A major new investment in coastal research is set to strengthen efforts to protect and restore some of Aotearoa and the Pacific’s most valuable marine environments, with more than $7 million awarded to 26 innovative projects that combine science, mātauranga Māori and community leadership.
Funded through the Tertiary Education Commission and administered by the National Centre of Research Excellence Coastal People: Southern Skies (CPSS), the latest funding round will provide approximately $300,000 to each successful project, supporting research focused on coastal resilience, ecological restoration, climate adaptation and sustainable development.
Associate Director of Research Dr Chris Cornwall says the investment reflects a growing recognition that the challenges facing coastal environments require collaborative approaches that draw on both western science and Indigenous knowledge systems.
The funded projects span communities across Aotearoa and the wider Pacific, addressing issues ranging from restoring marine habitats and protecting taonga species to developing sustainable blue economy initiatives and strengthening resilience to climate change.
A significant feature of this year’s funding round is the strong representation of Māori-led research programmes. Many projects are being delivered in partnership with iwi, hapū and local communities, ensuring research priorities reflect the aspirations of those with longstanding relationships to the whenua and moana.
Dr Cornwall says integrating mātauranga Māori with scientific research provides a more complete understanding of coastal ecosystems. Indigenous knowledge contributes generations of environmental observation and cultural practice, while scientific methods provide additional tools for monitoring ecological change and evaluating restoration outcomes.
Researchers believe this partnership creates more effective, locally relevant solutions that are grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
Climate change remains one of the biggest drivers behind the new research programme. Rising sea levels, warming oceans, ocean acidification and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are placing unprecedented pressure on coastal ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, infrastructure and communities throughout the region.
Several projects will focus on identifying restoration strategies capable of improving resilience in vulnerable coastal habitats, including wetlands, estuaries, shellfish beds and seagrass ecosystems that provide natural protection against erosion while supporting fisheries and marine biodiversity.
The restoration of taonga species also forms a key part of the programme. Research into species such as kopakopa, or ribbed mussels, aims to improve ecological health by rebuilding natural habitats that help filter water, stabilise sediments and provide shelter for other marine life.
Scientists say restoring these species can deliver multiple benefits, supporting healthier ecosystems while strengthening customary harvest, biodiversity and local economies.
Beyond environmental outcomes, the research programme is expected to contribute to the development of a sustainable blue economy, exploring how coastal resources can support long-term economic opportunities while maintaining ecological integrity.
The projects also seek to strengthen community capability by supporting local leadership, building research partnerships and ensuring knowledge generated through the programme can be applied directly by coastal communities facing increasing environmental pressures.
As climate adaptation becomes an increasingly urgent national priority, researchers say investments such as this will play an important role in ensuring future generations inherit healthier, more resilient coastlines.
By bringing together mātauranga Māori, scientific innovation and community leadership, the Coastal People: Southern Skies programme aims to demonstrate that protecting the environment and supporting economic and cultural wellbeing can go hand in hand.
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