Māori-determined extreme weather fund

Māramataka as a Tribal Response to develop a Ngai Tai Climate-Driven Extreme Weather Adaptation Plan.

Ngai Tai will develop a comprehensive Climate-Driven Extreme Weather Adaptation (CDEWA) Plan that integrates our Ngai Tai Māramataka-based approach with scientific insights. This plan will serve as a blueprint for sustainable resource management, land-use planning, and developing climate-resilient infrastructure in the wider Ngai Tai freshwater and coastal region.

Te Tirohanga a Toi is a unique blend of modern science and mātauranga Māori, focusing on developing effective strategies for weather-related challenges.

Our team recognises the importance of incorporating the wisdom and values of local Māori communities, including Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāi Tai, and Whakatōhea Iwi. This collaboration is essential, as the solutions we aim to develop must resonate with those in the regions most affected by extreme weather.

An essential aspect of our project is its emphasis on community involvement. We believe that the people of Toirāwhiti, who are the most familiar with their environment and its challenges, must be at the forefront of this initiative. Their insights are invaluable in ensuring that our strategies are practical and culturally appropriate.

Furthermore, we are excited to involve KO Kollective and Ōpōtiki College students interested in marine, environmental, and climate sciences. This is an opportunity to mentor the next generation of scientists and integrate their perspectives into our research.

Our goal is to develop a flexible and effective strategy for weather-related emergencies tailored to the needs of Toirāwhiti but also applicable to other coastal communities worldwide. By combining scientific approaches with traditional Māori knowledge, we aim to create solutions that address weather-related challenges and uphold and respect cultural values.

This project is more than a research initiative; it's a partnership for a resilient and culturally rich future. Join us in developing sustainable and culturally informed strategies to combat weather-related challenges.

Tokomaru Bay has experienced six weather events in the past two years, which have become more frequent and severe due to the land’s vulnerability. Consequently, our awa, moana, and the overall oranga of our taiao have been adversely affected.

The extreme weather events have resulted in the isolation of our whānau and hapū, as well as significant environmental transformations. Understanding the impact of these changes on the mauri of the taiao and our people is crucial.

We aim to develop a framework and create a resource that supports whānau to observe and monitor the taiao within their own takiwā. This resource could be utilised by other whānau.

The overall objective of this ongoing research project serves as an essential introduction or baseline for developing a long-term, sustainable solution. By establishing a solid starting point, this research will lay the groundwork for future initiatives that aim to address the challenges posed by climate change and land use. It will help inform decision-making processes and aim to guide the implementation of effective measures.

As Ahi-Kaa we have lived first-hand experience of the devastation and impacts that the severe weather events have had on our taiao and our whānau. Whilst we witness the daily effects of these changes, it is crucial to delve beyond the surface and gather accurate information through a range of data collection tools in order to establish a baseline assessment of the health of our taiao.

This Project draws together kōrero tuku iho (traditional stories) and hazardscape science to create a pathway to strengthen kaitiakitanga under a changing climate.

The project encompasses six aims that weave mātauranga Māori, geospatial data, simulation modelling, and visualisation to create the crucial and accessible evidence required to support the northern Hawkes Bay Hapū (represented by Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust) and the rural community in their efforts to recover and plan a sustainable future for the takiwā (traditional Hapū area), by:

1. Fostering Hapū reconnection to Te Taiao through wānanga to reignite kōrero tuku iho (traditional knowledge)
2. Mapping landscape changes and estimating erosion and deposition volumes across the takiwā. Identifying ‘hotspots’ and linking these with regional variability in land-cover/use, topography and geology
3. Predicting future river instability ‘hotspots’ as material eroded during Cyclone Gabrielle is remobilised and transported from Maungaharuru (mountain range) sub catchments in the west to Tangitū (the sea) in the east
4. Forecasting how fluvial flood hazards may be influenced by dynamically evolving river morphology
5. Drawing on kōrero tuku iho, data and simulation modelling, to create an interactive geospatial visualisation, making research findings accessible and user-friendly for the Hapū and the rural community
6. Engaging local primary schools within the takiwā to facilitate enjoyable learning about Hapū kōrero tuku iho, Te Rerenga Kārearea interactive geospatial visualisation, and the Te Whare Tapa Whā (holistic health model). This aims to foster reconnection to Te Taiao (natural world), promote Hauora (health & wellbeing), and inspire involvement in STEAM.

We are investigating native options for improved management of our waterways, with a particular focus on two very significant awa – Tukituki and Ngaruroro.

We are building on existing and traditional knowledge to improve river management (including engineering).

With an aim to vastly increase its inclusion of a tangata whenua approach and world view towards living with our waterways. Indigenous knowledge and interests have had relatively little influence on river management as it has been dominated by western based principles and approaches ever since the 1868 Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act which assumed management and control of “all rivers, streams and watercourse”.

Ngati Kahungunu sees the extreme weather Māori determined fund as an opportunity for the iwi to lead this piece of work to assist our people and work with a range relevant experts to determine our own solutions and improve our relationship within the current management sphere of our waterways.

Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the need to explore multiple solutions, tangata whenua need to be enabled to lead exploration that benefits us inclusive of our waters and ultimately reduce or avoid the disastrous impacts that flooding and extreme weather events can pose.

This work is scheduled for the next 12 months and will incorporate previous relevant works with potentially for further related works. Ultimately future generations will benefit the most from decisions made now.