This precious whakatauākī sums up the hopes of all key stakeholders involved in this project. Many remember or have heard kōrero of the numerous flocks of birds encountered on land and sea on and around the island (motu), their songs and cries tuneful and, indeed, sometimes loud enough to be deafening.

This richness of bird-life was a strong sign of the health of land (whenua), forest (Te Wao nui tapu a Tane) and sea (moana) – an environment in balance, providing a wealth of resource for all its inhabitants. It is this balance that Rangitoto Birdsong aims to help restore.