Say you are a decision-maker deciding between two projects – should I fund this public works project for x amount that will take y time for a future benefit of z or do I fund this other project for amount a that will take b time to yield c benefit? For big decisions like these, […]
Welcoming new team member Keith Lyons
Keith Lyons in southwest China.
September 2023 newsletter
Tipu o te Kauri ready to monitor spring bud development
Between 2013 and 2019, Scion led a six-year collaborative research programme to address the threat of Phytophthora species to New Zealand’s natural and agricultural forest estates. As part of the programme, called Healthy Trees, Healthy Future, several mana whenua groups sent their kauri seeds to Scion to be tested for resilience against Phytophthora agathidicida (PA), […]
Science Festival panel talks – audio recordings now available
Since 1998, the New Zealand International Science Festival has inspired curiosity and genius in the minds of attendees. The latest was no exception. Staged in Ōtepoti Dunedin, the festival programme offered 90+ stirring events. With accessibility in mind, 2023’s programme was available digitality through the festival hub. And now, with July’s festival wrapped, comes the […]
E-learning modules illuminate the key principles of biodiversity
How do you plan to have better biodiversity on your farm, in a way that works with your farm? This pātai, says Esther Richardson, set the stage for BioHeritage-funded Farming with Native Biodiversity’s pilot. “The challenge we were working with,” says Esther, project lead for the pilot, “is that not everyone has an understanding of […]
Ngā Pī Ka Rere grant funds a conference-going dream
Fun fact: Josie Mainwaring has a Bachelor of Architecture from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. “I liked the idea of solving environmental problems with built solutions,” says Josie. “But when I got into practice, I found that you didn’t get to do much of that.” After a five-year mini-career in architecture, Josie […]
Impressions of Ihirangaranga / Resonances of the Forest
There are two stairways at the Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery that wind up to the galleries that house the Ihirangaranga / Resonances of the Forest: Toi Taiao Whakatairanga exhibition. The front stairway is white and yellow. If you look down while you are climbing, you appear to be gazing into the eye of the […]
Mana whenua represent at the Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference
The Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference was the first of its kind – a multi-day conference dedicated entirely to Austropuccinia psidii (the pathogen that causes myrtle rust) and the many plants this disease impacts. The conference was well attended by delegates from Australia and New Zealand, as well as delegates from further afield, including the US […]
Ngā Pī Ka Rere further empowers early careers
Ngā Pī Ka Rere – Early Careers Network was established in 2019. From its inception, the focus has been on advocating for and supporting early career aspirations within the Challenge. Ngā Pī Ka Rere is currently being co-led by Symon Palmer (Ngāi Te Rangi; Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington), Aisling Rayne (Cawthron […]
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori profile: Tame Malcolm
Tame Malcolm began life with the Challenge back in 2017 and is currently a member of the Strategic Leadership Group . . .
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori profile: Melanie Mark-Shadbolt
Melanie is one of the two Challenge directors and a tireless champion for Māori in science and environmental spaces . . .
August 2023 newsletter
Resonant guidance for environmental policy and decision makers who “want to do their best”
Adaptive Governance and Policy, the investment that “tackles the ways in which governance and policy need to change to better protect te taiao”, are celebrating the recent release of two documents that demonstrate the importance and value of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and care-informed relationships. One of the documents is titled Caring For Our […]
Research document champions “authentic Te Tiriti o Waitangi relationships” for local government
Steps Towards Authentic Te Tiriti o Waitangi Relationships at a Local Government Level is a summary of a research report commissioned by The Review into the Future for Local Government and draws on the expertise of a remarkable set of researchers. The Review into the Future for Local Government describes itself as providing “an opportunity […]
New forest health tool helps mana whenua capture culturally important data
Kiri Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Whakatohea), a University of Waikato PhD student and kairangahau – Māori scientist for Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, has become a specialist in the development of cultural indicators. In 2017, she was part of a team who developed a set of cultural indicators to help mana whenua conduct freshwater monitoring […]