The wellbeing of many Maori (indigenous peoples of New Zealand) communities has long relied on the sustainable use of freshwater resources, where species like tuna (freshwater eels), koura (freshwater crayfish) and kakahi (freshwater mussels) once supported local and regional economies with significant food and resources. The Treaty of Waitangi forms the underlying foundation of the Crown-Māori relationship with regard to freshwater resources in New Zealand. In recent times, Treaty settlements have resulted in assets of strategic importance being returned to Māori. Many of these settlements are concerned with the co-management, protection and restoration of values, uses and services that have not previously been a priority for environmental research, restoration and monitoring by government and research agencies.
New Zealand’s evolving co-management context is an opportunity to co-develop research methods, tools and products that inform new and innovative approaches for the protection, restoration and economic development of taonga (treasured) freshwater species. This requires: (1) A focus on Maori values/uses/opportunities and research priorities; (2) Development of Maori capacity in freshwater research, management and policy; (3) The flexibility to respond to the strategic needs of resource managers as the co-management landscape evolves; and (4) Interdisciplinary collaborations to develop credible cross-cultural approaches that engage our communities, and empower both matauranga Maori (Maori knowledge) and science-based knowledge systems.
In 2001 the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) established Te Kuwaha, the National Centre of Maori Environmental Research. Over the last 15 years NIWA has been co-delivering freshwater fisheries research of benefit to Maori, and helping to develop Maori research capability and capacity. Using freshwater eel research as one example, in this presentation we provide insights into some of the successful collaborative partnerships we have been privileged to be part of.