On March 23-24, the Manaaki Taha Moana research team hosted a National Symposium and Hīkoi.
The purpose of this event was to report and reflect on our six years of gold-rated, MBIE-funded research collaboration between western scientists and iwi researchers in Horowhenua and Tauranga Moana.
The panui and programme are attached, for your information.
The two days were highly successful. The National Symposium was held at the Massey University Wellington Campus, and was attended by 85 people, representing 30 different organisations from regions throughout NZ.
People from another 8 organisations expressed an interest but were unavailable on the day – including some MPs, with one saying our kaupapa is very important and should be a priority for everyone!!
We are particularly thankful to our special guest speakers, Sir Taihakurei Durie and the Harrisons (Santa Cruz, USA) with Laura and Benny Fillmore (Wa:shiw nation, USA by video link), and our co-presenters from various end user groups – see below.
On the 2nd day of this event, 34 people participated in field trip/hīkoi, which enabled participants to see first hand some of the coastal areas that have been the focus of our research along the Horowhenua coast, and to hear from our research team, kaumatua and kaitiaki.
Our research team was also able to get valuable feedback and insight from the knowledge of people who attended the hikoi, for which we are grateful.
Since these symposium, we have had a number of requests to present our findings at other events throughout New Zealand, and to engage with different groups in related research.
This is very encouraging, as one of our primary goals is to conduct cross-cultural, integrative restoration research that is beneficial throughout New Zealand, and indeed internationally.
Please click of the links to download our team’s presentations from the National Symposium, or any of our other research publications or toolsets (e.g., Coastview, 3D-Participatory Table, Digital Library), or brochures summarising the various components of our research programme – we upload new material to our website regularly, so please be sure to check back.
If any of our research ideas or tools could be useful to your organisation or networks, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss possibilities. We hope to be able to continue our research in related areas and are accordingly seeking ongoing funding from MBIE and the National Science Challenges.
