Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Korokī Kahukura formally welcomed and acknowledged the Emerging Climatic Pressures research group last month with a mihi whakatau at Mystery Creek.

Much of the research programme, which is investigating the effects of rising atmospheric CO₂ levels on freshwater systems, particularly the Waikato River, takes place in their rohe.

“We are really interested in any and all interactions with our awa, which we see as our tupuna, our ancestor,” says Merekara Warrington, a Ngāti Korokī Kahukura trustee.

“We want to make sure that the awa is being respected, and that the research brings benefit back to the river. We are really there as kaitiaki, or guardians.”

The event began with tangata whenua calling researchers on to the site, with the manuhiri/researchers responding.

“The pōhiri/welcome acknowledged the significance of developing the collective relationship by all who were present, and that tikanga would help navigate the project, endorsing the awa’s tapu nature and what it means to mana whenua (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura),” said Lincoln Agritech’s Kaiārahi Māori Chaz Doherty.

“In the spirit of reciprocity, this project’s journey will reflect a common ground where mātauranga and science work together for collective, informed outcomes.”

Roland Stenger, principal scientist of Lincoln Agritech’s Environmental Research team, provided a brief overview of the programme. He highlighted that changes in water and sediment chemistry will affect the plants and animals living in the river, which are critically important to mana whenua.

Team members from the universities of Otago, Lincoln, Auckland and Waikato also introduced their research and answered questions spanning from biophysical to kaupapa Māori research, and their implications on the future management of the awa.

Merekara says she was impressed by the researchers’ openness to iwi involvement and struck by the connection between some of the areas being studied and mātauranga Māori.

“For example, when Juliet [Clague] was talking about the fast flow of the river, and how it affected using the raft, it triggered for me that the name of the Waikato means fast-flowing waters.

“Different parts of the river are good for swimming or gathering kai, but others are not so good because of their currents, and that’s all reflected in the traditional names of those places.”

The event also highlighted collaboration between scientists from different disciplines and organisations, even going beyond the boundaries of individual research programmes. This was underlined by Deborah Hofstra, leader of NIWA’s gold clam management programme, also attending.

Iwi representatives and scientists are already looking forward to a similar event in a year’s time to discuss interim results of the research.