Jack talks with Ora Barlow from Raukūmara Pae Maunga, an iwi-led conservation project restoring well over 100,000 hectares of native forest on the East Coast.

Fresh off a $6 million funding boost, Ora shares how the team is reviving biodiversity, creating local jobs, and proving that when people care for the land — the land gives back.

This is a story of indigenous leadership, community resilience, and the fight to keep our forests alive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Raukūmara Pae Maunga and Funding Success

02:58 Scale and Impact of Conservation Efforts

06:11 Historical Context and Initiation of the Initiative

09:01 Vision for Sustainable Ecological Tourism

11:51 Personal Journey and Community Involvement

16:00 Future Vision and Ongoing Challenges

18:46 Understanding Forest Health and Community Engagement

25:13 Ways to Get Involved and Support

Keywords

Raukūmara Pae Maunga, conservation, indigenous leadership, ecological restoration, community engagement, funding, sustainable tourism, environmental health, New Zealand, biodiversity, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Department of Conservation