Climate change poses genuine threat to Te Arawa: Working group

Ida Brailey (left), and Pipiana Brailey survey the damage after a tree smashed through the kitchen roof at Paruaharanui Marae near Rotorua in January. Photo / File

Rising sea levels, worsening fluctuations in lake levels and increasing water temperatures.

These effects of climate change pose a genuine threat to many hapu and their taonga around the Te Arawa rohe, according to the Te Arawa Climate Change working group,.

The new group was established in January to address these concerns and it has already identified key areas where it can make an impact.

It wants to ensure Te Arawa whanau, hapu and iwi are best placed to respond to the significant issue.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust environment manager Nicki Douglas said the group had already identified two urgent areas of work which needed immediate action.

"These are to support to our coastal whanau – particularly at Maketu – and the need to support marae as places of refuge."

The group had also identified kai (food) as a key theme of its work moving forward, she said.

"There is a growing awareness about climate change among Te Arawa whanau as they experience the impacts of a changing climate on their day-to-day lives.

"Accelerated rises in lake levels, increasing intensity storm and rain events, as well as higher temperatures and extremes in variations of temperature are just some of the ways they are seeing and experiencing this."

Douglas said recent storm events had hit all parts of the community, and specifically with the wharekai Waiwaha at Paruaharanui Marae severely damaged by an uprooted tree.

This has left the hapu distraught and looking for funds to repair its tupuna.

"Much of our Te Arawa infrastructure such as marae, urupa and cultural sites of significance will become more vulnerable as a result of rising floodwater levels from adjacent lakes and waterways."

Douglas said the first meeting of the working group resulted in a clear climate-change framework for Te Arawa to work within, with a central focus on empowering Te Arawa ways of knowing (mohiotanga).

She said the group identified four focus areas - preparedness, education, research and leadership.

"Early discussions indicate we could be eligible for funding through the Vision Matauranga fund for this work. We will need to engage more around this issue and better understand the needs and views of our whanau and hapu."

She said the group planned to undertake a baseline survey in the coming months.

"We have been looking at longer-term issues such as what happens if we cannot purchase the food we need due to shortages affected by climate, and ways to support whanau to become more self-sufficient and provide for themselves."

Douglas said there was a clear commitment from the Government to reduce emissions and offset current carbon use, particularly with goals to achieve a net zero economy by 2050, and emission levels in 2030 to be the same as they were in 2005.

"While this is positive, there is a need to undertake reduction measures and Te Arawa will need to be engaged and involved in this discussion to ensure we are able to contribute in a meaningful way and take the opportunity that presents itself."

Douglas said while these were all matters for local and central government to consider, Te Arawa was taking a proactive approach.

"We will not wait for authorities to come and tell us how they think we should be responding, but instead we will be ready and able to support them to implement a response for our community and our people."