May 15, 2023
Coastal folk given tools to read climate change
A centre of research excellence looking at coastal ecosystems and the effect of ocean warming, sea-level rise, and climate change has held a symposium to share the results of its first two years of research.
Coastal People: Southern Skies co-director Anne-Marie Jackson from the University of Otago says it was a chance for researchers, students, and community partners to discuss topics like mana motuhake and guardianship.
The centre has been supporting projects with communitis in Rakiura Stewart Island, Waikawa the Catlins, Puketeraki north of Dunedin, Whareponga on the East Coast, Kawhia and Tai Tokerau.
Professor Jackson says they’re looking for ways to look after themselves.
“They want to be able to understand what’s happening within their rohe moana, within their environment and whether that is related to out tikanga, our reo, the health and well being of our people and also their taonga within the moana so how they can understand what’s there, what’s being impacted by it so they can safeguard it not just for now but for the future,” she says.
Professor Jackson says extreme weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle highlight the need to support the ability of coastal communities to make informed decisions about their environment.