The Central West Region covers the traditional landing places of the Tahatuna, Tokomaru, Kahutara, Taikoria and Okoki waka hundreds of years ago. The lands here are home to a number of iwi and hapu, many of whom trace their ancestry back to these waka.

Species particularly valued by tangata whenua include snapper, kahawai, blue cod, flatfish, small sharks, eels kina, mussels, toheroa, pipi, cockles and tuatua.



Rivers and lakes of the West coast region support several highly valued freshwater eel (tuna) fisheries particularly the Mokau, Patea, Whanganui, and Manawatu Rivers.