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A Fight for our Whakapapa: Exotic Caulerpa - the Seafloor Coloniser

  • Writer: Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust
    Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust
  • Sep 19
  • 2 min read

Over two years since Exotic Caulerpa was detected in our rohe moana, the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust has partnered with mana whenua and local communities across the Gulf to create a short film highlighting the cultural impact of the invasive seaweed.


A Fight for our Whakapapa: Exotic Caulerpa - the Seafloor Coloniser premiered at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi-o-Tāmaki on Tuesday 16 September with support from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, followed by a regional screening at Cinema Kororāreka Russell on Thursday 18 September.


Photos from the premiere event in Tāmaki Makaurau on 16 September 2025. Credit: Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust.


The 15-minute visual story shares the voices of mana whenua from across the Gulf, and highlights our collective fight to protect whakapapa, whenua, and moana against the impacts of the invasive Exotic Caulerpa.


Nicola Rata-MacDonald MNZM, Chief Executive of the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, says that after two years of fighting this pest in our own backyard, the Trust has seen how important a swift, well-coordinated response to Exotic Caulerpa can be to eradicating the invasive seaweed.


“As kaitiaki, we have worked for years to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf, and yet it has been the past two years of trying to eradicate Exotic Caulerpa which have been the most challenging — that’s why we named our Exotic Caulerpa response kaupapa Te Wero Nui: the big challenge.” Nicola says.


“We mihi to our whanaunga from across Te Moananui-ā-Toi who made this project possible by sharing their whakaaro: Martin Cleave (Te Rarawa, Ngatiwai, Tainui), Blair Anderson (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Hei, Taranaki, Whānganui), Herearoha Skipper Tamaterā (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Tamaterā), Vicki Heta (Ngāti Kuta), Joe Davis (Ngāti Hei), Nyze Manuel (Ngāpuhi ki Whangaroa, Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa), and Bob Clarke (Te Patukeha).”


“I also acknowledge the teams at Biosecurity New Zealand and the University of Auckland for their support in bringing this project to life. We are all learning from each other, and this kaupapa is a part of ensuring that our collective knowledge is able to be drawn upon into the future.”


Watch the short film:



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