Research Report | He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao: a changing climate, a changing world

A new report from Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) and Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research provides guidance for Te Ao Māori on climate change adaptation and mitigation. He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao: a changing climate, a changing world was produced by a multidisciplinary Māori research team working across ten research institutions. Using a novel kaupapa Māori risk assessment approach to climate change, the report synthesises the latest research and guidance on observed and projected climate change impacts on whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori business. It considers the implications of climate change for diverse Māori interests and investments, and provides commentary on risk and uncertainty, knowledge gaps, and options for mitigation and adaption. The report follows the recent release of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report forewarning that global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5°C of warming over the next 20 years.

He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao finds that Māori well-being across all four key domains - environment, Māori enterprise, healthy people and Maori culture - will be moderately impacted by 2050. By 2100, the risks to ecosystems are likely to show severe impact, compromising many aspects of Māori well-being. The authors write: “Climate change not only threatens the tangible components of Māori well-being, but also the spiritual components and, most important, the well-being of future generations.”

AUTHORS

Shaun Awatere (Ngāti Porou), Manaaki Whenua
Darren Ngaru King (Ngāti Raukawa), Taihoro Nukurangi – NIWA
John Reid (Te Arawa), University of Canterbury
Lewis Williams (Ngāi Te Rangi), University of Western Ontario
Bridgette Masters-Awatere (Te Rarawa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngai te Rangi…), University of Waikato
Pauline Harris (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine), Victoria University of Wellington
Natasha Tassell-Matamua (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Makea kei Rarotonga), Massey University
Rhys Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu), University of Auckland
Kevin Eastwood  Te Toi Taiao – Supporting Healthy Environments
John Pirker (Ngāi Tahu), University of Canterbury
Anne-Marie Jackson (Ngāti Whātua, Te Roroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Kahu o Whangaroa), University of Otago