CONNECTING TO THE MAURI OF THE MOANA: Using a community-based, intuitive and qualitative ecological monitoring process to connect with and consider the mauri of local marine ecosystems

In this doctoral thesis, I investigate how our perceptions of the current state of health of local marine ecosystems can be informed by using a community-based, qualitative and intuitive approach to ecological monitoring, which is centred around the Māori ontological concept of mauri (life-force, vital energy). Internationally, and in Aotearoa New Zealand, there is interest in the use of community-based monitoring (CBM), including cultural monitoring frameworks, for informing the management and use of local ecosystems. However, whilst a growing number of CBM initiatives aim to include Indigenous knowledge (IK) and other local ecological knowledge (LEK), few challenge the dominance of Western scientific ecological knowledge (SEK) or its onto-epistemic underpinnings. Within co- management relationships this reinforces colonial power dynamics, potentially creating a barrier to the success of community-based co-management initiatives. My aim in this research is to challenge the dominance of Western scientific epistemologies in CBM by investigating a complimentary pathway that fosters onto- epistemological conviviality and knowledge equity between SEK, LEK and IK, in this case, mātauranga Māori. Using the phenomenologically based Hauora Moana monitoring method, I investigate whether this provides enough information, with a sufficient degree of accuracy and reliability, from the perspective of the communities using it, to make informed decisions that fit with their collective priorities, motivations and goals. I also ask whether this participative monitoring process facilitates convivial settings for cross-cultural interweavings. A community-based participatory research approach is used across three case studies to address these questions. Each case study offers specific socio-ecological and relational contexts in which to assess the viability of this qualitative monitoring approach. The findings from this research demonstrate that an intuitive and qualitative approach to ecological monitoring is an appropriate and useful way for communities to inform themselves about the current state of health of their local marine ecosystems, which is more likely to align with IK and LEK knowledge praxes. It illuminates an onto-epistemologically equitable pathway for SEK to contribute to place-based ecoliteracy and offers a model for decolonising and indigenising processes and practices within CBM. Outcomes from the case studies demonstrate that this can lead to positive actions towards fostering healthier marine ecosystems.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Māori Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Edney, Glenn

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hikuroa, Daniel
• Fisher, Karen

• community-based monitoring
• Indigenous knowledge
• mātauranga Māori
• kaitiakitanga
• mauri
• phenomenology
• Ahu Moana
• place-based ecoliteracy
• co-management
• Hauora Moana
• decolonising community-based monitoring

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/74685

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/74685