People with an interest in how climate change could impact sites of significance to mana whenua iwi Ngāti Tamaoho are being invited to join a tour this weekend.
The haerenga – journey, is being funded as part of Papakura Local Board’s disaster resilience and climate adaptation work and will visit Pukekōiwiriki at Red Hill, Otaawhati Park in Papakura and the Drury South wetlands at Maketu Road.
Board chair Brent Catchpole says all three sites have cultural and historical significance to Ngāti Tamaoho, and are sites where iwi ancestors tried to respond to human impacts on the land, changing weather patterns, and climate.
“This will be an excellent chance to join Ngāti Tamaoho kaitiaki taiao matua Edith Tuhimata as these impacts are examined and traditional solutions to future challenges are explored.”
The programme begins on Saturday at 9am the Blue Light Youth Centre at 159 Dominion Road in Red Hill, before visiting the sites and returning for kai at 12.30pm.
Participants should register at climatereadypapakura@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
A recent Landcare Research report showed Māori would be affected by climate change in future, and were already feeling its impacts.
Catchpole says the news regularly features flooding in areas that are traditionally home to Māori, the ravages of forestry slash, development and erosion.
“The Landcare paper looked at the effects of climate change as it relates to tikanga Māori and called for cultural indicators and values to be part of our thinking as we respond.
“You need only look around to see what climate change is doing in our harbours, estuaries and open ocean.
“We all have an obligation to protect natural resources, just as we are all guardians of this whenua, and I’d urge anyone with an interest to register and take part. Understanding various perspectives has to be a good thing.”
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