The Pou Rāhui research team has been brought together to explore an alternative way of improving marine biodiversity and environmental health using a mātauranga taiao Māori approach.
This project will achieve wider benefits beyond the aspirations of each of the five iwi, such as providing an exemplar for the complementarity between mātauranga Māori and science, a new Rāhui toolkit, and how to embed mātauranga and tikanga into environmental policy. The central theme of this project is focused on Rāhui to revive, restore and reignite ‘te mauri o te moana’.
The Pou Moana team is led by Professor Kura Paul-Burke and is focussed on pragmatic intergenerational knowledge and experiences of marine taonga populations and locations in rāhui areas. Kura will assess the current state of identified marine species and spaces across the 5 rāhui using empirical data and mapping tools. This team seeks to understand what we need to do to revive the moana.
The Pou Rangi team is led by Dr Apanui Skipper and focuses on relevant bodies of knowledge within mātauranga Māori (maramataka, te tātai arorangi, climate, whakapapa) that could assist the environmental health of the moana. The Pou Rangi team will seek to understand kaumātua and pūkenga experiences and ideas for Tīkapa Moana and Te Moananui ā Toi.
The Pou Whenua team is led by Dr Charles Royal and is focused on understanding what rāhui and kaitiakitanga is and how they can remain fit for purpose in a changing world. The Pou Whenua team are looking at what contemporary marine management could look like.
The Pou Tangata team is led by Herearoha Skipper and is comprised of kaiwhakahaere from each of the project iwi. The Pou Tangata team have built their iwi teams and each provide wisdom, mentorship and direction to the project and ensure the iwi connection and engagement is maintained.
