Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Wananga - Whakaue Marae

Maketu Hardy! Up early on a stormy, Thursday morning gathering kaimoana from Little Waihi to test for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. (They tested non-psp affected). Left to right: Sam Murray (Cawthron Scientist) Pia Bennett (TAKT), Tim Harwood (Cawthron Scientist Team Leader)  Kirsty Smith (Cawthron Scientist), Mene Tukaki, (Otawhiwhi Marae-Whanau a Tawhao) Rupa Wiremu (TAKT). Pic from Cawthron

Te Arawa Ki Tai Trust held a Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning wananga at Whakaue Marae from the 17th - 19th of August, 2025. Yes, unfortunately, it was during one of the worst weather situations for the month. The wananga was held in conjunction with scientists from Cawthron Institute, Nelson. The purpose was to teach coastal kaitiaki and future kaitiaki about how to test shellfish for the presence of PSP. Cawthron have found a way to do that. Our Trust has been quietly asking our science networks for over 8 years and were really ecstatic to find that Cawthron Institute had done it. Miharo Cawthron.

Our interest in the topic had been triggered by the growing number of PSP cases emanating from the Little Waihi estuary and our responsibilities as coastal kaitiaki to look after kaimoana. Te Arawa ki Uta camping and collecting kai from Little Waihi is a tradition we want to sustain. Apparently, the algae causing the problem is a “natural" phenomena, these algae are present in the estuary sediments and flare up when conditions are right. 

Participants were provided with information on the algae and how to test for PSP. The test methodology was not too much unlike the process for COVID testing!!! Cawthron gifted the testing kits and the scanner to our Trust to further promote testing for PSP. 

A highlight was a talk by our whanaunga Kim Taia who had suffered from PSP after eatingpipi from Little Waihi. Through her talk, participants understood the gravity of the being affected by PSP. One of the most frightening parts for Kim was the hospital not identifying what was causing her symptoms. 

Our project is not over, we need to work out how we maximise and share the knowledge we have on PSP. Cawthron is making a doco of the wananga to use as a teaching tool. Thank you to the Cawthron. Bay of Plenty Regional Council Hapai Ora fund, Te Arawa ki Tai Trustees and whanau for making this happen. We feel we have made a giant step forward in addressing the PSP ngangara.

Jasmine Apaapa came from Pirirakau. Jasmine is the mokopuna Tuatoru o Aunty Rosie. She is a kaitiaki with Manaaki Te Awanui with whom TAKT network with often, in Tauranga. Manaaki Te Awanui alerted us to Cawthon’s PSP research. Here she is listening to the scientists korero in her Whakaue wharenui.

Sam Murray, Cawthron Scientist, starts the testing demonstration

Kim Taia recounting her experience of PSP

Ngati Patuharakeke kaitiaki Holly presenting evaluation of wananga

Pikirangi Bennett-Taingahue learning the testing process watched by Sam, Rupa and Mene Tukaki (Whanau a Tauwhao) kaitiaki

Kirsty Smith, Cawthron Scientist, explains the algae that cause PSP.

Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata science tauira, gets into learning the testing process.

Heni Unwin, a Cawthron scientist sings her waiata at the poroporoaki.