Sustainability Award highlights importance of Māori-led research

Sustainable Seas researchers Kelly Ratana (NIWA) and Caine Taiapa (Manaaki Te Awanui) were awarded the New Zealand Coastal Society’s Sustainability Award in November 2018.

The Award – a pounamu wahaika – was sponsored annually by Raglan-based eCoast Marine Consulting and Research and was presented at the Society’s Annual Conference in Gisborne.

At the Conference, Kelly spoke about Mauri Moana, Mauri Tangata, Mauri Ora, a Sustainable Seas project that is assessing the diverse social values New Zealander’s that hold for the marine environment. This project involves a team of researchers from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, NIWA, Victoria University and Manaaki To Awanui. Caine Taiapa presented a government-funded project Oranga Taiao, Oranga Tangata, which is engaging discussion about how to support hapū kaitiaki in their work as co-managers of Tauranga Moana (the seas of Tauranga).