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

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.