Pūrangakura Limited funded Research Programmes

Wai Ora, Kāinga Ora aims to regenerate local waters and ecosystems through intergenerational, kāinga based wai solutions. Kāinga, including marae and culturally significant sites, are traditionally located by waterways and, therefore, are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The growing impacts of anthropogenic climate change on our communities intensify the urgency to address these water issues.

This Māori-led research programme, hosted by Pūrangakura, an independent Kaupapa Māori Research Centre, will co-create much needed collaborative initiatives with local Māori communities to address local climate impacts and provide place-based solutions to contribute towards a low emissions and climate resilient economy. The research programme brings together a large multi-disciplinary team with diverse expertise across mātauranga Māori, science, public policy, engineering, economics, architecture and more, to co-design kāinga based initiatives grounded in Te Ao Māori. The research will deploy a kaupapa Māori and community based participatory research approach, working with eight Māori communities to co-design community-led responses targeting climate impacts on waters and ecosystems essential to kāinga wellbeing through centering mātauranga Māori and place-based kōrero tuku iho.

This timely research programme aligns with calls for Māori-led solutions alongside government commitments to address climate change impacts under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Through intergenerational knowledge sharing, transmission and kāinga-led climate action, Wai Ora, Kāinga Ora aims to deliver impactful change for at-risk communities and precious taonga tuku iho.

Contact: Dr Jenny Lee-Morgan, Pūrangakura, jenny@purangakura.co.nz