Reimagining marine governance in Aotearoa
A toi Māori expression of the Tangaroa Ararau Sustainable Seas research project
Ngā pae moana
Our design principles
Tātai Hono
Tātai Hono
The importance and active awareness of the interconnectedness of humankind and the marine environment, instilling a tangible sense of obligation through shared whakapapa between people, the ocean and sea life.
Tauutuutu
Tauutuutu
The duty of care and reciprocity: Reciprocity underpins all interactions with the ocean, and between people within an ocean context. Tauutuutu demands we acknowledge the sense of obligation imbued in any position or transference of authority.
Ngāhue
Ngāhue
Acknowledgement of the ocean’s pivotal role in driving wellbeing and prosperity. The scope of ocean-derived prosperity is multifaceted; including community wellbeing and sustenance, economic success, and environmental balance.
Mana
Mana
Enabling self-determination and authority through the devolution of decision-making power. This includes specifically the rangatiratanga of iwi and hapū as guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Taurite
Taurite
Recognition of the value and importance of traditional knowledge systems (mātauranga Māori) and practices and protocols (tikanga Māori), and equality of consideration in decision-making.
Toipoto
Toipoto
All systems, whether they be social, economic, or environmental, are informed by and defer to people at place, empowering localised solutions, driven by intimate place-based knowledge.
Sharing knowledge through toi Māori
Drawing inspiration from traditional Māori knowledge transfer methods, we want to move the hearts and minds of all New Zealanders to reconsider how we view marine governance and management in Aotearoa.
Uhi Tai is the toi Māori expression of the findings of Sustainable Seas’ National Science Challenge project, Tangaroa Ararau. Launched as an art exhibition, the project disseminates its findings through a diverse range of mixed media, including video, audio, print, paint, sculpture, waiata, wānanga, weaving, carving, taonga pūoro, and tā moko.
Discover Te Tiriti and tikanga Māori models in action through a unique blend of traditional and contemporary toi Māori.
Read our research
Our research embodies a ‘futures thinking’ approach that explores the complex dynamics present within tikanga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and marine governance.
Through this research, we examined the historical significance and current policies relating to the coastal marine area and identified necessary changes in marine governance in order to uphold tikanga and honour Te Tiriti.
We looked beyond surface issues to uncover deeper systemic and worldview layers to help us understand future challenges and opportunities, guiding us to develop better marine governance that respects tikanga Māori and benefits us all.
Discover a Tangaroa centered approach to marine governance
Uhi Tai explores the myriad relationships within Aotearoa New Zealand’s oceans economy and reimagines a governance system that places Tangaroa at its heart. Built upon a foundation of tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it aims to reshape our approach to the oceans, in a uniquely Aotearoa way.
Uhi Tai refers to the ascending tides of Tangaroa. An often-heard phrase in waiata, karakia, and haka. Uhi Tai symbolises the oncoming tides of new perspectives capturing our diverse and complex relationships with the ocean, washing over the entrenched worldview that shaped Aotearoa’s incumbent approach to the ocean
Tā mātou mahi tahi
