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In August 2022, Ruia Aperahama took on the role of Pou Tikanga for Te Kōmata o Te Tonga, the Deep South Challenge. Here he tells us a story, weaving together his background with the work he is supporting the Challenge to do.

Let me share a story with you…

It was a scorching 80’s summer day when our newlywed, fire-red-headed, pākeha sister-in-law took our baby nephew’s soiled disposable nappies out to the back of our house to a makeshift incinerator. She put them to flame. Our usually gentle father saw this and furiously charged out, growling sharply at her in Māori, frantically dowsing the fire with great irritation, then directed his frustration at our newlywed brother.  With inconsolable tears she broke down not knowing what ‘crime’ or ‘offense’ she had just ignorantly committed.

At a family gathering many years later while reminiscing about those early years, I asked her  while we enjoyed a steaming-hot, freshly earth cooked hāngī, if she remembered that harrowing nerve-wrecking moment and, more importantly, did our brother prudently explain to her why our father was so greatly upset. Our brother had failed to do so; conveniently dropping his fork with annoying haste he replied, “That’s the old ways! Dad was living in the past with his old superstitions and outdated ways! It’s a new world now. Progress.”

This is what our father shouted with enmity.

“Auē! Kei kino i a koe a Ranginui! Tō te whenua ki te whenua! Kei pau i te kāpura, me tanu kē! Auē taukiri e”!

“Oh no! Don’t harm sky father! What’s of the land must go back to the land! Don’t burn it, bury it! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Dad was raised in an isolated, far north, sole Māori speaking, close-knit fishing village, where every ecological sign, relationship and connection was observed, revered and utilized. Reciprocity. They always asked before they took from life, and returned something of equal value or more in return as the first offering.  They were organically living off the grid way before it became fashionable. They could smell the subtle changes of temperature and tell how many days or hours it would be before it rained by the behavior of insects, birds, fish and animals. Many of them were illiterate by western standards yet were well versed in the ‘alphabet’ of seasonal life around them. Every evening our elders always sat in a huge circle like vigilant sentinels hugging the walls of our communal house, while the whole community, like a blazing fire in the centre, sat in the middle. They spoke about life through songs, symbols and metaphors with adoration, honour, celebration and respect, retelling of past generations activities and of ancient tribal histories. This way of living and more importantly their reverence for life and death has diminished over time, and in some instances has disappeared altogether.

They were organically living off the grid way before it became fashionable. They could smell the subtle changes of temperature and tell how many days or hours it would be before it rained by the behaviour of insects, birds, fish and animals.

I also grew up in Rātana Pā, a Māori pan tribal community founded on an indigenous religious and political movement inspired by 1920’s Māori prophet and healer, TW Rātana. He unassumingly but powerfully revolutionised Māori spiritual and political participation and engagement that revived Te Tiriti o Waitangi from out of NZ’s amnesia. My background also comes from 34 years of Education from new entrants to adult education, in mainstream and Māori medium pathways. I’m a devoted musician and visual artist, which are my real passions. I also value the ripple effect of influence.

When Covid-19 began permeating our global fabric of ‘normality’, impacting communication commerce and travel, I was invited to join Professor Sandy Morrison, Dr Darren King, Dr Shaun Awatere, Dr Naomi Simmonds on the Kāhui Māori Te Kōmata o Te Tonga – the Māori advisory team to the Deep South Challenge governance board. Then in July this year I was appointed as Pou Tikanga – providing cultural support to our amazing Te Taura and Te Aho teams alongside two super-mums; wordsmith artist and communicator Nadine Hura and Mana Wāhine grassroots mover and shaker Naomi Simmonds. As kakitakawaenga they are intra-relationship weavers among whānau hapū and iwi researchers and scientists. I really love working with Nadine and Naomi because they genuinely understand the value of clear modest support and careful gentle navigating of communications and relationships with quality cultural and spiritual experience and advice. Herein is my primary focus, commitment and responsibility.

Furthermore, I love working with the broader engagement and leadership team; Angela Halliday, Zoe Heine, Alexandra Keeble, Kate Turner, Carolyn O’Brien, Mark Webley, Maximillian Scott-Murray and Phil Wiles. At Pātaka Museum we workshopped from despair to hope using Edward De Bono’s six hats, landing on Kingi Tāwhiao’s (Second Māori King) symbolic hat of response to colonization through spiritual potential, hope, optimism and emotional resilience. At Māranui Surf Club in Wellington’s Lyall Bay, we explored appreciation through art, music, meditation and creativity to connect, empathise, relate and resonate with one another while subconsciously learning three karakia and a pao, or waiata, I had composed during my flight to Wellington that morning. While enjoying, contemplating, meditating and reflecting on the natural beach, sea and air, I also wanted to provide pragmatic activities to my ongoing support.

