Wellington rangatahi are taking Matariki heri kai to heart.
A goup of young divers is out off the south coast collecting kaimoana for kuia and kaumatua.
Eugene Ryder from Māori justice advocacy group Ināia Tonu Nei runs diving wananga with Dive Wellington four times a year.
He says many of the rangatahi involved wouldn’t usually have the resources to get involved with Matariki hautapu events, but this gives them a chance to contribute.
“We thought what a great idea to just go out. I put a post up on Facebook for people that wanted some kina and five organisations responded so we were grateful to be able to gift some for those kaupapa,” Mr Ryder says.
Local kaumātua authorised a customary permit for the Matariki collection.
