A Lyttelton marae is hoping to reap what it sows after being given 2700 cockles from Otakou runanga in the hope of replenishing its cockle beds.
Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke, near Lyttelton, contacted Te Runanga o Otakou in the hope of increasing its supply of the delicacy, chairman Donald Couch said.
"We have had cockles as long as anyone can remember, but we noticed numbers were getting a bit thin, so we asked Otakou for a bit of a hand."
After initial analysis found the cockles to be suitable for re-seeding, 2700 cockles were gathered from the middle beds of Otago Harbour and transported to Rapaki.
The cockles were split into groups of three and then painted red, green and blue before being left to dry overnight.
After a karakia from Mr Couch, the cockles were placed into the waters of the Rapaki mataitai, the oldest mataitai in the country, in three separate places.
The painted cockles helped identify where the cockles came from, and so far "they hadn't gone anywhere", he said.
"Early signs indicate they are doing well and we may be able to harvest them in several years' time."
Reseeding shellfish was not a new thing, with Bluff oysters still flourishing in the mataitai after being reseeded more than 100 years ago.
"We don't tell too many people where they are though," Mr Couch said.
Canterbury University marine biology Associate Prof Islay Marsden said the project was the largest known of its type in the country and the cockles were taking to their new area.
"We haven't found a lot of cockles cast off on the beach, so that is a very good sign."
Otakou runanga project leader Hoani Langsbury said it was important to help replenish cockle beds, something Maori had been doing for hundreds of years.
Replenished Rapaki beds also added extra security in case the Otago Harbour cockle population ever declined due to activities such as dredging, he said.
Despite the reseeding, the cockles were unlikely to taste as good as ones from Otago Harbour, he said.
"The conditions seem to be perfect here for cockles."
