Manaaki Mai, Purau, Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton
“Manaaki whenua, Manaaki taangata, haere whakamua”
Care for the land,
care for the people, look to the future
This whakatauki (Māori proverb) above, embodies everything, which Paul and Dee want for their lives, their families, this property and everyone who comes to Manaaki Mai, Diamond Harbour, Lyttelton.
We warmly welcome you to Manaaki Mai
In Te Reo Māori, Manaaki Mai means ‘Come this way to be cared for, nurtured, supported; for hospitality, generosity and to be looked after’. This is what we offer at Manaaki Mai.
In Te Reo Maori, Mai means ‘Come this way to be cared for, nurtured, supported; for hospitality, generosity and to be looked after’. This is what we offer at Manaaki Mai.
The grazing animals are gone and the land is healing itself.
21,000 kanuka trees were planted in 2022 and hundreds of natives have been planted up and down the banks of the Waituturi stream which runs through Manaaki Mai into Purau Bay and the Whakaraupo (Lyttelton Harbour).
This is improving the quality of the water and applying the ‘Whaka-ora’ principles https://www.healthyharbour.org.nz, to which we are deeply committed.
We are passionate about this whenua (land), and its historical significance as it is situated at the beginning of an ancient route for Māori from Purau (and Lyttelton Harbour) to Koukourarata (Port Levy) and beyond.
It is also the site of the first European farm on Banks Peninsula.
The legacy of the removal of torara and other native trees coupled with over grazing have caused sediment to flow into the harbour.
Our vision is to be the Kaitiaki (guardians) for Manaaki Mai, working to protect the stream and harbour; restore and increase the areas of native bush, by planting trees, controlling introduced predators and weeds to enable native birds, skinks, insects and endemic plants to thrive here for future generations to appreciate.
Whatungarongaro te taangata, toitu te whenua As man disappears from sight, the land remains.
