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The Oranga Programme
A Response to Kauri Dieback & Myrtle Rust
What is the Oranga Programme?
The Oranga Programme was created in direct response to a call from Government to explore how Māori knowledge and practices could contribute to the ongoing research efforts to restore the collective health of trees, forests, and people, in response to the kauri dieback and myrtle rust incursions.
It did so by connecting to and resourcing Māori communities and their environmental knowledge holders, supported by researchers, to explore solutions embedded in their mātauranga (knowledge).
Oranga consisted of five interconnected projects:
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RA1: Te Whakaora a Ngā Kauri: Rongoā Solutions for Kauri Dieback (27% of project budget)
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RA2: Te reo o te waonui a Tāne: The language of the domain of Tāne (13% of project budget)
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RA3: Hapū Solutions for Myrtle Rust (16% of project budget)
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RA4: Te Mana Motuhake a Ngā Kākano: The Sovereignty of Seeds (35% of project budget)
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RA5: He Hoa Aratake Critical Friend: Evaluating and Measuring Success (9% of project budget)
Why was Oranga Created?
After years of science investment by the government in kauri dieback research and management, there appeared to be no slowing of the disease. Consequently, communities and councils, who were now also dealing with the new myrtle rust incursion, met with and convinced the government to do something different. In response, two science plans were created - the Kauri Dieback Science Plan and the Myrtle Rust Science Plan. These plans outlined the research needed and the cost implications. In 2017 the new coalition government committed to investing in myrtle rust and kauri dieback, establishing Ngā Rākau Taketake (NRT) in 2018 to accelerate research into both diseases.
Māori solutions, founded in the accrued knowledge from centuries of observation and interaction with the environment, were identified as a necessary component of both science plans. These plans collectively called for around 25% of the total research investment to be invested in mātauranga Māori-led research. When Ngā Rākau Taketake was established a panel of experts (the NRT Scoping Panel) came together to scan the research landscape and identify where research was needed to make the most impact within four years. Their report highlighted the need for research that was Kaupapa Māori-led; explored explicit mātauranga solutions such as rongoā; and was underpinned by Māori practices such as the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). More explicitly, the report noted the need for the Oranga workstream to include social science and mātauranga Māori research led by teams of Vision Mātauranga experts. These experts were to have the skills, expertise and experience to partner with mana whenua; they were to be connected to previous research, including lab-based experimental work, and were able to support kaitiaki and rangatahi to participate in the research.
The NRT Scoping Panel provided recommendations to NRT Leadership who subsequently decided to invest around 12% of the total budget in Kaupapa Māori research. However, the funding came with expectations that communities who were facing the impacts of these disease incursions, and who had advocated for funding into myrtle rust and kauri dieback, would be supported to respond to the incursions by deploying and testing solutions based on their knowledge, experience and practices of forest ecosystem health.
The Oranga Programme was created from this scoping and contracting process. Accordingly, the suite of Oranga research projects embeds throughout its work the components noted in the NRT scoping report and the two science plans, as well as the expectations prescribed by the funder who requested that TTW assume the management functions of this research programme.
Oranga Highlights & Accomplishments
In 2019, TTW was asked to develop a suite of mātauranga Māori research projects for NRT. As a community-based research organisation we were viewed by NRT as a trusted entity to house and subcontract the Oranga programme, a programme that needed to "take a different approach," "be an exemplar for how good, inclusive and collaborative research can be accomplished," (NRT Scoping Panel, p2) and restore trust and confidence between Māori, government agencies, and research entities.
To develop the research projects, TTW reviewed guidance from the NRT Rapid Implementation Group, NRT Scoping Panel, and the Kauri Dieback and Myrtle Rust Strategic Science Advisory Groups (SSAGs), and looked at previous research funded by the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge. We engaged in conversations with Māori communities, practitioners, and academics, as well as key agencies, organisations and private providers. These conversations sought to confirm what Māori and government agencies wanted to see achieved from this funding investment. Principally, the participants who were approached were less concerned about specific research topics and more interested in determining the ultimate outcome of the mātauranga Māori research investment including the development of a set of criteria for selecting those investments. The following goals, assumptions, and criteria for investment were developed based on those conversations.
