News: 30 October 07
Otago incubates capability hub in customary fishing research

A capability hub for customary fishing research is being built at the University of Otago with the help of Foundation? for Research, Science and Technology support for emerging researchers.

The Foundation has awarded Te Tipu Pūtaiao Fellowships? to 16 emerging researchers around the country, including four at the University of Otago who are involved in research related to ensuring sustainable customary fishing in community-led coastal and river reserves (‘mātaitai’ and ‘taiāpure’). The fellowships are offered to Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral students studying a science, technology or engineering discipline.

The successful recipients working in customary fishing research at Otago are:

• Ani Kainamu, (Masters)
  The future sustainability of cockle populations
  The research will assess the impact of commercial harvesting of cockles (also known as clams and tuangi) in Otago and propose new management strategies.

   

• Derek Richards, (Masters)
  Environment influences on rocky reef habitat, kelp forest productivity and paua/kina populations
  Information will be gathered on the link between algal productivity and growth with the size and abundance of pāua and kina and used to develop a community based management tool for the resource.

   

• Dr Christopher Hepburn, (Postdoc?)
  Using local ecological information and mātauranga in management strategies for mātaitai and taiāpure
  The research will result in improved monitoring tools to allow local managers to identify areas that can sustain high levels of cultural and recreational fishing and those that can’t.

   

• Dr Phillipa Te Paea Pehi, (Postdoc)
  Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata. Improved co-management of customary fishery reserves
  Dr Pehi’s research will investigate the contribution that successful establishment of customary fishing reserves makes to cultural and environmental resilience.

   

Foundation Strategy Manager John Kape says it is exciting to see Otago University fostering emerging researchers and creating in-depth knowledge that will help protect and restore fish species that are important to all New Zealanders.

The students are led by Henrik Moller, Associate Professor at the University’s Centre for Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Kā Rakahau o te Ao Tūroa), whose work in customary fishing research is also supported by funding from the Foundation.

He and his team are part of a collaborative research venture hosted at Otago called Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai. It involves a national coalition of Māori environmental guardians, fishers, coastal and river managers and researchers working towards sustainable environmental management of customary fishing areas.

Dr Moller says the work being done by recipients of the Te Tipu Pūtaiao Fellowships will help achieve the coalition’s goals of ensuring that indigenous knowledge and science feeds into modern customary fisheries practices.

“We are seeking ways that science and Mātauranga Māori (local traditional ecological knowledge) can work together to enhance coastal and river fisheries. We need to make sure there is strong, healthy dialogue between these two knowledge systems so that partnership emerges to capture the best of both worlds. That way we can maximise the environmental and cultural benefits for all New Zealand,” he says.

“We also want to make science more easily accessible to flax roots communities. Our researchers are working very closely with local Māori communities who will be active participants in the research as well as directors of it. The knowledge and experience of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation managers will be included in the search for solutions.”

Despite having a relatively low Māori population in its natural catchment area, Dr Moller says Otago University is now a leader in terms of its support for Māori students in all stages of learning and research.

“I am proud of the way our University has steadily improved its systems to better support Māori and to conduct research in a culturally safe way,” he says.

Three other students involved in Māori development research at Otago University have also been awarded Te Tipu Pūtaiao Fellowships. They are: Dr Gail Tipa, who is investigating current use of traditional Māori food gathering sites; Dr Bronwyn Lowe who is investigating the origins and properties of a unique collection of harakeke, or flax, growing in the Dunedin Botanic Garden; and Tia Neha who is awaiting ethics approval for research into understanding how Māori mother-child narratives and delayed gratification build literacy and numeracy skills.

Te Tipu Pūtaiao Fellowships are awarded for research that contributes to four areas – economic growth, environmental sustainability, improving social well being and exploring the interface been indigenous knowledge and science.

Māori development research is an important focus for the Foundation with more than $3 million invested each year on behalf of the New Zealand government towards developing a research pathway of skills and knowledge in areas that address distinct Māori issues and that will benefit New Zealand.