I feel privileged to share these cultural values with our engagement teams over the next two years. ‘Climate change’ is an intergenerational problem, and it requires intergenerational solutions. While seemingly steeped in fear, scarcity, hopelessness and despair, it can also be an opportunity to reawaken desire, hope, innovation, inspiration and creativity through communications, messaging and relationships with all of our research communities.

‘Climate change’ is an intergenerational problem, and it requires intergenerational solutions.

Finally, As sons and daughters of our not so perfect but progressive country we call ‘home’, there is much to improve on in so many spaces, yet much to be extremely grateful for. I am amazed at the collective heart, caliber, skills and experience of the Deep South Challenge Engagement Teams. I have great hope because of this.

So then…was my father superstitious and outdated in his old ways? I’ll leave that for you to decide. As for my brother and sister in law, they too have grown and changed their views over time. It seems we are all work in progress.

In a series of short profiles we are spotlighting the work of our engagement team with a focus on how they are available to support our researchers.

Alexandra Keeble is our Engagement Team Co-Lead. She supports the whole engagement team to be equitable, efficient and effective in our work. She has a wealth of knowledge she is always happy to share on communications and storytelling.

Alexandra Keeble

Nō hea koe?

Nō Ateria, Tiamana, Kōtimana me Aerani ōku tūpuna. Nō Īnia tōku matakēkē me ētahi o ōku tuākana. I tipu ake au i runga i te whenua tapu o te iwi Wirudjeri, arā kō Naarm (Poi Piripi), i te whenua moemoeā. With my European ancestors, I grew up in Naarm (Melbourne), in and on the Birrarung River, and in and around the Bunurong Coast (South Gippsland).

I came to Aotearoa in 2008, after working and living in Cuba, the United States and on Larrakia Country (Darwin). I’ve worked as just about everything, from a mud crab farmer to a community organiser, from a film producer to a publisher. I’ve never been paid a wage to work as a poet or fiction writer, but imagine that!

I’m lucky enough to live in Pari-ā-rua, on unceded Ngāti Toa whenua, with my partner, our three kids, dog and countless tiu, tūī, rūrū, kāwau, kōtare, blackbirds, starlings, tauhou and gulls, some of whom turn up at our window every day for a feed.

When did you join the DSC and how do you describe what you do in one sentence?

I started in the Challenge in 2017, when the Engagement Team was much smaller. These days I work in the background, looking for ways to use our time and resources in ways that are equitable, effective, collaborative and efficient.

Why might a researcher want to get in touch with you?

I’m both a big picture person, and someone who likes getting my hands dirty. If you want to think about strategy (for anything, from funding to adaptation to communications and engagement), I might be useful to speak to. I have lots of media contacts, and lots of experience with different forms and formats for storytelling. Depending on what else is going on, I also love supporting you to tell your stories in your own ways (this could be through workshopping ideas, or organising relevant support, or ghost writing or editing/proofing, for example).

When you’re not working at DSC, where are you most likely to be?

Collecting kaimoana with the kids, up the bush pulling out asparagus weed, gasbagging with family, on writing retreats with mates, watching my partner dig the garden (it’s hard work but someone’s gotta do it), or somewhere with my head in a book.

How can people find you, and what’s your availability like

I work part time and in hours that suit my family (during school hours, and late at night…), so email is the best bet for first contact. That said, I love to talk, so give me a call.

Contact me on: [email protected]

In a series of short profiles we are spotlighting the work of our engagement team with a focus on how they are available to support our researchers.

Zoe Heine is our Communications Advisor. She works on our communications great and small, including helping researchers share their stories.

Ko wai koe?

He uri tēnei o ngā tangata tiriti. Nō Tiamana, nō Sheltland Islands, nō Yorkshire ōku tupuna. I whanau mai au i Otautahi. I tipe ake au i Whakatū. I was born in Christchurch and grew up in Nelson not far from the banks of the Maitai River. I have lived in Te-Whanganui-a Tara for the past decade and currently live in a lovely sunny spot on the side of Matairangi with my partner and a very opinionated cat.

When did you join the DSC and how do you describe what you do in one sentence?

I joined in March of this year. I work closely with the rest of the engagement team on our communication products, for example, our public webinars and info sheets.

Why might a researcher want to get in touch with you?

If you’re interested in sharing an aspect of your research we can talk about the best way to communicate it and how the Deep South Challenge might be involved. If you’ve got any upcoming media coverage it is great to hear about it outside of the quarterly reporting so I can share it speedily.

I send out our monthly updates to DSC researchers so let me know if you have something interesting you think we should be sharing with this network. I also keep our website tidy so send any requests for updates my way.