How Were Oranga Projects Picked?
Criteria
Assumptions & Goals
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Be unlikely to be procured by mainstream institutes because it falls outside their scope of expertise and/or interest.
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Addresses issues that concern hapū and kaitiaki, and accordingly involves, or is driven by, the affected communities.
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Qualifies as mātauranga or culturally driven investment, scoring a 5 out of 5 on the Vision Mātauranga scale (read the Royal Society Te Apārangi VM scale here).
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Can be completed by the end of the contracted period (all of the experimentations, trials, community engagement and reporting).
2024 Goals
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Affected Māori communities are empowered to protect and restore their ngahere from kauri dieback and myrtle rust.
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Māori are leading positive system change in forest biosecurity leading to an increased resilience to tree pests and diseases, especially as related to kauri dieback and myrtle rust.
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The Māori environmental worldview is understood to be an intrinsic part of restoring the ngahere, and included in kauri dieback and myrtle rust responses.
2075 Goal
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Our mokopuna are accessing and engaging with the ngahere for economic, cultural, physical and spiritual outcomes unencumbered by myrtle rust and kauri dieback.
Oranga investments had to contribute to the 2075 and 2024 goals (see below), and meet the following criteria:
The funding also came with the following assumptions:
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The Oranga investment would provide a foundation for work contributing to the achievement of its 2075 goal.
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Māori have the passion, skill and commitment required to save their trees and forests.
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The biosecurity system did not understand and cater for Māori ways of knowing, working, and being but was willing to adapt and change.
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Oranga investments aligned with the recommendations of the various advisory groups including the: Strategic Science Advisory Groups (SSAGs), Rapid Implementation Group (RIG), and NRT Scoping Group
Oranga Research Projects
RA1: Te Whakaora a Ngā Kauri: Rongoā Solutions for Kauri Dieback
This research utilised rongoā Māori experts and practitioners' knowledge to create and apply a treatment process for infected trees. It also worked to build the capability and capacity of kaitiaki across kaurilands in order to extend the reach of the rongoā approach.
RA4: Te Mana Motuhakea Ngā Kākano: The Sovereignty of Seeds
This research aimed to preserve and protect indigenous seeds, those vital for maintaining biodiversity, cultural heritage and food sovereignty. That included addressing concerns over seed access and ownership by creating frameworks and tools that support community control of seeds. It also aimed to train and resource communities to protect their seeds.
RA2: Te Reo o te Waonui a Tāne: The Language of the Domain of Tāne
This research worked with concepts of acoustic enrichment, acoustic restoration, and ihirangaranga to understand how soundscapes might support forest restoration. It trained and established soundscape technicians that continue to collect data post-research.
RA5: Critical Friend: Evaluating and Measuring Success
This research aimed to understand and work towards the impacts Oranga was making as a collective of projects. This included developing frameworks that supported community-based researchers measure their impact, and any changes those impacts made to communities, agencies and society.
RA3: Hapū Solutions for Myrtle Rust
This research aimed to build awareness of myrtle rust across Māori communities. It also developed, alongside Māori communities, frameworks, approaches and tools, grounded in mātauranga, to support the identification, management, and eradication of myrtle rust.
All government research investments have processes in place, as required by the funding organisations, that must be satisfied before contracting and during delivery, including the Oranga Programme.
The New Zealand Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (hosted by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research (MWLCR)) funded Oranga. The Challenge utilised peer-review processes before contracting projects. This process included a review of the proposed projects by their International Science Advisory Panel, members of their senior leadership team, and other contracted experts (note: these groups had different members in 2018/19 than on their website now).
In addition, contractual annual reviews of the programmes progress and plans for the upcoming year were undertaken. Key mid-contract reviews were undertaken, and Oranga leaders were expected to present to other NRT leaders, to Kauri communities, councils, Strategic Science Advisory Groups, and the NZ Biological Heritage National Science Challenges Governance Group. In addition, Oranga and a number of other projects and processes were audited by the host MWLCR and its Board. Decision-making to approve funding was part of that audit. No member of TTW was involved in making decisions about funding that went to TTW, all conflicts of interest (perceived or actual) were managed, as noted in the audit.
