TE AO MAORI & CLIMATE CHANGE RISK

1. Te Ao Maori is the Maori world view. It is based on the concepts of “Interconnectedness”  and  “interrelationship”  of all living  and non-living things on earth as the stuff of the planet earth. Karakia is a system of Māori incantations that invoke spiritual guidance and protection and to increase the spiritual goodwill and increase the likelihood of a favourable outcome. The New Zealand climate change impact report begins with a Karakia that acknowledges this vital connection of humans with the natural world, and the vital connection of each generation of humans to the generations of humans that came before and the generations of humans that will come after.
2. This interconnection across nature and through time implies that ecosystems and human societies are connected such that actions and consequences span both entities. The Living Standards Framework for well-being, aka LSF,  [LINK] of the Government of New Zealand is derived from and consistent with these Maori spiritual values.
3. The LSF is based on a value system consisting of four elements. These are (1) natural, (2) human, (3) social, and (4) financial &physical within the He Ara Waiora framework of the Maori. Waiora is the idea that human well being is based on water because water is the source of all life. It serves as a broad concept that links human wellbeing  to water (wai) because water is the source of all life.
4. The Maori concept of well-being includes Kaitiakitanga (Stewardship by humans of the resources that humans need), Manaakitanga (care for others), Ohanga (prosperity) and Whanaungatanga (The spiritual force that connects humans into human societies)

QUESTION: WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CLIMATE CHANGE???? 

ANSWER: THESE ARE THE FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS AND VALUE SYSTEMS OF THE “National climate change risk assessment for New Zealand” [LINK] . You must understand these concepts before you can understand what the report is about.

National climate change risk assessment for New Zealand – Main report
Publication date: August 2020 Publication reference number: ME 1506
This report presents the findings of New Zealand’s first National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA). The risk assessment gives a national picture of how New Zealand may be affected by climate change-related hazards. It:

identifies the most significant risks and opportunities for New Zealand
highlights gaps in the information and data needed to properly assess and manage the risks and opportunities.
The risk assessment identifies 43 priority risks across five value domains (natural environment, human, economy, built environment and governance) and highlights 10 risks considered to be the most significant. These are risks from that need to be addressed most urgently. The risk assessment will enable the Government to prioritise action, including through a national adaptation plan.

The risk assessment will enable the Government to prioritise action, including through a national adaptation plan which will be developed over the next two years.

Further detail on the risk assessment’s findings are provided in the technical report, and the method report provides more information on the methodology used. There is also a Snapshot which summarises the main report. See links below.

Here are the key messages from the main report in Te Reo:

POSTSCRIPT: I HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR MAORI SPIRITUALITY AS WELL AS INDIAN SADHU SPIRITUALITY. THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT THE MAORI VALUE SYSTEM BUT WHETHER CLIMATE SCIENCE SHOULD BE EVALUATED IN TERMS OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS AND VALUES ON WHICH THE THEORY IS BASED. FOR EXAMPLE, IS KARAKIA A VALID ALTERNATIVE CLIMATE ACTION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED TO CUT FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS?