and regulatory processes.
Mr Parata’s service has previously been acknowledged with the Northland Regional Council Award for Environmental Leadership in 2022, and his MNZM further recognises a lifetime of dedication to protecting the natural world and strengthening Māori leadership.
For Māori communities, Hori Parata’s honour reflects a legacy grounded in mana, humility and service. His work stands as a powerful example of kaitiakitanga in action – caring for the environment, honouring ancestors, and preparing the next generation to lead.
His MNZM acknowledges not only what he has achieved, but the enduring pathways he has created for Māori-led conservation across Aotearoa.
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