title: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

text: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

year: 2015-02-12

title: Ngā whakaaro o ngā ākonga: perspectives and experiences of Māori students in outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Washbourn, Phil

subjects: Outdoor education

abstract: This study aims to develop an understanding of the perspectives and experiences of Māori students in a secondary school outdoor education programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. Lynch (2012) indicated that “there is a clear need, and wide scope, for research into: cultural elements of outdoor education programmes; cultural effects on participants; culturally appropriate research approaches and programme effects on, and experiences of, people who identify as Māori” (p.49). Outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand has been heavily influenced by ‘Eurocentric’ values and practices that contrast with those of Te Ao Māori. In line with a number of calls to re-envision the field, the perspectives and experiences of Māori and the incorporation of Te Ao Māori pedagogies are vital to the reconstruction of an integrated and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand expression of Outdoor Education for the 21st century.
This study, guided by culturally responsive research methodology, used focus groups to investigate the opinions, thoughts and expectations of Māori students of outdoor education. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the focus group data, and four major themes were identified: the importance of shared experience and relationships to positive experiences of outdoor education; the distinctive practices of outdoor education make learning enjoyable and engaging; the importance to students of making connections with Te Ao Māori through experience, stories of places and history; and the complexity of engaging Māori in participation in outdoor education, including factors such as affordability, the influence of friends and whānau and prioritising educational pathways. A range of practices and approaches from Te Ao Māori are considered and presented, based on the contribution of the student participants, including pedagogical principles from Te Ao Māori such as wānanga, whanaungatanga and tauira. Suggestions for practice include developing connections within the community and experiencing Te Ao Māori learning contexts such as waka ama, noho marae and mahinga kai.

text: Ngā whakaaro o ngā ākonga: perspectives and experiences of Māori students in outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand This study aims to develop an understanding of the perspectives and experiences of Māori students in a secondary school outdoor education programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. Lynch (2012) indicated that “there is a clear need, and wide scope, for research into: cultural elements of outdoor education programmes; cultural effects on participants; culturally appropriate research approaches and programme effects on, and experiences of, people who identify as Māori” (p.49). Outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand has been heavily influenced by ‘Eurocentric’ values and practices that contrast with those of Te Ao Māori. In line with a number of calls to re-envision the field, the perspectives and experiences of Māori and the incorporation of Te Ao Māori pedagogies are vital to the reconstruction of an integrated and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand expression of Outdoor Education for the 21st century.
This study, guided by culturally responsive research methodology, used focus groups to investigate the opinions, thoughts and expectations of Māori students of outdoor education. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the focus group data, and four major themes were identified: the importance of shared experience and relationships to positive experiences of outdoor education; the distinctive practices of outdoor education make learning enjoyable and engaging; the importance to students of making connections with Te Ao Māori through experience, stories of places and history; and the complexity of engaging Māori in participation in outdoor education, including factors such as affordability, the influence of friends and whānau and prioritising educational pathways. A range of practices and approaches from Te Ao Māori are considered and presented, based on the contribution of the student participants, including pedagogical principles from Te Ao Māori such as wānanga, whanaungatanga and tauira. Suggestions for practice include developing connections within the community and experiencing Te Ao Māori learning contexts such as waka ama, noho marae and mahinga kai.

year: 2018

title: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park 2021 Long-term monitoring: Report on ecological restoration progress

