kaitiakitanga

Kaitiaki can be people or groups that practice their responsibility to care for their environment. The objective of kaitiakitanga is to pratice our obligation to protect the mauri of land and water and to form a reciprocal relationship with our environment.

Today, science practioners are starting to recognise the value of mātauranga, particularly in the natural world and in the realm of ecology. Incorporations between western science and mātauranga are evolving, generating new and exciting opportunities in science that are not possible when only acknowledging one knowledge system.

In communities across New Zealand, collaboration with hapū and iwi is becoming pivotal in environmental activities and providing reciprocal learning in both mātauranga and western science methodologies.