The Kiore (Pacific Rat) was introduced from Polynesia by 13th century and pre-European Maori considered it a delicacy and its pelt good for making cloaks.
The kiore's journey here was also the story of how Maori moved through the Pacific and that heritage was important to protect said Ngatiwai's Hori Parata. He has studied their impact on offshore islands for 30 years and doesn't consider them a pest.
He said the iwi considered the species significant because they were purposely brought here by tupuna, so tribal members were obliged to fulfil guardianship responsibilities. Studies have traced DNA links to the Cook Islands and Tahiti.
After spending decades trying to eradicate rats from offshore islands, the Conservation Department has agreed to set up a sanctuary for this rare breed introduced by Maori.
This is a policy about-turn by the department, which had worked since the early 1990s to eradicate kiore from offshore island reserves it manages.
The sanctuary will be created for kiore in two islands of Northland's Hen and Chickens group, in a move Ngatiwai say is aimed at protecting a species their ancestors introduced.
In a new agreement with DoC the Ngatiwai Trust Board will manage the 24ha Mauitaha and neighbouring 2ha Araara as kiore refuges. However, the rats will be eradicated on the largest island in the group, Taranga.
DoC's Keith Hawkins said the islands were too far away from each other, and the rats too poor swimmers, to worry about them migrating the 7km distance to Taranga.
Kiore could have a devastating effect on 35 species of plants across the islands, native lizards, tuatara and birdlife. Shearwaters and grey faced petrels' eggs were easy prey.
"When the chicks start chipping they'll either take the eggs then or when the chicks are outside the burrow. They go for the fat. It's real silence of the lambs stuff," said Mr Hawkins.
But there were some benefits to saving kiore, which were thought to exist in small numbers across the islands. Populations on Mauitaha and Araara would be useful from a scientific perspective, to compare Taranga's recovery. Mr Hawkins said the arrangement showed cultural and environmental priorities could be balanced in "reasonable ways".
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