Title: The Influence of Māori Indigenous Knowledge on Environmental
Sustainability in New Zealand
Research Question: How is Māori indigenous knowledge enhancing
environmental sustainability in New Zealand?
Subject: World Studies: Environmental Systems & Societies and Anthropology
Word Count: 3930
,Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3
2. Global Context ............................................................................................................... 4
3. Local Context ................................................................................................................. 6
4. Research Methodology .................................................................................................. 7
5. Anthropological Perspective - Māori and the Natural World .......................................... 9
6. Environmental Systems & Societies Perspective - Māori as Guardians of the
Environment ................................................................................................................ 13
7. Incorporating Māori Indigenous Knowledge into Environmental Policy........................ 16
8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 21
9. Bibliography ................................................................................................................. 23
10. Appendix...................................................................................................................... 26
2
, 1. Introduction
Humanity’s existence has always been highly dependent on a close relationship with the
natural environment. While there has consistently been a degree of concern for
environmental preservation and restoration, it has recently gained significant momentum.
Environmental sustainability is now a widely understood concept, defined as “responsible
interaction with the environment to avoid depletion or degradation of natural resources and
allow for long-term environmental quality”.1
Following major environmental disasters such as the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986,
Kuwaiti oil fires in 1991, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, there has been a global
awakening regarding the value and fragility of our environment. This growing awareness has
sparked a more holistic and inclusive approach to achieving environmental sustainability,
including recognising the importance of indigenous knowledge. According to Rajasekeran,
this knowledge is defined as people’s accumulation of experience, informal experiments and
intimate understanding of local environments within a given culture2 and it has provided a
systematic body of information and resourcefulness that has allowed indigenous groups to
sustainably manage natural resources for millennia.
This extended essay illustrates how knowledge systems of the Māori indigenous population
of New Zealand are being incorporated into national environmental management and
policy, providing an example of how similar approaches could be applied elsewhere in the
1 “Environmental Sustainability: Definition and Application.” Study.com. Accessed September 6, 2020.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/environmental-sustainability-definition-and-application.html.
2 Rajasekaran, Bhakthavatsalam. “A Framework for Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into Agricultural Research
and Extension Organizations for Sustainable Agricultural Development in India.” Accessed September 20, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-9576.
3
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