Del Wihongi

Hemanui a Tawhaki (Del) Wihongi was a founder of the Waipareira Trust and is remembered as a kaitiaki of indigenous flora and fauna for Aotearoa. Del was a leading opponent of genetic engineers who wanted to manipulate and register patents on New Zealand plants. She also lobbied the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification for a moratorium on Genetic Engineering research and was a spokeswoman for the long-running Waitangi Tribunal claim to protect cultural and intellectual heritage aspects of native flora and fauna. “Tiaki means to guard. When you speak about things such as knowledge, Māori view the responsibilities of kaitiaki as including the ability to treat this knowledge as an integral part of themselves.”