Towards holistic, justice‐oriented, and coordinated freshwater fish science and governance in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand faces accelerating loss of freshwater fish biodiversity and growing pressures on culturally significant fish-eries. Technical solutions alone have failed because the challenge is not only ecological, but also institutional, cultural, and rela-tional. Change is needed across policy, research, and practice to drive better outcomes for freshwater fish, beginning with howscience is conceived and undertaken. Drawing on the Fish Futures five-year transdisciplinary research programme, we outlinehow a transformative research approach—focused on strengthening relationships between people and freshwater fish—respondsto fragmented and justice-deficient freshwater fish governance. We highlight where change is needed to better embed justice,holism, and coordination in freshwater fish science and governance. Through hui and knowledge co-production processesgrounded in Te Ao M¯aori, we articulate six values that guide how research is designed and enacted. Sustaining freshwater fishand fisheries will require more than just more science or better science—it demands transforming the way knowledge is produced,shared, and applied to enable governance that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and reflects the deep inter-connections between ecological and cultural wellbeing