Freshwater science–policy interactions in Aotearoa-New Zealand: lessons from the past and recommendations for the future

Larned, Scott T.; Howard‐Williams, Clive; Taylor, Ken; Scarsbrook, Mike R.

doi:10.1080/13241583.2022.2065723

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 101 publications

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“…Perhaps unsurprisingly, other environmental sectors in NZ reflect similar findings. For instance, the need for greater inclusivity, strategic leadership and clearer policy directives to better align policy priorities with evidence syntheses in NZ's freshwater sector have been identified as imperatives for improving the science-policy dialogues that underpin freshwater policy development [89]. Further exacerbating these challenges is in an overall misalignment between NZ's government strategic priorities on environmental issues and the allocation of research funds, which creates a major barrier at the NZ SPI across a range of environmental issues including those that relate to Antarctica [90][91][92][93].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Taming a ‘fuzzy beast’? Stakeholder perspectives on Antarctic science-policy knowledge exchange practices in New Zealand

Gardiner,

Gilbert,

Liggett

2023

PLoS ONE

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Antarctic environmental change is accelerating with significant regional and global consequences making it critically important for Antarctic research knowledge to inform relevant policymaking forums. A key challenge is maximising the utility of evidence in decision-making, to which scholars have responded by shifting away from linear science-policy arrangements towards co-production alternatives. As an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party (ATCP), New Zealand (NZ) is responsible for facilitating knowledge exchange (KE) among Antarctic science and policy actors at national and international levels. However, at present, we have few metrics for assessing the success of science-policy dialogues. Furthermore, studies on the Antarctic science-policy interface have so far primarily focused on the international perspective. This paper is the first to examine domestic stakeholder perspectives regarding Antarctic KE using NZ as a case study. We report on the findings of two workshops involving over 60 NZ Antarctic stakeholders in 2021 that aimed to explore the various elements of NZ’s Antarctic science-policy interface and identify barriers or drivers for success, including future opportunities. Our results indicate that there is a desire to shift away from the current linear approach towards a more collaborative model. To achieve this, stakeholders share an understanding that KE practices need to become more equitable, inclusive and diverse, and that the policy community needs to play a more proactive and leading role. Described as a ‘fuzzy beast’, the NZ Antarctic science-policy interface is complex. This study contributes to our understanding of Antarctic KE practices by offering new guidance on several key elements that should be considered in any attempts to understand or improve future KE practices in NZ or within the domestic settings of other ATCPs interested in fostering science-policy success.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Taming a ‘fuzzy beast’? Stakeholder perspectives on Antarctic science-policy knowledge exchange practices in New Zealand

Gardiner,

Gilbert,

Liggett

2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Freshwater ecosystems in New Zealand have suffered a long period of degradation, and freshwater policies attempting to arrest this decline have often been limited by long lag times and poor science-policy communication (Larned et al, 2022). Wetlands have been reduced to 10% of their original extent because of agricultural and urban development (Ausseil et al, 2011;Stats NZ, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of on-site sketching and ArcGIS mapping in producing riparian and wetland restoration plans

Hodgson,

Marapara

2023

SITJAR

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This research explores how to produce effective riparian and wetland restoration plans. It considers design and visual communication in seeking to produce plans that are environmentally effective and easy to understand. Through an in depth understanding of the literature and current best practice, a potential design strategy was unveiled. This led to the discovery of how design initiatives should move beyond uniform riparian buffer zones to also consider critical source areas, concentrated flow paths and convergence zones. These ideas were explored through the production of riparian and wetland restoration plans for farmers at three different sites in Southland. Two distinct methodologies were used to produce riparian and wetland restoration plans: on-site sketching in collaboration with farmers to produce plans in Adobe Illustrator, and the use of ESRI ArcGIS employing a range of geographic factors that can help target key areas for riparian and wetland restoration. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach were established during the production of these plans. These were further verified in the form of ground truthing and interviews with the farmers. Each method had positives and negatives, from software cost and data resolution to the level of detail in each plan. It is recommended that a more integrated approach using the strengths of each method to inform each other is the optimum way forward to producing more effective riparian and wetland restoration plans.