Like Nadine and Alex, I am always interested in chatting about climate change and storytelling.

When you’re not working at DSC, where are you most likely to be?

Working on my PhD on storytelling and sea-level rise in Aotearoa through the Centre for Science in Society at Te Herenga Waka. Otherwise I like to spend my time gardening, swimming in the ocean and drinking tea. But not all three at once!

How can people find you, and what’s your availability like?

I work part time from Tuesday to Friday each week. Email is the best first port of call, [email protected]

Expressions of interest are being sought for the Challenge Leadership Team (CLT) role of Processes and Observations Programme Leader in the Deep South National Science Challenge. The Processes and Observations Programme Leader will lead our Observations for Model Development programme. Projects have been contracted which contribute to the Challenge’s mission through research that spans clouds & aerosols, sea-ice, storm mixing of oceans, and snow & ice catchment processes.

Up to 0.2 FTE is available for this position through to the end of the National Science Challenges in June 2024.

Further information

For more information regarding this position, contact the Challenge Director, Dr Phil Wiles
([email protected], 027-298-9446).

To apply

Please submit your CV together with a covering letter outlining your experience and interest in the role to the Challenge Manager, Mark Webley, [email protected], by no later than 5 pm Friday 4 November 2022.

We are pleased to announce two new team members, filling some crucial gaps.

Mark Webley, Challenge Manager

Mark Webley takes on the role of Challenge Manager. Mark has spent the last 14 years working at NIWA in a project coordinator position for the previous nine. Luckily for us, he is already familiar with the Deep South Challenge; his current position has been as the project coordinator for DSC. This meant working directly with all the previous challenge managers and project management team.

Mark says, “The way Deep South Challenge’s research works to help New Zealand navigate a changing climate and reaches out to people at the forefront appeals to me. It is a privilege to work with such a diverse group of people.”

Mark is a Wellingtonian born and bred, and he lives in Miramar. He is kept busy outside work raising two young children and coaching football. We look forward to having Mark at the helm to help us all to deliver success over the remainder of the Challenge.

Maximillian Scott-Murray, Events Director 

Maximillian Scott-Murray (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Awa) has joined our Engagement Team as Events Director. This new role focuses on the many events, from hapū-based noho wanaga to corporate and central government symposia, which we will be running between now and the end of the Challenge. Max joins us from the community justice space, alongside photography and events management, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge on navigating challenging spaces.

For Max the most important aspect of our Deep South mahi is building interconnections and ensuring wide access to tools, information, and resourcing.

It is important to me that at each step of this journey we uphold the importance of whēnua to Māori, and amplify the voices of tangata whēnua wherever we can.

Maximillian Scott-Murray

Max’s whakapapa is to the Hokianga and Whakatane areas, although he has lived most of his life in Wellington. He’s lucky enough to now reside in the beautiful Titahi Bay. Max will be kept busy as we seek to maximise outcomes from our research; the team has already appreciated his skill in running hui and his eye for details, like having quality kai. 

How are the eleven National Science Challenges (Challenges) meeting the needs of their stakeholders? Results from interviews suggest we are on the right track.

Every two years Kanter Public, on behalf of MBIE, interview stakeholders from across the Challenges to assess how we are progressing. Each Challenge receives a summary of its own progress alongside an overview of the collective progress of the Challenges. The findings of the 2022 research demonstrate that collectively the Challenges have sustained good relationships with their stakeholders.  

Stakeholders hold leadership and researchers in very high regard for their skills, knowledge, expertise, collaboration, cultural competence, and engagement. They demonstrate open, transparent, and respectful ways of working. These working relationships and networks are valued, and stakeholders hope they will be sustained.

KANTAR report

Across the board, stakeholders value the tailored partnership approach. There was an appreciation for research summaries that were accessible and timely. This sidestepped the slower process of academic publication.

While Māori involvement has become more central to the research process over time, there is still variability in how this is implemented, from no Māori involvement to Kaupapa Māori research that is Māori led and focussed on Māori outcomes and aspirations. Māori co-directors, and Kahui Māori (Māori advisory board) send a powerful signal that Māori partnerships, te ao Māori principles, vision mātauranga, and Māori research outcomes are highly valued and incorporated.

Room for improvement was identified in several areas, including: 

• The need for increasing collaboration across Challenges.
• Communicating knowledge in a more accessible way for communities, iwi, hapū, Māori, and individuals.
• Increasing resourcing for Māori and Pasifika researchers.
• Deconstructing insititutionalised racism.
• Ensuring whānau data sovereignty.
• Ensuring that engagement with Māori is place based and geographically driven (mana whenua).

