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The chair of the Federation of Maori Authorities says Maori landowners and iwi need to play an important part in guiding and advising the National Science Challenge on Water.
The challenge aims to coordinate work done by crown research institutes and universities and find new ways to boost agricultural production while improving land and water quality.
It was launched in Wellington yesterday.
Traci Houpapa says it’s probably the most important of the science challenges.
"It is critical that we and that is the collective 'we' are government industry, iwi and Maori, get our approach right in terms of science, innovation and research and development are right for water and for land. If we don't future generations will pay," she says,
Traci Houpapa says it’s going to need clear thinking to balance well being with economic, social, cultural and environmental challenges, but the frame of the challenge has got it almost right.
Initial projects in the $96 million, 10-year challenge include looking at how to use new technologies like drones, reducing the environmental footprint of farming systems and identifying dilution processes in soil and water.
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