Significant milestone: Coastguard New Zealand gifted ingoa Māori by Te Arawa in Rotorua

Coastguard and Te Arawa representatives. Photo / supplied

Coastguard New Zealand was gifted an ingoa Māori (name) - Tautiaki Moana Aotearoa - at a ceremony at Te Papaiouru Marae in Rotorua on Saturday.

The name was gifted byTe Arawa iwi and has been described as a significant milestone.

Tautiaki means guardian and is based in action – the actions taken provide guardianship.

Coastguard New Zealand chief executive Callum Gillespie said the renaming of Tautiaki Moana "is not about the brand".

Gillespie said the organisation was working with Te Arawa as well as iwi in Northland, Auckland, Tauranga Moana and hopefully across the rest of the country.

About 75 Coastguard volunteers and staff from around the country were at the ceremony at Te Papaiouru Marae.

"We're getting access to iwi so that we can teach boating safety, upskill people within Māori communities," Gillespie said.

He said Māori and Pasifika were over-represented in drowning stats.

"We're here to serve all the people. If we're inaccessible to Māori, then it's going to make achieving that much more difficult. That's why we've started this kaupapa."

By working with iwi leadership, he said they could raise awareness of the risks.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust's Monty Morrisson and Coastguard New Zealand - Tautiaki Moana Aotearoa chief executive Callum Gillespie. Photo / File

It was about the small steps, he said, like getting people to prioritise getting a life jacket, checking the weather, and encouraging more Māori and Pasifika to join the Coastguard team.

"Building strong relationships between Coastguard and Māori is about upholding mana, positive experiences and a genuine desire to create an enduring partnership - the gifting of Tautiaki Moana is a crucial step in making these things happen."

Coastguard New Zealand cultural advisor Pererika Makiha said "it's always been the dream to move and engage with Māori and Pasifika".

"This cements our relationship with Te Arawa and that we, Coastguard and Te Arawa, are serious about engaging with Māori right across the country."

Tautiaki Moana was gifted to Coastguard Rotorua Lakes several years ago by Ngāti Whakaue, a major hapū of the Te Arawa iwi.

Last year, Coastguard asked Te Arawa if this name could be used for the whole organisation and was delighted when it gave its strong support.

Coastguard was committed to ensuring its volunteers and staff understand the importance of engaging effectively with Māori.

According to Water Safety New Zealand, there were 282 drownings across New Zealand last year, and 74 were fatal.

Of the 74 deaths, 57 were Māori.

In the Bay of Plenty, there were seven deaths and 23 hospitalisations.