Mātauranga Māori
A key focus area for the programme is Mātauranga Māori.
Mātauranga Māori is traditional and contemporary Māori knowledge and knowledge systems. This includes the body of knowledge originating from Māori ancestors, including the Māori world view and perspectives, Māori creativity and cultural practices. As an organic and living knowledge base, mātauranga Māori is ever growing and expanding.
Two major Mātauranga Māori-based projects currently underway are (1) Cultural health indicators and (2) Rongoā Ngahere Project.
The objective of the cultural health indicators project is to determine whether indicators can be used to monitor and measure kauri health & resilience and disease status of kauri ngahere.
The use of Rongoā or traditional Māori medicines have been passed down through generations and used by Māori as a healing or enhancement of Māori wellbeing. There has been a lack of published research in using Rongoā to improve the health of ngahere. The aim of the Rongoā Ngahere Project is to develop rongoā that is not only effective against kauri dieback but restores the mauri of kauri ngahere. Both these projects are multi-stage and grounded in ‘te ao Māori’ (the Maori world view) utilizing kaupapa Māori methodologies. This work contributed strongly to Maori aspirations and outcomes.
Developing engagement frameworks to enable effective partnering with mana whenua as well as sharing and alignment with western science practices are also programme goals.


Some recent research in this area
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Cultural Health Indicator Pilot Project - Phase 3
Objectives
A pilot study to test the principles and practicalities of using the Kauri Cultural Health Indicator (CHI) Monitoring Framework with regard to Kauri Dieback.Outcomes
A number of recommendations were made to improve the framework and lists some constraints that are to be considered during Phase 4.Research Provider
He Puna Marama TrustContract Number
17874Research Status
CompletedCultural Health Indicator Monitoring Framework- Phase 2
Objectives
Development of a monitoring framework structured around indicator species and cultural elements such as atua domains and other key values. The framework serves as a guide for collection and analysis of monitoring data and information for kauri ngāhere.Outcomes
Framework developed guided by overarching values of Whakapapa and Ngahere parameters and based on nga atua domains. Incorporates tikanga and wairuatanga protocols and provides an overall measure of the mauri of ngahere. Methodology involves a step by step process outlining options and recommendations for community engagement, site selection, team selection and initial wananga to customise the framework and methodology.Research Provider
Repo Consultancy Ltd.
Chetham Consulting Ltd.Research Status
Completed
For a view into the complete library of programme research and reports please see our Science Stocktake.
If you have any questions in relation to this area of research or the supporting reports please contact the Kauri Dieback team on the details below.
Please note that as more information becomes available on the nature of kauri dieback disease and the pathogen that causes it, some of these papers may be superseded.