Climate change and coastal Māori communities

This report (in two parts) gives an account of the research which aimed to work with coastal Māori communities whose farms are at risk of negative environmental impacts from climate change to provide strategies that will help them to adapt to these effects.

The report is provides a background to the need for the research, an overview of the aims and objectives of the project, the rationale for the design and methods employed in the project, an outline of the research activities that were undertaken in the case study rohe, and the main adaptation strategies that were generated in the project.

Key findings and recommendations are also outlined at the end of the report.

Case study: Tahamatā Dairy Farm

This case study looked at Tahamatā Incorporation’s farm – a coastal dairy farm in the Horowhenua.

This Ecosystem Services Valuation Report explores how the farm will be affected by climate change, and what options Tahamatā and other iwi and hapū farm managers have to adapt.

On the coast, Tahamatā is particularly prone to climate change effects such as sea level rise and drought, as well as being at more financial risk than other farms, due to its comparatively low productivity.

This research explores how mātauranga Māori can work alongside climate change science, geomorphology, ecological economics and design principles, to inform new strategies for resilience and adaptation.