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“…While the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and Maatauranga Maaori has been an essential part of giving effect to Maaori environmental values in freshwater management and monitoring (Broughton et al, 2015), we must also consider the power dynamics and divergences. Including Maatauranga Maaori or adopting a pluralistic approach does not necessarily put Maatauranga Maaori or Maaori environmental values on an equal standing with Western science or Eurocentric environmental values (Russell, 2020;Larned et al, 2022). When searching for overlapping or complementary values, it tends to be the values prevalent in our settler-colonial structures that take precedence (DePuy et al, 2022).…”

Section: Challenging Eurocentric Environmental Values In Freshwater M...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A large part of Chapter 1 discussed the power imbalances which hinder iwi and hapuu ability to fully give effect to their environmental values in decision-making (Russell, 2020, & Larned et al, 2022Pearson-Shallard et al, 2018). Giving effect to values, such as Mana Motuhake, would likely play a significant role in addressing this issue and reinstating these environmental values.…”

Section: Koorero Tuupuna Waahi Tapumentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a Monitoring Toolkit to Give Effect to Ngaa Rauru Freshwater Values

Druskovich

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<p><strong>Freshwater management systems in Aotearoa New Zealand have failed on at least two fronts: (i) to maintain the health of the county’s waterways and (ii) to recognise the mana motuhake and rangatiratanga of Maaori hapuu and iwi. For Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, the southernmost Taranaki iwi, both failings are evident in their recent experience. Historically popular swimming spots in their network of freshwater streams are no longer safe to make physical contact with, and freshwater mahinga kai resources dwindle in the degraded systems. Several well-documented examples exist of how the freshwater management and decision-making system is unable to recognise Ngaa Rauru voices and values, let alone give effect to them. In response to recent policy shift across Aotearoa, Te Kaahui o Rauru, the post-settlement governance entity for Ngaa Rauru, have secured funding to implement Te Wai Koiora, a programme that seeks to build the capability and capacity of uri (tribal members), hapuu (sub-tribal groups) and iwi (the tribe) to take a leading role in freshwater management across their rohe (territory). A key part of the programme is the development of a freshwater monitoring toolkit of appropriate monitoring tools that can give effect to the full complex of Ngaa Rauru freshwater values. This thesis forms an initial step in that development process. Here, I use an established environmental values framework to structure a textual analysis of Ngaa Rauru values articulations in hapuu and iwi Cultural Impact Assessments and policy instruments against established kaupapa Maaori freshwater assessment tools. By aligning the analysis across the two document sets, I provide an exploration of a more quantitative approach to assess exactly which tools (or components of tools) give effect to different freshwater values. My analysis shows that in many ways Ngaa Rauru freshwater values are divergent from Eurocentric freshwater values embedded in established environmental values frameworks. For example, concepts like Whakapapa bring a relational and intergenerational element to freshwater values that are not evident in established frameworks. Textual analysis of the kaupapa Maaori freshwater assessment tools shows that existing tools can indeed give effect to many Ngaa Rauru freshwater values, but with clear room for further and more targeted development. Even though all values may not result in a quantitative metric at the end of the assessment process, the collaborative and community-based approach that the assessment tools take ensures that values like Tikanga (cultural protocol) and Whanaungatanga (familial relationships) are given effect to in the process. For those Ngaa Rauru freshwater values that are more difficult to give effect to with existing monitoring tools, I point to the potential of reflexive kaupapa Maaori assessment tools developed by Maaori scholars in education for guidance on making advancements on kaupapa Maaori freshwater monitoring tools.</strong></p>

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Freshwater science–policy interactions in Aotearoa-New Zealand: lessons from the past and recommendations for the future

Cited by 7 publications

References 101 publications

Taming a ‘fuzzy beast’? Stakeholder perspectives on Antarctic science-policy knowledge exchange practices in New Zealand

Taming a ‘fuzzy beast’? Stakeholder perspectives on Antarctic science-policy knowledge exchange practices in New Zealand

Effectiveness of on-site sketching and ArcGIS mapping in producing riparian and wetland restoration plans

Building a Monitoring Toolkit to Give Effect to Ngaa Rauru Freshwater Values

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