authors: Farnworth, Bridgette

abstract: This report was requested by Tui 2000 Inc. and the Hamilton City Council (HCC) as a means of tracking terrestrial restoration progress at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (WNHP). WNHP is a cutting-edge urban ecological restoration project in which ecosystems representative of the Hamilton Ecological District are being reconstructed from scratch on public land in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Larger-scale projects of this nature are becoming more commonplace around the globe due to growing emphasis on restoring nature in urban areas. While this report quantifies the remarkable restoration success achieved at WNHP through investments by Tui 2000 Inc., HCC and the community since 2004, it also contributes to scientific theory. Restoration ecology is a newly developing scientific field and hence WNHP presents a unique opportunity for ecologists to improve restoration practice and also learn from the results.
Here we share results from data analysed from 25 permanent monitoring plots throughout WNHP, spanning planting years since the beginning of planting in 2004 through to 2017 (14 years of planting). These plots are located across the five main ecosystem types (i.e., planting zones) being restored. This information should be used to inform current management and future planning for WNHP.
In the 2021 monitoring, we measured key variables of forest development, including: canopy openness, native tree basal area, non-native herbaceous groundcover, leaf litter, dead trees, native tree seedling abundance and species richness, and epiphyte colonisation. Linear regression models revealed a statistically significant relationship between all (except dead trees and native tree seedling abundance) of these ecosystem variables and forest age. We note that there are several thresholds between 12 - 16 years since the initial restoration planting: basal area increased and the canopy openness decreased, reducing the light availability at the forest floor, thus reducing the non-native herbaceous groundcover from 100% to ~25% in 12 years (with one plot having 0% cover). With these ecosystem changes, important indicators of functioning forests appeared around the same time, such as leaf litter accrual (up to 95% groundcover) and an increasing number of dead trees (up to 37 dead small trees in one monitoring plot), native seedling recruitment (in abundance and species richness), and fern cover.
The results in the report generally signal positive restoration progress. Now a focus is required on non-native weed and invasive mammalian pest control management, paired with careful enrichment planting, and where needed, infill of mid/late-successional plants. Enrichment planting and weed/pest management will help secure the investment in initial plantings by starting the longer-term next phase of forest development, while also creating a more species-diverse ecosystem, resilient to the manifold pressures of the urban landscape, disease, and climate change.

text: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park 2021 Long-term monitoring: Report on ecological restoration progress This report was requested by Tui 2000 Inc. and the Hamilton City Council (HCC) as a means of tracking terrestrial restoration progress at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (WNHP). WNHP is a cutting-edge urban ecological restoration project in which ecosystems representative of the Hamilton Ecological District are being reconstructed from scratch on public land in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Larger-scale projects of this nature are becoming more commonplace around the globe due to growing emphasis on restoring nature in urban areas. While this report quantifies the remarkable restoration success achieved at WNHP through investments by Tui 2000 Inc., HCC and the community since 2004, it also contributes to scientific theory. Restoration ecology is a newly developing scientific field and hence WNHP presents a unique opportunity for ecologists to improve restoration practice and also learn from the results.
Here we share results from data analysed from 25 permanent monitoring plots throughout WNHP, spanning planting years since the beginning of planting in 2004 through to 2017 (14 years of planting). These plots are located across the five main ecosystem types (i.e., planting zones) being restored. This information should be used to inform current management and future planning for WNHP.
In the 2021 monitoring, we measured key variables of forest development, including: canopy openness, native tree basal area, non-native herbaceous groundcover, leaf litter, dead trees, native tree seedling abundance and species richness, and epiphyte colonisation. Linear regression models revealed a statistically significant relationship between all (except dead trees and native tree seedling abundance) of these ecosystem variables and forest age. We note that there are several thresholds between 12 - 16 years since the initial restoration planting: basal area increased and the canopy openness decreased, reducing the light availability at the forest floor, thus reducing the non-native herbaceous groundcover from 100% to ~25% in 12 years (with one plot having 0% cover). With these ecosystem changes, important indicators of functioning forests appeared around the same time, such as leaf litter accrual (up to 95% groundcover) and an increasing number of dead trees (up to 37 dead small trees in one monitoring plot), native seedling recruitment (in abundance and species richness), and fern cover.
The results in the report generally signal positive restoration progress. Now a focus is required on non-native weed and invasive mammalian pest control management, paired with careful enrichment planting, and where needed, infill of mid/late-successional plants. Enrichment planting and weed/pest management will help secure the investment in initial plantings by starting the longer-term next phase of forest development, while also creating a more species-diverse ecosystem, resilient to the manifold pressures of the urban landscape, disease, and climate change.

year: 2021