Climate is of fundamental importance to Mäori society. It affects natural environmental systems and resources, influences social-cultural knowledge and practice, shapes community vulnerability and resilience, and is directly linked to economic investment and government policy.
Given the diverse realities and climate-sensitivities that Mäori face in different places and regions across Aotearoa, there is a growing interest to know more about the implications (and risks) of a changing climate on different sectors, systems and groups. Mäori stakeholders have expressed concerns and aspirations to know more about adaptation options and the linkages between climate change, natural hazards and sustainable development; to understand what makes some groups more resilient than others; and, to promote Mäori knowledge and greater Mäori involvement in environmental policy, planning and management. This presentation will report on recent community-level work completed alongside Ngäti Huirapa at Arowhenua Pa, Te-umu-kaha (Temuka).
Presenter: Darren Ngaru King (links to Ngäti Raukawa) is an interdisciplinary research scientist with experience spanning the earth and human-systems sciences. He is a member of NIWA’s Mäori Environmental Research Centre (Te Küwaha) and National Climate Centre; and manages the Climate Applications Group based in Auckland. His principal areas of research include
- Climate and Mäori society – investigating the linkages between social and biophysical systems including the factors that influence the risk, vulnerability and resilience of climate-sensitive Mäori sectors, systems and groups; and,
- Palaeotsunami reconstruction – assessing tsunami disturbance, recurrence and risk along New Zealand’s coast using grounded approaches in applied geology and Mäori studies.
