ENVR101 - Block 2 Māori & The Environment

Covering Weeks 4-6

Runanga

A council or assembly in Maori governance, playing a role in addressing environmental issues.

Matauranga

A Maori knowledge system encompassing traditional knowledge and practices.

Kaitiakitanga

The practice of guardianship, and leadership. A strong sense that hapu should be leading culture-nature intervention to solve environmental problems.

Reservation

A specific area of land set aside for the use and occupation of indigenous people.

Tuna Cycle

The lifecycle stages of eels, including larva, glass eel, elver, nonmature adult, and silver eel.

Algal Blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water bodies, often due to nutrient pollution, that can be harmful to ecosystems.

Trophic Level Index (TLI)

A measure used to assess the quality and fertility of lake ecosystems based on nutrient levels.

Raupatu

The act of conquering or taking land unlawfully, particularly as it pertains to Maori land.

SILNA

South Island Landless Natives Act, passed 20 October 1906 to provide land to Maori with an asset base.

Which stage in the tuna cycle is ready for harvest?

Tuna heke - silver eel

When are tuna harvested?

February to April during their migration period

Where do tuna spawn

Tonga, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Pacific Ocean

Why do Runanga play an important role in solving environmental issues?

Using values such as Kaitiakitanga, tino rangatiratanga, and having a voice for the environment and the systems that live in them (tuna).

How did deforestation have an impact on Te Roto o Wairewa?

The sediment from deforestation increased phosphate levels increasing algal blooms

How do algal blooms occur?

Naturally high level of phosphate from deforestation from the sediment and also from volcanos

What are the five levels measured on a Trophic Level Index (TLI)?

Supertrophic, Eutrophic, Mesotrophic, Oligotrophic, Microtrophic

What are the three world scales environmental events fit under?

Local, macroscale, global

How many Māori trusts are there?

Currently 8,406 Māori land trusts, in which blocks of land are not run by iwi or hapu

Mahinga Kai

Translates to “work the food” relating to the gathering and processes of food, relates to the traditional value of food resources and their ecosystems.

Does Mahinga kai just include food?

No, it does include things like agriculture but it also includes resources like pounamu

What is regenerative farming?

Is based on focusing on the soil and building up resilient farm ecosystems.

What are some examples of regenerative farming?

Using soil-conserving and soil building practices such as minimising tillage, cover cropping, keeping the soil covered, and increasing biodiversity in pasture and crops

How does regenerative farming have benefits on climate change?

It can increase the health of waterways, reduce topsoil loss, offer resilience to drought, add value to primary exports, and improve persuasive wellbeing crisis among rural farming communities

How much of Māori land is dedicated to horticulture?

400,000 ha most is in sheep, cattle, or dairy

How is the change from agriculture to horticulture environmentally impactful?

Waterways are destroyed in process as they need to be infilled to create flat land, creating an excess of phosphate and sediment. Soils are being destroyed

How is the change from agriculture to horticulture culturally impactful?

Archaeological Māori heritage sites are being destroyed in the process like tapu pa. We cannot know what might be regarded as significant in the future.

Who manages all of the stewardship land in New Zealand?

DOC under the 1987 Conservation Act

What is stewardship land?

Land holding no conservation title managed for the nonspecific purpose of protecting natural and historic resources.

Why do regional councils matter to Māori communities?

Give Ngai Tahu a seat at the table and a voice for representation

What are the three cases of legal personhood in New Zealand?

Te Kahui Maunga- Mt Taranaki, Whanganui River, Te Urewara

What does legal personhood provide?

Long term protection and the health of certain environments and Māori belief systems in being ancestors