He taonga kē ngā kaumātua

KAUMĀTUA is a term describing both female and male older Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Regarded as valuable taonga (treasures), KAUMĀTUA are afforded great respect in te ao Māori (the Māori world). Māori communities rely on the inter-generational transfer of knowledge by KAUMĀTUA to guide current and future generations.

Seasoned by time, KAUMĀTUA offer a matured perspective on localised and world events. The wisdom embedded in kōrero (conversations) with KAUMĀTUA provides rich understandings of current environmental concerns, including environmental sustainability.

(The forest is an extraordinary treasure)

...is about better understanding the meaning and value Māori give to te taiao, ngahere and taonga species.

Environmental concerns and the role humans can play in addressing them, including matters of biosecurity, can only be approached after first understanding how we understand and relate to te taiao, ngahere and taonga species.

Māori beliefs, values and practices are believed to be intimately connected to te taiao – the natural environment.

They are grounded in an inherent understanding of the inter-relativity between humans, the ecosystem, the celestial spheres, and the entire universe.

Māori are diverse, so beliefs, values and behaviours must take account of whānau, hapū, and iwi differences, as well as a range of other factors. 

Grounded in Kaupapa Māori, the project He taonga kē te ngahere aims to delineate these diverse realities and understandings of Māori as they relate to taiao, ngahere, and kauri and myrtaceae in particular.

In doing so, this project provides an Indigenous Māori psychological perspective, which acknowledges Māori worldviews, into the biodiversity space in Aotearoa.

Funded by the Mobilising for Action theme, and led by the  Centre for Indigenous Psychologies , this storymap documents themes that emerged from wānanga (purposeful discussions) held with a KAUMĀTUA group about their understandings of, and the varied influences on, the meaning and value of te taiao, ngahere and ngā rākau taonga (iconic trees).

Key ideas about te taiao and ngahere that emerged through wānanga with the KAUMĀTUA were recollections of childhood, reflections on change over time, and concern for the future.

These key ideas are presented below as four themes:

1. Fond memories of their elders' relationships with ngahere informed Our Old People
2. Childhood memories of ngahere and te taiao inform the theme Our Childhood
3. Perspectives on the well-being of ngahere and te taiao are provided in Our Present
4. Concerns about and aspirations for coming generations are reflected in Our Future

Continue scrolling below to read about the main ideas in each theme.

Biosecurity threats to kauri and myrtaceae, such as kauri dieback and myrtle rust, were raised by the Centre for Indigenous Psychologies during the wānanga.

Many KAUMĀTUA acknowledged they had heard of  kauri dieback , and that there was "good work being done by iwi up in the Far North" to address this biosecurity issue.

KAUMĀTUA were less clear about what  myrtle rust  is, although some made mention of it being "something to do with feijoas."

While KAUMĀTUA expressed concern about kauri dieback and (less so) myrtle rust, the focus - as indicated by the four themes above - consistently returned to loss of ngahere through deforestation, as well as specific practices that affect the well-being of te taiao.

WAIRUA was a common thread spanning the entire journey through time, and was perceived as a necessary and relevant aspect of, not only the past, but importantly also of the future.

KAUMĀTUA are already mobilised to act for the environment, and the main driver for this mobilisation and action, is their mokopuna.

Initiatives developed to mobilise KAUMĀTUA to take action to protect kauri and myrtaceae species from biosecurity threats will need to be specific, yet diverse.

They also need to take account of the following:

• KAUMĀTUA awareness of kauri dieback and myrtle rust exists on a continuum.

• KAUMĀTUA may be reluctant to encroach on issues they think other iwi are already 'doing a good job' on (e.g., especially in the case of kauri).

• KAUMĀTUA see te taiao, ngahere, taonga species and human well-being as intimately intertwined - what affects one, affects all others.

• Mokopuna serve as motivators for KAUMĀTUA actions directed toward te taiao.

• Above all else, KAUMĀTUA endorse wairuatanga (spirituality) as the most important consideration for environmental sustainability.

Click on the links below to view short clips of some key moments that arose during our time with the KAUMĀTUA rōpū.