Strengthening the place and practice of mātauranga to support climate health outcomes in Aotearoa.

Project Summary 

Global climate change has been identified as the single greatest threat to human health.  Within this paradigm, indigenous knowledge systems shaped by generations of sustainable interactions with ecosystems, are being looked to for pathways to climate change mitigation and adaptation.  Mātauranga, the holistic and integrated knowledge system developed by the Indigenous Māori people of Aotearoa is no exception.   

The research aims to strengthen the application of mātauranga in taiao initiatives to support better climate health outcomes in Aotearoa.  The project team will conduct a policy analysis to scope and determine the ways in which mātauranga has been included in policies across government ministries and regional councils.  The research will also undertake key informant interviews with people engaged in te taiao initiatives who have experience, insights or expertise in relation to relevant policies.   The findings and shared learnings will strengthen the development and implementation of mātauranga to support climate health outcomes in Aotearoa.  In order to strengthen mātauranga to support climate health outcomes in Aotearoa the research seeks to understand the barriers and enablers that climate policies across government ministries and regional councils place on the development and implementation of Māori-led actions and initiatives in the taiao space.  In doing so, the research will contribute to Māori decision making and leadership in the development and activation of mātauranga practices that support better climate health outcomes.  

The project will also contribute to the ongoing work of Climate Health Aotearoa (CHA), a multi-Institutional research group, in the development and implementation of collaborative research with tangata whenua into climate health recovery.   

Research Question

How can the place and practice of mātauranga in te taiao-related policies be strengthened to support climate health outcomes in Aotearoa?

Lead Researcher  

Dr Kenneth Taiapa, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Rongowhakaata, University of Otago

Research Team

Summer Wright, Ngāti Maniapoto, Massey University

Assoc Prof Rhys Jones, Ngāti Kahungunu, University of Auckland

Prof Helen Moewaka Barnes, Te Kapotai, Ngapuhi-nui-tonu, SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre, Massey University

Assoc Prof Bridgette Masters-Awatere, Te Rarawa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngai te Rangi, University of Waikato

Dr Christina McKerchar, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngāti Porou, University of Otago