Māori are increasingly taking on environmental management roles (often on a voluntary basis) that juggle the responsibilities of both traditional networks and government regulations. The focus of this scoping project was to identify the barriers, obstacles and potential solutions to conducting research in the area of local customary fisheries from a flax roots level, that is the application and management of Mataitai and Taiapure by communities and marae.
 

Historical trauma is a term commonly used by Native American researchers who have investigated the impact of past relationships between native populations and settler governments on current and future generations of Native Americans. The significance of their research is the emphasis placed on creating healthy, sustainable indigenous futures whilst recognising and seeking redress for historical injustices. These studies have been discussed in New Zealand by Native American scholars (e.g. Dr Karina Walters, Lynn Holder Palmanteer) and can be applied to the Treaty Claims process in New Zealand.