title: The politics and public policies I hope for

authors: Weijers, Dan M.

abstract: The Trump administration in the United States demonstrates the power that politics can have over public policy. The recent leadership struggles in Australian political parties, the personality-based nature of most popular political discourse, and the childish point-scoring between political parties within our parliament demonstrate some of the disappointing aspects of politics. The current political situation is depressing and potentially dangerous. Surely we can do better!? In the talk I set out a naïve ideal proposal for a richly democratic wellbeing-centred political-policy process. I do not dare to dream that it would ever be implemented. Nevertheless, thinking about a candidate “ideal” system may provide some motivation and direction for improving the current system.

text: The politics and public policies I hope for The Trump administration in the United States demonstrates the power that politics can have over public policy. The recent leadership struggles in Australian political parties, the personality-based nature of most popular political discourse, and the childish point-scoring between political parties within our parliament demonstrate some of the disappointing aspects of politics. The current political situation is depressing and potentially dangerous. Surely we can do better!? In the talk I set out a naïve ideal proposal for a richly democratic wellbeing-centred political-policy process. I do not dare to dream that it would ever be implemented. Nevertheless, thinking about a candidate “ideal” system may provide some motivation and direction for improving the current system.

year: 2018

title: Tidal hydrology in Pegasus Bay

authors: Blake, G.J.

subjects: Pegasus Bay

abstract: Changes in the geomorphology of the coastal plain river mouths of Pegasus Bay over the last 100 years are considered. Comment is also made on estuarine sediment and flow, the difficulty of measuring these two quantities and the need to treat the estuarine channel of a river as an important part of the catchment.

text: Tidal hydrology in Pegasus Bay Changes in the geomorphology of the coastal plain river mouths of Pegasus Bay over the last 100 years are considered. Comment is also made on estuarine sediment and flow, the difficulty of measuring these two quantities and the need to treat the estuarine channel of a river as an important part of the catchment.

year: 1967

title: The role of coastal marae in natural hazard response and climate change adaptation

authors: Bailey-Winiata, Akuhata

abstract: Marae are much more than infrastructure. They are spiritual places and community hubs. Marae are often positioned in places that are known to be safe based on mātauranga a whānau/hapū/iwi (often more generally referred to as mātauranga Māori - Māori knowledge), and often near waterbodies including rivers/streams, estuaries, and the ocean. Although there are many advantages to living near waterbodies, such features are prone to natural hazards such as flooding and erosion. The impact of these hazards is being exacerbated by climate change and sea level rise.

Hapū and iwi in the past adapted to the impact of natural hazards, and continue to do so, and are now adapting to climate change through a carefully considered process informed by mātauranga Māori developed through generations of observations. Coastal adaptation is generally categorised into three broad types: 1) Protect, 2) Accommodate and 3) Retreat, and many coastal marae are already adapting across all these responses.

Heading into the future, marae are likely to play an increasingly important role for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are examples of mātauranga in action and will continue to protect and shelter people from hazards and following disasters.

text: The role of coastal marae in natural hazard response and climate change adaptation Marae are much more than infrastructure. They are spiritual places and community hubs. Marae are often positioned in places that are known to be safe based on mātauranga a whānau/hapū/iwi (often more generally referred to as mātauranga Māori - Māori knowledge), and often near waterbodies including rivers/streams, estuaries, and the ocean. Although there are many advantages to living near waterbodies, such features are prone to natural hazards such as flooding and erosion. The impact of these hazards is being exacerbated by climate change and sea level rise.

Hapū and iwi in the past adapted to the impact of natural hazards, and continue to do so, and are now adapting to climate change through a carefully considered process informed by mātauranga Māori developed through generations of observations. Coastal adaptation is generally categorised into three broad types: 1) Protect, 2) Accommodate and 3) Retreat, and many coastal marae are already adapting across all these responses.

Heading into the future, marae are likely to play an increasingly important role for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are examples of mātauranga in action and will continue to protect and shelter people from hazards and following disasters.

year: 2022-11