Huringa o te taiao: Tūhoe environmental and ecological changes through the lens of the Maramataka

The relationship between a localised natural environment and the people that come from that land is fundamental for many Indigenous peoples across the globe. This is particularly evident for the people of Tūhoe. Tūhoe are an iwi (tribe) from the central North Island of New Zealand. Tūhoe have a unique cultural concept known as matemateāone, which is a cultural belief that people are intrinsically linked to the taiao (natural environment). This intrinsic connection that Tūhoe share with the taiao, specifically Te Urewera (the ancestral home of the Tūhoe people), derives from the notion that Tūhoe people originate from the love shared between Te Maunga (the Mountain) and Hinepūkohurangi (the Mist Maiden). These are the primordial ancestors of the Tūhoe people. Because Tūhoe people descend from Te Maunga and Hinepūkohurangi, who are physical embodiments of the taiao, Tūhoe are connected to the taiao through whakapapa. The connection shared between Tūhoe and the taiao has allowed for the development of extensive localised knowledge of the taiao, things that encapsulate the weather patterns, and seasonal indicators. This led to Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge) around activities such as waka kererū (Pigeon Trough), hī tuna (fishing for eel), and mahi tohu (environmental indicators).

The environmental, ecological, and Mātauranga Māori based activities for many iwi are captured in a systematic framework called maramataka (calendar system). Each iwi has their own interpretations of maramataka and means for engaging with their localised environment. For this research, a specific Tūhoe lens, focussing on how Tūhoe engages with their environment, has been used. This thesis argues that maramataka is another domain of information to look at environmental issues of climate change and requires an understanding of various disciplines ranging from ecology, biology, and astronomy to kaupapa Māori theory and social sciences.

This thesis involved conducting five interviews during the spring of 2019 using Mātauranga-ā-iwi (tribal knowledge) research methodology. A central theme that emerged when conducting this research was that tohu (ecological, environmental, and seasonal indicators) were used to predict and create a record of local weather and climate conditions and thereby establish intergenerational knowledge on climate and changes that have occurred over time. This long-term insight into ecological and environmental conditions within Te Urewera could give powerful insight into long-term environmental and climate variability, which can inform climate change discussion and policy.