Projects

A cultural and genetic study of the translocation of karaka in Aotearoa

Expertise: 
History, Science / Engineering, Traditional Knowledge
Region: 
New Zealand

This research uses new sequencing technology to develop molecular markers for use in tracing the translocation history of Corynocarpus laevigatus (karaka in Aotearoa or kōpi on Rekohu/Chatham Islands). The research also involves collecting historic information of karaka/kōpi in the form of korero (oral histories) and rongo/waiata (songs). The regional ethnobotany of the tree in Aotearoa will also be studied.

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Robin Atherton

A Respository of Knowledge: Maatauranga Maori

Expertise: 
Environment, Indigenous Development, Kaupapa Māori Research, Law / Justice, Science / Engineering, Te Reo Māori, Tikanga - Maori Customs, Traditional Knowledge

The purpose of this project is to create a repository of knowledge for all information identified as mātauranga Māori. Having this knowledge recorded and collected within the Sustainable Seas
Challenge will help identify where mātauranga Māori has been used to integrate with other knowledge frameworks, and how it contributed to the distinctive products, processes, systems and services of the Challenge. Other factors that would be captured:
• The source of the mātauranga Māori (who the knowledge came from).

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James Whetu

A Whakapapa of Tradition: Ngati Porou Carving 1830 to 1930

Expertise: 
Traditional Knowledge

This thesis argues that tradition can be seen to have a whakapapa, in that there is a distinct parentage, a moment of birth, and (occasionally), the demise of a tradition. I am applying this idea to chart change in carving by Ngati Porou over the period 1830-1930. I have chapters on the following: Existing practices, The Church, The Whare Whakairo, Tohunga Whakairo, The Patrons and The 20th Century.

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Ngarino Ellis

Adapting principles from rongoā into ecologically and culturally sustainable farm practice

Expertise: 
Environment, Indigenous Development, Traditional Knowledge

This project examines rongoā (traditional Māori knowledge of medicinal plants) to find ways to improve animal health naturally, and overall, manage farms with respect for the land.

Principal Investigator Dr Marion Johnson was a farm manager in the UK when she received a scholarship to study environmental biology and returned to university. She later arrived back in New Zealand to complete a PhD on parasites of farmed red deer. For her post-doctoral research, she wanted to focus on sustainable agricultural practices.

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Marion Johnson

Commercial feasibility of using mātauranga Māori based fish traps to eliminate bycatch

Expertise: 
Environment, Indigenous Development, Traditional Knowledge

The commercial fishing industry is a complex system, and one issue that can hamper the success of fishing companies is the inadvertent capture of fish that are not target species. Under the Quota Management System, if a company has limited quota for a non target-species then fishing for target species has to stop once the limited quota of a non-target species has been met. The Waikawa Fishing Company proposed to address the bycatch issue by designing and creating fish traps, from mātauranga Māori, that target individual species.

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Shaun Ogilvie