Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa, have close connections to their lands, oceans, freshwaters and taonga species. These relationships are unique across iwi, hapū, and whānau, and are essential not just for sustenance and cultural practices, but also for the survival of mātauranga Māori. Many iwi have strong connections to the toheroa (Paphies ventricosa) for food, as well as the role it plays in upholding key values such as manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga. The toheroa once supported heavily exploitative commercial and recreational fisheries, which, combined with environmental degradation and customary take, has led to mass declines in populations across the country. The impacts of this continue to be widely felt today, and the way in which iwi interact with the toheroa necessarily continues to evolve. Additionally, there are new challenges arising due to environmental changes. To inform the way forward it is crucial to reflect on what went wrong historically, and use these learnings to navigate the revitalization and improved management of the toheroa, for the benefit of future generations.A toheroa case study will be presented that demonstrates the value of mātauranga Māori combining with conventional scientific methods of resource management, to ensure a future for this taonga species in Aotearoa.