TURNING THE TIDE – MĀTAURANGA-LED RESTORATION

Our marine environment is facing enormous pressure from human activities such as excess sediment, nutrients, and plastic pollution, along with impacts at sea from commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, extraction of natural resources, introduction of non-indigenous species, and coastal development. These cumulative stressors are being made worse by a changing climate, leading to increased ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and sea-surface temperatures. In Turning the Tide: Mātauranga-led Restoration, we highlight the work of researchers as they pool their knowledge and resources to improve the health of the seas around Aotearoa New Zealand. In Ōhiwa Harbour, Kura Paul-Burke of the University of Waikato is working with doctoral and undergraduate students Kiri Reihana, Megan Ranapia, Te Amai Moana Paul-Burke and Te Waikamihi Lambert to research and restore mussel beds in a Mātauranga-led approach.