Stakeholders acknowledged the impact of Covid-19, with the most significant impact the loss of kanohi ki te kanohi face-to-face contact. The shift to online platforms had some advantages but led to a loss of personal connection. 

With the Challenges coming to an end in 2024, stakeholders had questions about how progress will be built on and sustained beyond the end date.

The Deep South Challenge are seen as genuine and helpful

The Deep South Challenge (DSC) specific feedback broadly validated our approach. In particular, our stakeholders identified our approach to engagement as genuine and personable. DSC leadership is seen as extremely helpful and knowledgeable, contributing to a high level of trust and confidence amongst stakeholders. 

Our website was identified as a great place to source information about our work. However, while there is no doubt about the high quality of research produced by the Challenge, stakeholders would like to see outputs become increasingly accessible to the public.

I think they’re setting a really good example for how to ‘meaningfully’ engage with Māori. I’ve never seen so much support towards iwi and hāpu leading their own research, and they don’t want another entity, or another Crown Research Agency engaging with Māori. They want Māori engaging with Māori, which prevents misconceptions of our knowledge when others articulate our mātauranga. So Māori’ communities’ are governing, creating and leading the their own research ideas and inviting others to join where it is appropriate and useful.

Stakeholder feedback

Stakeholders identified DSC as a good example of what it is to put te ao Māori as a central focus. Our update on our Vision Mātuaranga programme shows how we are implementing this. However, there is still room to improve, including by expanding our networks in te ao Māori and increasing resources to support Māori engagement.

In a series of short profiles, we are spotlighting the work of our engagement team with a focus on how they are available to support our researchers.

Angela Halliday is our Partnership Director. Her work focuses on supporting researchers to connect with stakeholders and organising various aspects of our public engagement.

Angela Halliday

Ko wai koe?

Kia ora koutou, ko Angela Halliday taku ingoa.  Ko Murihiku (Southland) te whenua tupu. Nō Horowhenua te kāinga. He Partnerships Director au i Deep South Challenge.

When did you join the DSC and how do you describe what you do in one sentence?

I’ve been with the Deep South Challenge since 2018. I work closely with Engagement team and link in project teams with stakeholders where I can, with a focus on the Implications and Adaptation Programme.  I look after our Representative User Group and assist with events and other initiatives that help to disseminate our research out to those that might use it.  When projects are near completion I facilitate briefings with interested parties to ensure research is understood.

Why might a researcher want to get in touch with you?

If researchers are looking for a platform or opportunity to speak to stakeholders in a particular industry, central or local government, we can help facilitate this. Or even if they want to discuss where their research might help clarify thinking for policymakers or communities, we can make suggestions and linkages to help with these connections. In some cases, it can be helpful to use stakeholders as a sounding board during the research itself, and we can help with this.
My background is in the Primary Sector, so I have contacts in this area. We also have a lot of contacts as a Challenge and across other National Science Challenges as well. We might also approach you to speak about your research at relevant conferences, forums or webinars.

When you’re not working at DSC, where are you most likely to be?

I have two little boys so likely to be wrangling them or dealing with toddler meltdowns! I also do some work for a small Agricultural Research Trust.

How can people find you, and what’s your availability like?

I work most days apart from Friday.

You can email or phone: [email protected] or 0279473344.

The kuaka flies direct: Indigenous observations of a changing environment

We are honoured to bring you this online kōrero with Rikki Solomon (Aotearoa) and Bobby Schaeffer (Alaska). We are also extremely lucky that our Kāhui member and Pou Tikanga (he tūranga hou) Ruia Aperahama will facilitate the kōrero.

This webinar takes its name from the whakatauki about the kuaka (godwit), who connects the two lands of Aotearoa and Alaska. In Māori understandings, the cries of the kuaka are loud as they migrate between Alaska and Aotearoa, a flight of 12,000km. Ancestors navigating the moana observed their course during the day and listened to their cries at night to guide them.

In this webinar, we bring together Indigenous experts Rikki Solomon (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Rangitāne-o-Tamaki-nui-a-rua) and Bobby Schaeffer (Iñupiaq), to guide a different kind of climate change conversation. Our speakers bring vital, place-based knowledge, and experiences of change that spring from and are centred around the environment. Research, conversation and action around climate change has much to learn from this relational and experiential approach, steeped in ancestral wisdom and practice.

Like the direct flight of the kuaka, we hope that this webinar will inspire us to clear a pathway into the future, based on learnings and patterns that are ancient in origin. 

Ka ngau ki te turikakao te paringa o te tai, e tika te rere o te kuaka.
The spinifex wanders along the beach like the incoming tide, the kuaka flies direct.

This critical conversation is part of our Te Kawa o Te Ora webinar series. A recording of this webinar will be available on our YouTube channel soon after. Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date.