Te Kūwaha and Māori

Sharing knowledge with Māori communities and empowering Māori business with the latest science.

We are NIWA, Taihoro Nukurangi - Te Reo
Te Kūwaha, NIWA’s National Centre for Māori Environmental Research is a dedicated Māori research team, with a vision to work in partnership with others to enable complementary knowledge systems to support kaitiakitanga and provide environmental research excellence that enhances the social, environmental and economic aspirations of whānau, hapū and iwi, Māori communities and Māori business.

  • Instream barriers and altered water flow

    Instream barriers and diversions alter the natural flow of rivers, streams, and lakes.
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    Tuna - glass eels

    Glass eels (about 5.5 to 7.0 cm) arrive in fresh water during spring, especially during September and October, although they may be present from July to December.
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    Mitigation and best practice options

    Some simple steps to minimise the effects of wastewater on water quality and mahinga kai.
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    Tuna - elvers and recruitment

    Once in freshwater, glass eels develop into darker pigmented juvenile eels known as elvers.
  • Toolkit development

    A number of individuals, organisations and hapū have contributed to the development of Ngā Waihotanga Iho.
  • Getting started

    Traditionally, tangata whenua have collected information about estuaries to monitor resources, such as kaimoana, and to make decisions about conservation measures, such as rähui. Increasingly, tangata whenua are using scientific tools to help monitor their natural resources and Ngä Waihotanga Iho provides a science perspective for talking about environmental issues and concerns related to estuaries.
  • Ngā repo o Maniapoto - Maniapoto wetland inventory

    Research Project
    Through the Te Wai Māori fund Ngā Repo o Maniapoto is a collaborative project between NIWA and the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) Whanake Taiao team that looks to develop an inventory of repo and puna (springs) for the Maniapoto rohe.
  • Ngā Kete o te Wānanga: Mātauranga, Science and Freshwater Management

    Research Project
    New Zealand’s freshwater and estuarine resources provide significant cultural, economic, social, and environmental benefits. Competition for the use of these resources is intensifying, and many rivers, lakes and estuaries are now degraded.
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    Applying the right tools to restore kōura to lakes and streams

    The tools available for restoring kōura to lakes and streams depend on what is causing kōura to decline.
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    Identifying the problem for kōura

    Identifying the factors causing kōura numbers to decline will allow you to determine which restoration tools you need to employ.
  • Warriors of the harbour: restoring estuarine health

    Feature story
    Iwi has joined forces with councils and NIWA to restore an estuarine ecosystem to its former health.
  • Partnering in research grows Māori economy

    Feature story
    NIWA is working alongside Māori to develop gateways to science and technology partnerships that are helping grow the Māori economy.