New funds have been allocated to support the co-management of freshwater in Tairawhiti. Hapū collective, Hikurangi Takiwā Trust, will host a two year placement of freshwater scientist, Dr Joanne Clapcott, from the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation.
The placement will be funded by the Te Punaha Hihiko – Vision Matauranga Capability Fund from the Ministry for Business Innovation & Employment. This is the fourth round for the Fund which was established to grow skills and capacity for Māori participation in science and innovation and support outcomes that benefit New Zealand.
The placement will help discover and develop local capability through the design and application of a cultural monitoring framework for freshwater resources.
“The cultural monitoring framework provides the backbone of the placement from which we hope to develop new tools for local hapū and landowners to engage in freshwater management” says Dr Clapcott.
Proposed new ‘tools’ include:
- a locally relevant cultural health indicator
- a monitoring network that identifies and incorporates the values of local hapū
- a five year regional engagement plan that promotes co-learning amongst neighbouring hapū collectives with parallel aspirations to increase their freshwater management capability.
Hikurangi Takiwā Trust has strong kaitiakitanga aspirations and a desire to engage in the co-management of freshwater in the Waiapu rohe. Following the ratification of the Joint Management Agreement between Te Runanga o Ngāti Porou and Gisborne District Council in 2015, Hikurangi Takiwā Trust have been identifying ways to actively engage in the co-management of environmental resources in the Waiapu catchment.
“Hikurangi Takiwā Trust are stoked to host and work alongside Dr Joanne Clapcott – who has affiliations to local hapū Te Aitanga a Mate – in her placement and build our freshwater skill set” says Trustee Pia Pohatu.
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Meanwhile, Hikurangi Takiwā Trust has teamed up with He Awa Ora, He Tai Ora, Healthy Rivers Living Sea Education Trust to offer a two day training workshop this week on stream and river quality monitoring.
The workshop for hapū members, marae representatives, local landowners, teachers and students is on 27th and 28th June at Kariaka Pa, Ruatoria.
For more information and to register please contact Pia Pohatu: pia@uritukuiho.org.nz
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Hikurangi Takiwa Trust is a hapū collective progressing the interests and responsibilities of Te Aitanga-a-Mate, Te Aowera, Te Whānau-a-Rākairoa, Te Whānau-a-Hinekehu and Te Awemapara hapū located between Waipiro Bay and Ruatorea.
Hīkurangi Takiwā Trust 