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Complementing freshwater ecosystem services assessments with Mātauranga Māori knowledge in the Lower Waikato region

TR 2019/17
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Report: TR 2019/17

Author: Aareka Hopkins and Baylee Kelepamu (Am2 & Associates), Femi Olubode-Awosola (Waikato Regional Council)

About this report

Objective 3.8 of the Waikato Regional Policy Statement relates to ecosystem services, benefits people obtain from nature, ecosystems. Under this objective, the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) seeks to ‘recognise, maintain and enhance ecosystem services’ to enable their ongoing contribution to regional wellbeing. This project aims to provide a better understanding of the services being provided by freshwater ecosystems (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and ground water bores) in the region. The overarching objectives of this project are to i. identify spatial distribution and characteristics of freshwater ecosystems in terms of mapping and assessing their services and their corresponding values, and ii. examine trends in freshwater ecosystem services in terms of comparing and contrasting the demand and supply of these services in the region.

In this study, we are complementing, with this project, the internationally recognized framework of ecosystem services (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005) with a Mātauranga Māori perspective by surveying manawhenua and mainstream community members on the value of cultural ecosystem services, specifically freshwater ecosystems services in their areas.

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Complementing freshwater ecosystem services assessments with Mātauranga Māori knowledge in the Lower Waikato region [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Contents
Executive summary
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Ecosystem services concept and framework
3.0 Methodology
4.0 Results and discussion
4.1 Opuatia Repo
4.1.1 Opuatia Repo and Ecosystem Services
4.1.2 The Respondents' Knowledge of Opuatia Repo
4.1.3 What Tuupuna and whānau used Opuatia Repo for
4.1.4 Species of importance in Opuatia Repo
4.1.5 Values tuupuna and whānau place on Opuatia Repo
4.1.6 The Respondents' Aspirations for Opuatia Repo
4.2 Te Roto o Waikare
4.2.1 Lake Waikare and Ecosystem Services
4.2.2 The Respondents' knowledge of Lake Waikare
4.2.3 What tuupuna and whānau used Lake Waikare for
4.2.4 Species of importance in Lake Waikare
4.2.5 Values Tuupuna and whānau place on Lake Waikare
4.2.6 The Respondents' Aspirations for Lake Waikare
4.3 Whangamarino Repo
4.3.1 Whangamarino Repo and Ecosystem Services
4.3.2 The Respondents' knowledge of Whangamarino Repo
4.3.3 What tuupuna and whānau used Whangamarino Repo for
4.3.4 Species of importance in Whangamarino Repo
4.3.5 Values tuupuna and whenua place on Whangamarino Repo
4.3.6 The Respondents' Aspirations for Whangamarino Repo
4.4 Te Tuupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge
4.4.1 Te Tuupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge and Ecosystem Services
4.4.2 The Respondents' knowledge Te Tupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge
4.4.3 What Tuupuna and Whānau used Te Tupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge for
4.4.4 Species of importance in Te Tupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge
4.4.5 Values tuupuna and whenua place of Te Tupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge
4.4.6 The Respondents' Aspirations for Te Tupuna Awa at Rangiriri Bridge
5.0 Summary and conclusion
6.0 References
7.0 Appendix
7.1 Appendix I: Feedback and Content Approval from Survey Respondents
7.2 Appendix II: Assessed Ecosystem Services for Selected Waterbodies in Lower Waikato
7.3 Appendix III: Questionnaire