Systems mapping marine stressors in Hawke's Bay

This summary outlines the process of developing a system map of marine stressors – freshwater sedimentation and loss of benthic (seabed) structure – in Hawke's Bay, the resulting map and knowledge stocktake, and how they can be used. 

The full report is available here.

The map is available here.

What is system mapping?

System mapping is a visual tool that builds a picture of interconnected factors contributing to, and impacted by, a certain issue(s) of interest. It specifically focuses on the circular nature of these relationships and how they ‘feedback’ on themselves and each other. Once this is articulated it can be used to explore how any action taken will impact other parts of the system over time.

Pros & Cons

Some benefits include: it is intended as a pragmatic tool; enabling a wide range of people to contribute, within a reasonably short period of time; synthesising a wide range of knowledge about the causes, and effect of, an issue; which helps to build understanding of an issue; and leaving a group with a map to support ongoing discussions over coming years, in conjunction with other tools.

Some shortcomings include: a focus on synthesis necessarily means not all detail is represented; it is not geographically specific (yet can be applied to specific geographic contexts); it is focused on a specific issue(s); and does not claim to represent all worldviews perfectly (for example, either Te Aō Māori or Te Aō Pākeha).