Survival in the harsh climate of Te Waipounamu demanded the wise use of all available resources, processing and preserving these for times of need. Whānau travelled the takiwā to gather food and other resources on a seasonal basis and in the process helped weave together the social structure of the iwi through alliances and intermarriage.

Our lands have always been fundamental to our tribal identity. We know our place in the world through our whakapapa to our takiwā, it carries our stories of creation, warfare, marriage and times of change. Restoring our tribal footprint to our ancestral landscape, in both traditional and contemporary forms, is a galvanising force within the iwi.

Our relationship with the natural environment was at the heart of Te Kerēme – The Ngāi Tahu Claim, and much of the Ngāi Tahu Settlement gives expression to our relationship with the takiwā. The Settlement restored our place names, recognised our histories, vested ownership of tribal taonga in the iwi and provided for Ngāi Tahu people to be members of important decision making bodies, such as the New Zealand Conservation Authority. These tools are immensely significant to the iwi as symbolic recognition of our whakapapa, but more importantly, they allow us to honour our values of kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship).