Te Ara Moana

Te Ara Moana is an Aotearoa NZ–Tahiti pathway designed to evaluate and strengthen community-led marine protection through practical, on-the-ground work with potential OECM (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure) sites.

Grounded in Pacific worldviews and local governance systems such as rāhui, Te Ara Moana empowers coastal communities to design and lead the future of marine stewardship — with traditions, identity, and livelihoods at the centre. The initiative advances Pacific ambition toward 30×30, aligned with the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, CBD Target 3, and regional priorities for ocean governance.

Emerging from the Eight Priority Actions identified in the Tiaki Moana Summit Report, the programme builds capability, strengthens relationships, and co-develops practical tools that honour cultural authority while integrating scientific knowledge and socioeconomic realities.

The Eight Priority Actions from Tiaki Moana

1. Centre Local Communities and Indigenous Leadership
   Indigenous authority guides all aspects of design and implementation.

2. Build Genuine and Participatory Community Engagement
   Hui, fono, storytelling, and long-term relationships are the foundation of engagement.

3. Recognise and Legally Support Indigenous Marine Governance
   Strengthens pathways for recognising rāhui, mātaitai, taiāpure, tapu/tabu systems and other customary tools as OECM or OECM-aligned.

4. Develop Pacific-Specific OECM Tools and Innovation
   Biocultural indicators, protocols, and monitoring systems reflect Pacific cultural values.

5. Ensure Inclusive, Transparent Governance Structures
   Governance is shared, culturally grounded, and community led.

6. Reframe OECMs Through a Pacific Lens
   Emphasises sovereignty, cultural identity, ancestral knowledge, and relational stewardship.

7. Deliver Sustainable and Innovative Financing
   Explores community-led sustainable finance models and long-term pathways.

8. Establish a Regional Peer-Learning Network
   Builds enduring regional capacity through direct community exchange.

Programme Delivery (2026–2027)

Beginning mid-2026, Te Ara Moana will deliver:

• Case-study evaluations of potential OECM sites in
  Aotearoa New Zealand and French Polynesia

• Socio-ecological assessments using biocultural indicators

• Policy and governance analysis informed by local priorities

• Community-centred monitoring tools for long-term stewardship

• Ocean literacy and youth engagement in participating communities

Where appropriate, findings may be presented at regional Pacific gatherings, including a potential 2027/28 Tiaki Moana follow-up Conference, to support knowledge-sharing and coordination.

The work will be completed without large delegations or travel, instead prioritizing site visits, locally led engagement, and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

Outputs will include a Pacific OECM Evaluation Framework, a regional report, and a short documentary, released in late 2027.

A Call for Partners

We are now inviting:

• Schools and youth organisations

• Community groups and customary leaders

• Researchers and technical experts

• NGOs and regional networks

• Supporters and philanthropic partners

to join the first phase of Te Ara Moana.

Opportunities include:

• Contributing expertise (cultural, scientific, governance)

• Supporting community participation

• Hosting data collection and case-study evaluation

• Providing financial or in-kind partnership

• Strengthening outreach, ocean literacy, and local engagement

Together, we can build a resilient Pacific future where communities lead the stewardship of their own ocean spaces — for generations to come.