Beyond the reviews and checks that were run by the funding organisation, TTW has its own processes in place to review the validity and appropriateness of research methodologies and monitor research we undertake or commission. Firstly, all research commissioned by TTW must be approved by Tikanga a Rangahau: TTW's Māori Research & Ethics Council. Members of that Council either check our proposed processes and or commission external peer review to do that - Oranga was externally peer reviewed. Further, Oranga used its 'critical friends' to ensure the proposed research was consistent with university human ethics processes and methodologies. Projects contracted to universities or research institutes also went through that institutions ethics processes.
Secondly, all lead researchers were required to present to TTW's Board and Kāhui. This happened annually during the four-year programme and was often held on the marae with community members and environmental practitioners present to offer additional thoughts, feedback, and advice.
What Checks were in Place?
Kaupapa Māori Research
What is a Kaupapa Māori approach to research?
Kaupapa Māori research is based on Māori values, knowledge, and ways of understanding. It's designed by Māori, for Māori, with Māori, and ensures that the research reflects and respects Māori culture, traditions, and perspectives. Unlike traditional research approaches which often study communities from the outside, kaupapa Māori research works from the inside, prioritising Māori voices and ways of knowing. It's valid because it brings a culturally authentic approach to solving problems, ensuring outcomes are meaningful and beneficial for Māori communities. At its heart, it's about empowerment, partnership, and honouring the unique knowledge and practices that have been passed down through generations. Kaupapa Māori research is a reminder that there are many valid ways of understanding and addressing challenges, and each has its own strengths.
What does mātauranga offer the scientific process?
Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) is a valid and respected knowledge system that complements the scientific process. Rooted in generations of observation and lived experiences, it offers a holistic, interconnected perspective on the environment and emphasises sustainability, reciprocity, and ethical care for nature. Mātauranga provides long-term insights into ecosystems, innovative solutions like rongoā (traditional medicines), and community-centred approaches that ensure research is meaningful and culturally appropriate. Just like science, mātauranga is shaped by its worldview, but neither is inherently 'better' or less biased than the other. Instead, both bring unique strengths and ways of understanding the world, and together they create richer, more effective and efficient solutions to the challenges we face.
Why include a Māori worldview in research?
Including a Māori worldview in research ensures that Māori perspectives, values, and knowledge are acknowledged and respected, especially when working on issues that affect Māori communities, lands, or taonga (treasures). A Māori worldview brings a relational approach, recognising the deep connections between people, the environment, and all living things, which is essential for creating holistic and sustainable solutions. It also helps uphold the principles and promises of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring Māori voices are included in decisions that impact them. While a Māori worldview is specific to Aotearoa New Zealand, the same principle applies globally, research should incorporate the worldviews of Indigenous Peoples relevant to the region, as they hold valuable knowledge about their environments and offer culturally grounded approaches to problem-solving.
Kauri Mate | Kauri Dieback
Trick or Threat?
Kauri dieback, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida, was first identified on Aotea (Great Barrier Island) in 1972, although it was not linked to kauri deaths until later. The disease likely arrived in New Zealand via imported soil or plant material, with genetic studies suggesting it is an introduced species (Froud, 2020). Only one study (Winkworth, 2021) suggests the disease could have been present in NZ for several hundred to several thousand years. While there is limited additional research to support this hypothesis, Winkworth et al (2021) do not dispute the devastating impact of kauri dieback on NZ's iconic kauri trees. Rather Winkworth is asking us to consider what environmental changes may have triggered the devasting spread of the disease if it has been here for hundreds of years, and what that might mean for other diseases.
