Te Horo i Whakakotahi a Pūtōrino e Rua is a collaboration between Rangitīkei iwi, regional council, and researchers to explore the social and environmental implications of the 1855 Pūtōrino landslide in the Rangitīkei Valley. Rangitīkei Mātauranga-a-iwi will complement western science to extend our record of natural hazard events beyond the limited extent of European settlement and written history. Research outputs will inform mātauranga-based landuse management decisions to build resilient Rangitīkei communities, promote mātauranga and science amongst rangatahi, and build capability within partner organisations to support ongoing collaborations.
Māori have inhabited low-lying floodplains and coastal areas for generations, developing a deep cultural and spiritual connection with the whenua. Prior to European arrival, Māori moved with the seasons for kai gathering purposes and constantly adapted to the dynamic conflict between Tāne Mahuta, Tāwhirimātea and Tangaroa. Harnessing the mātauranga passed down through the generations will inform modern society’s ability to meet the challenge of climate change.
Extreme natural disasters are becoming more common as a result of climate change. This challenge affects people around the world and is highlighted in Aotearoa by the damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, one of the worst storms to hit the country in living history. As a society, we need to decide whether to stand and defend our turangawaewae or accept the power of nature and begin managed retreat.
Our work is guided by a He Awa Whiria approach, gathering targeted landscape information through precision surveys to characterise the whenua around Pūtōrino. Iwi inform tikanga, facilitating access to awa, whenua and mātauranga. Cataloguing oral history, landscape information and historic documentation through a Rangitīkei Mātauranga-a-iwi lens will inform treaty settlement and policies that consider both scientific and indigenous concepts and provide opportunities for scientists and indigenous communities to act as environmental advocates, supporting the collective enactment of kaitiakitanga.
