September 06, 2023

Maramataka offers different view of climate change

Atereano Mateariki Posted On September 6, 2023

A maramataka expert is preparing a challenge for this week's Climate Action Tai Tokerau Conference in Whangarei.

A maramataka expert is preparing a challenge for this week’s Climate Action Tai Tokerau Conference in Whangarei.

The biannual conference in Whangārei is an initiative of the Amokura Iwi Consortium, the Northland District Health Board, the Northland Regional Council and NorthTec, and looks to promote action to mitigate climate change.

Keynote speaker Rereata Makiha says he intends to share kōrero tukuiho to explain how Māori have a different view of the environment.

“When I hear them talking about, about climate change, and all these sorts of things, they are actually blaming the climate, and not the human degradation of our environment. And they are talking about human controlling the environment aye, which is totally opposite to what our tupuna taught us its to live in harmony with the environment and understand it and live in. When you live in harmony within an environment, you see things differently,” he says.

As a follow up to the hui, Climate Action Tai Tokerau will conduct three field trips over the next five weeks to show environmental projects around the region.