One of the reasons Phytophthora agathidicida is so virulent is that it spreads through contaminated soil, water, and human activity, attacking the roots of kauri trees and restricting their ability to take up nutrients, often resulting in death (Froud, 2020). The impact has been devastating, with significant areas of kauri forests, including iconic and ancient stands affected across the North Island (Froud, 2020). The spread and impacts of kauri mate, kauri dieback, P. agathidicida (whatever you want to call it) are not 'made up' to keep you out of the forests. Phytophthora are spreading across the globe, largely because of the global trade in plants, soil, and wood products, causing the death of millions of trees and plants, as they are introduced to non-native environments where they cause severe damage due to the lack of natural resistance in the local flora (Forest Research, n.d.). This spread is costing governments, communities and industries billions of dollars, and scientists are in agreement on this one, the disease is a critical threat to forests, it should not be left unchecked, and it requires immediate and sustained intervention (Palo Alto Online, 2016). The example of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) caused by Phytophthora ramorum in the United States underscores the importance of proactive disease management. SOD has resulted in the death of millions of oak and tanoak trees in California and Oregon, drastically altering forest ecosystems, causing over $150 million in direct losses to industry, and an estimated $8 million annually for monitoring and awareness campaigns. It's also now impacting broadleaf species in Europe, and that's on top of other Phytopthora that are killing alder, beech, yew, and other iconic European tree species.
Despite extensive research, no cure has been found. Current management focuses on preventing the spread through strict biosecurity measures, including cleaning stations for footwear and gear, track closures (rāhui), and education campaigns. Some promising treatments, such as phosphite injections, have shown potential to slow the disease’s progression but are not a long-term solution especially since many private citizens do not want to use phosphite or drill holes into their trees (Horner et al., 2015). For those people, the rongoā approach to kauri dieback, founded in mātauranga and supported by science, is another option that has shown the potential to slow the disease and heal the surrounding ecosystem. In 2016, Drs Monica Gerth and Amanda Black hypothesised that there must be a compound that could stop the motility, or movement, of the infectious spores of the microbe that causes kauri dieback. They applied to NZ's Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (BHNSC) to fund research into this hypothesis. However, as they themselves have noted research takes time, "...on average it takes 11 years and $268 million to develop and launch a new agrichemical to protect a crop. Any success will still be too late for many infected trees..." (Black & Gerth, 2023). The BHNSC understood the time constraints and agreed to fund the research, in 2017, as long as they worked with tohunga rākau (Māori plant experts) to help narrow the list of plants from which they would test compounds. The theory being this could speed up the process of identifying the right compound i.e., it could accelerate the research! They worked with tohunga from across kaurilands, and they found in the plants they received from Māori, molecules in kānuka that could hold the solution to kauri dieback (Lawrence et al., 2019). However, what was a discovery for science wasn't for many Māori (Lawrence et al., 2019). In fact, kānuka was what the plant rongoā expert Tohe Ashby was already using in his rongoā solution for kauri dieback and in his field trials that started in 2017 and continued in RA1 of Oranga.
So, as the fight against kauri dieback continues, a combination of science, mātauranga Māori, and community action is required to protect these ancient trees. Not one of these will succeed on its own.
References:
Winkworth, R. C., Bellgard, S. E., McLenachan, P. A., & Lockhart, P. J. (2021). The mitogenome of Phytophthora agathidicida: Evidence for a not so recent arrival of the “kauri killing” Phytophthora in New Zealand. PLOS ONE, 16(5), e0250422. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250422
Forest Research. (n.d.). Global threats from Phytophthora spp. (Phyto-threats). Retrieved from https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/global-threats-from-phytophthora-spp-phyto-threats/
Palo Alto Online. (2016, September 23). A plant killer with huge economic impact. Retrieved from https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2016/09/23/a-plant-killer-with-huge-economic-impact/
Horner, I. J., Hough, E. G., & Horner, M. B. (2015). MForest efficacy trials on phosphite for control of kauri dieback. New Zealand Plant Protection, 68, 7–12. https://nzpps.org/_journal/index.php/nzpp/article/download/5791/5619/7993
Lawrence, S. A., Burgess, E. J., Pairama, C., Black, A., Patrick, W. M., Mitchell, I., Perry, N. B., & Gerth, M. L. (2019). Mātauranga-guided screening of New Zealand native plants reveals flavonoids from kānuka (Kunzea robusta) with anti-Phytophthora activity. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 49(sup1), 137–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2019.1648303
