The Future of Rongoā Māori: Well-being and Sustainability
A project funded by the Ministry of Health that examined the contribution of rongoā Māori to indigenous wellbeing and identified issues for the ongoing sustainability of traditional Māori healing in New Zealand. Traditional healers and stakeholders recognised the challenge moving forward as a fundamental one with dual accountabilities: to ensure that provision of rongoā Māori to meet demand maintains the integrity of traditional practice, while striving for health service credibility.
Project outputs:
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Baker, V., Hepi, M., Hudson, M., Mika, C., & Tiakiwai, S.J. (2009). The future of rongoā Māori: wellbeing and sustainability. A report for Te Kete Hauora, Ministry of Health. Client Report FW06113. Christchurch: Institute of Environmental Science and Research. 
Rongoa Māori Full Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Baker, V., Hepi, M., Hudson, M., Mika, C., & Tiakiwai, S.J. (2009). The future of rongoā Māori: wellbeing and sustainability. A summary. Christchurch: Institute of Environmental Science and Research. Rongoa Māori Summary Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
Te Puni Kōkiri Whānau Development Action: Research Programme Project
Identified as a core unit of Māori society, ‘whānau’ is recognised by many as a potentially ideal vehicle to promote Māori development. Whānau development therefore, has become a major focus for government policy in a broad range of areas. In accordance with this, Te Puni Kōkiri established a Whānau Development Action: Research Programme, whereby research groups engaged with Māori providers involved in planning whānau development interventions. ESR obtained a contract to work alongside Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whānui i te Upoko o te Ika a Māui in two interventions, Whānau Development and Learning Communities. For further information about this work, please contact Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll, ESR, Telephone: +64 3 351 6019.
Research report
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Baker, V., & Midgley, G. (2005). Whānau and whānau development in Te Awakairangi: Te Rūnanganui o Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Inc. whānau development and learning communities initiatives. Client Report FW0589. Christchurch: Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
Learning from the Stories of Ngā Puna Wai o Hokianga
A unique blend of kaupapa Māori research and ESR’s systems research helped provide new models for community involvement in water management. ESR, the Whirinaki Water Board, and Hauora Hokianga Enterprise Trust studied the pilot initiative “Ngā Puna Wai o Hokianga” (Safe Drinking Water in Hokianga), where funding was provided to improve drinking water on marae and local communities.
For further information about this work, please contact Maria Hepi, ESR, Telephone: +64 3 351 6019.
Project outputs
· Anderson, M., Marino, M., Foote, J., Rogers, M., Taimona, H., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Hepi, M., North, N., Taylor, M. (2005). Learning from the Stories of Ngā Puna Wai o Hokianga – a ‘hands off’ approach to collaboration. Good Practice in Action Seminar Series, Office for the Community & Voluntary Sector, Ministry for Social Development.
· Hepi, M., Foote, J., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., Marino, M. "Ko wai hoki koe?!, or 'who are you?!': issues of trust in cross-cultural collaborative research. (2007). Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online 2: 37-53.
· Jellie, M., Foote, J., North, N., Rogers, M., Taimona, H., and Marino, M. (2003). Small water systems: a case study of improving drinking water quality in the Hokianga. New Zealand Water and Wastes Association Journal, Issue 132, pp. 32 – 36.
· Jellie, M., Foote, J., Gregor, J., and Stuart, K., (2003). Learning from the stories of Ngā Puna Wai o Hokianga (Guest Editorial). PHA News, Vol. VI, No. 4, August, pp. 1 – 2.
· Jellie, M., Foote, J. and Gregor, J.,(2003). Ngā Puna Wai o Hokianga pilot project. Water and Health: the discussion forum for HPOs, Issue 16, p 1
Te Riu o Hokianga: Environmental Health through Māori Community Development
Failing septic tanks are a public health problem for Māori in isolated rural communities. Poorly treated discharge can contaminate drinking water and mātaitai with pathogens including Hepatitis A, cryptosporidium, Giardia and Campylobacter. Te Riu o Hokianga is a recently completed kaupapa Māori/participatory action research project involving ESR, Hauora Hokianga, Tipa and Associates, and the University of Auckland working in partnership with Hokianga hapū and iwi to improve marae sewage treatment and disposal systems. In particular, this research examined the regulatory, institutional, cultural and community interactions that facilitate or constrain a Māori community development approach to environmental health issues.
For further information about this work, please contact Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll, ESR, Telephone: +64 3 351 6019.
Project outputs
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Foote, J., Hepi, M., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., North, N., & Tipa, G. (2009). Te Riu o Hokianga: Environmental Health through Māori Community Development. Research Report. Christchurch: Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Foote, J., Hepi, M., Leonard, M., Rogers-Koroheke, M., & Taimona, H. (2008). Where the rubber hits the road less travelled: bridging technical and cultural understandings of marae on-site wastewater treatment and disposal. New Zealand Water and Waste Association Conference, September 24-26, Christchurch, New Zealand.
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Hudson, M., Foote, J., Hepi, M., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., Tipa, G., North, N., Lea, R., Tipene-Matua, B., & Symes, J. (2007). Scientific Collaborative Research with Maori Communities: Kaupapa or Kupapa Maori? AlterNative: International Journal of Indigenous Scholarship Vol 3(2): 60-81.
· Midgley, G., Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Foote, J., Hepi, M., Taimona, H., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Baker, J., Gregor, J., Gregory, W., Lange, M., Veth, J., Winstanley, A., & Wood, D. (2007). Practitioner identity in systemic intervention: reflections on the promotion of environmental health through Māori community development. Systems Research and Behavioural Science, 24, 233-247.
· Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Foote, J., Hepi, M., North, N., Rogers-Koroheke, M., Taimona, H., & Tipa, G. (2007). Te Riu o Hokianga: environmental health through Māori community development. Australian National Indigenous Health Conference, May 22 -24, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Mātaitai: safeguarding environmental health and market access for NZ foods
Iwi from Waitangi are collecting mātaitai from local pipi beds in a nationwide study that aims to give communities fast new ways of finding when shellfish are unsafe to eat. ESR’s Dr Gail Greening is leading the study investigating prevalent norovirus in 14 shellfish sites throughout the country. Ngāpuhi environmental spokeperson Emma Gibbs says the project blends environmental values with tikanga Māori in research that would provide health benefits nationwide. “We were keen on being involved with scientific research that will help us protect our kaimoana and our tamariki”.
For further information about this work, please contact Dr Gail Greening, ESR, Telephone: +64 4 914 0700.
· Greening GE. Viruses and Mataitai at Waitangi. Objective 2. Virus prevalence in shellfish. FRST Programme C03X0301 Report FW0630, May 2006.
State of the Takiwā
ESR has partnered with Ngāi Tahu to develop a culturally based environmental monitoring and reporting database system. This will enable Ngāi Tahu to assess and report on the cultural health of the natural resources and environment in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā.
For further information about this work, please contact Barry Mattingley, ESR, Telephone: +64 3 351 6019; Fax: +64 3 351 0010.