Examining the contribution of mātauranga Māori to climate health in Aotearoa

Project Summary 

Indigenous people will be more severely affected by global climate change than other populations. Despite increasing awareness of these inequities, national and global responses to climate change often fail to address issues of specific concern to Indigenous peoples and tend to overlook the potential contribution of Indigenous knowledges. Indigenous peoples’ knowledges are based on holistic and interdependent understandings of the environment and have the potential to inform action towards climate transformation.

The aim of this research was to provide understanding on how mātauranga Māori, as an Indigenous knowledge system, can transform climate health outcomes. We conducted a literature review to identify opportunities and challenges for including mātauranga to support climate health. Key informant interviews were undertaken with participants with experience in relevant initiatives to explore their experiences, reflections and aspirations. The findings help to develop understandings of how mātauranga can inform climate health action, which can provide valuable insights to support Indigenous-centred climate change mitigation and adaptation in Aotearoa. 

This research enables the ongoing work of Climate Health Aotearoa (CHA), a multi-Institutional research group, in the development and implementation of collaborative research with tangata whenua into climate health recovery. 

Lead Researcher

Dr Kenneth Taiapa, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-a-Apanui
University of Otago

Research Team

Summer Wright, Ngāti Maniapoto, Massey University

Assoc Prof Bridgette Masters-Awatere, Te Rarawa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, Ngāi Te Rangi, University of Waikato

Dr Christina McKerchar, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, University of Otago

Assoc Prof Rhys Jones, Ngāti Kahungunu, University of Auckland