Partnership project in Aotea Harbour, Waikato receives Otago Research Grant

Dr Zac McIvor, with the Archaeology Programme at Otago, has received a University of Otago Research Grant (UORG) to continue a collaboration between mana whenua of Aotea Harbour, Waikato on their community-based archaeological exploration of their past to understand their present and prepare for the future.

Generations of taangata whenua have maintained an intimate relationship with their coastal environment at Aotea Harbour, Waikato, relying on resources and upholding kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

The names, value and observations of coastal species are encoded in maatauranga aa-hapu (local knowledge), while archaeological sites around the harbour contain material evidence of this longstanding dynamic between people and their environment.

However, sea level rise and subsequent erosion are driving the rapid loss of these archaeological and cultural heritage sites. Meanwhile, critical taonga marine species are impacted by stressors including climate change, overfishing and pollution.

A 2024 UORG supported Zac and community partnerships with mana whenua to initiate a marae-led exploration of what Indigenous community-based archaeology truly means.

Through waananga and archaeological excavation under local tikanga, led by kaumaatua and engaged by rangatahi, there has been a collaborative exploration of the past, landscape and ancestors.

The proposed project ‘Aotea whenua: ngaa takahanga tuupuna’ stems from these existing partnerships. This next phase in the initiative has received a 2025 UORG.

Zac is the Primary Investigator, the Associate Investigators are Dr Karen Greig, Archaeology at Otago; and kaumatua Pita Te Ngaru, and partners are the mana whenua around Aotea Harbour, including Mookai Kaainga, Ookapu, Te Tihi o Moerangi, and Te Papatapu Marae with Ngaati Patu Poo and Ngaati Te Wehi hapuu.

The project partners will draw on waananga, ecological knowledge in maatauranga aa-hapu, history and archaeology to co-produce new understandings of adaptation, management and change in the critical relationships between taangata whenua and their estuarine and coastal environments from the 14^th century until today.

Zac says he is extremely excited to be able to expand the project, facilitate the community’s investigation of questions yet unexplored and inspire a new generation of researchers and kaitiaki.

“This funding will make significant contributions to the aspirations of mana whenua in Aotea Harbour with regard to the management and research of waahi tapu (sacred places), using archaeology and ecology alongside maatauranga aa-hapuu to generate new understandings of environmental change, kaitiakitanga and relationships to te taiao (environment),” Zac says.

Waananga, archaeological excavations and reflections on ecological knowledge will generate historical baseline knowledge of key seafood species. This co-produced knowledge will be explored alongside modern harvests of coastal species to inform modern Indigenous food sovereignty and revitalise existing and historical relationships to marine environments.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance practices will be co-developed, recognising customary practices, archaeological material and traditional knowledge as taonga. Resulting governance structures may inform frameworks implemented by Crown agencies, territorial local authorities and research institutions.

(This project embraces the mita of Te Tai Hauaauru of Waikato which uses double vowels instead of macrons).

- Nā Antonia Wallace, Kaitaraki Pārokoroko - Communications Advisor