Working Group Achieve Milestone for Revitalise te Taiao

With the public launch of the Revitalise te Taiao research programme, and with research underway, we would like to acknowledge and thank the working group members who designed and developed Revitalise te Taiao.

Revitalise te Taiao was co-designed and co-developed by 25 individuals from across Māori agribusiness, mātauranga Māori practitioners, scientists, researchers, community leaders, government and industry representatives. The research programme was established under terms that prioritised the inclusion of Māori agribusiness and land management case studies.

The Revitalise te Taiao working group, along with programme leads Dr James Turner, Simon Stokes and Richard Te Hurinui Jones, held their first official gathering in April 2021 at Te Mānuka Tūtahi marae in Whakatāne. A series of hui followed with members collectively tasked with designing and developing the Revitalise te Taiao research programme in 2021 through to 2022.

“Right from the start, the programme has incorporated a number of elements from Te Ao Māori that are underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of partnership, participation and protection.”

— Revitalise te Taiao co-lead Richard Te Hurinui Jones

Participants from Māori business and community members had a diverse range of skills and experience including kaupapa Māori, Māori-centered and Māori-led initiatives, research, and mātauranga Māori with respect to land and freshwater-based sustainable business options.

“Right from the start, the programme has incorporated a number of elements from te ao Māori that are underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of partnership, participation and protection,” says co-lead Richard Te Hurinui Jones.

The research programme is led by and centred on mana whenua, communities and agribusinesses who are working to revitalise te Taiao. A key achievement has been engaging in a process of collaboration with a range of people with diverse views to come up with a framework for choosing pilots.

For more information to see how Revitalise te Taiao will be implemented, Te Tiriti o Waitangi Manawa Ora model provides an insight to the design and development and guiding principles and values of the research programme. The video below is presented by one of the working group members Murray Hemi (Mātanga Mātauranga Māori, Kaipūtaiao nō Te Aitanga o Kupe, nō Rangitane, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa). 

This research programme will continue through to June 2024. Read more about Revitalising te Taiao here.

Photo: Revitalise te Taiao programme leads James Turner, Simon Stokes and Richard Te Hurinui Jones alongside working group members. Photo taken at the first official gathering back in April of 2021 held at Te Manuka Tutahi marae in Whakatane. 

Front row: Ngarangi Walker, Richard Te Hurinui Jones, Dayle Hunia, Heather Collins, Justine Young, Charlotte Wood, Clemence Vannier, Fiona Young, Holly Watene, Melanie Sweet.

Back row: Murray Hemi, Piripi Perry Smith, Dr Nick Roskruge, Amanda Bell, Dr James Turner, Lucy Burkitt, Stephanie Howard, Clare Bradley, Simon Stokes, Katrina Macintosh.

Absent: Renee Kahukura Iosefa, Carla Muller, Julia Talbot-Jones, Kati Doehring, Alan McDermott.

Next Generation Group: Chevon Horsford, Kiriana Keeys, Katrina Macintosh, Charlotte Wood.