Developing a culturally-based environmental monitoring and assessment tool for New Zealand indigenous forests

Abstract

Maori have kaitiaki responsibilities to sustainably manage natural resources including indigenous forests. They are often asked about their cultural values in relation to indigenous forests. The tools that are currently available are in the voice of western science so the indigenous voice often goes unheard. The aim of this research is to develop a culturally-based monitoring tool which is based in te ao Maori but is also coherent to science and the wider community.