Mātauranga and conservation working side by side
Examples of how mātauranga and conservation can work successfully side by side, providing better outcomes for people and the environment.
Kaitiakitanga and conservation have shared values, particularly the responsibility of providing for future generations.
Conservation:
- focuses on the preserving, managing and restoring the natural environment, for its intrinsic value
- provides for appreciation and recreation by the public
- safeguards the options of future generations.
Kaitiaki have a responsibility and obligation to maintain a natural and harmonious balance for:
Kaitiakitanga and conservation are responsible for protecting and sustaining whole living systems through the generations. This includes making sure rivers and seas are clean and safe for swimming and gathering kai. Conservation efforts for a site may involve volunteer groups doing activities like:
- revegetating landscapes
- carrying out pest plant and animal control.
Collaboration between kaitiaki and conservationists use their local knowledge and cultural priorities to enhance these efforts. These partnerships can encourage iwi to reconnect with their rohe while achieving broader goals. For example, regenerating cultural landscapes can include resources like:
- rongoā
- pā harakeke
- conservation of wāhi tapu.
Together, these approaches help restore the environment, and the cultural and spiritual connections to the land.
The following examples demonstrate the benefits of mātauranga and conservation working side by side.
