Pou Rāhui is an iwi lead, kaupapa Māori research project that addresses the revitalisation of the mauri of Tīkapa Moana and Te Moananui-ā-Toi (Hauraki Gulf) with an intergenerational, action orientated approach, through a Māori world view. Iwi are deeply concerned about the declining state of their moana and will contribute to its healing and restoration.
‘Pou rāhui, pou tikanga, pou oranga: reigniting the mauri of Tīkapa moana and Te Moananui-ā-Toi’ research focuses on using mātauranga Māori to inform our understanding of rāhui along with population dynamics of taonga species in the moana. The research prioritises mātauranga Māori and will integrate marine science. We will use mātauranga mapping or traditional localised knowledge to map the historic distribution, abundance and sizing of identified species in rāhui spaces. We will then proceed to explore how degradation and changes in environmental conditions have affected the taonga species and spaces over the years.
The health of the Hauraki Gulf is declining at an alarming rate. Like all communities, iwi are deeply concerned and will contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of Tīkapa as a contribution to strengthening tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua. Rāhui is a tool of environmental management being used increasingly by iwi. This research is designed to understand rāhui, and the philosophy that underpins it, both historically and today. More particularly, we seek to establish the scientific basis of rāhui so that, going forward, it can be as effective as possible as a tool for ecosystem restoration and healing. To achieve this, we will develop a model of environmental monitoring to be led by iwi (alongside monitoring by others) to understand change occurring in the environment by which iwi are able to decide when and where to apply interventions including rāhui and by which factors they can measure their effectiveness.
This project will build a body of knowledge, to make a significant and powerful contribution to the mātauranga Māori/science debate. Will build the capacity and capability of iwi/tangata whenua as kaitiaki, and to enable and improve iwi-led action-orientated approaches to environmental management.
