Mobilising for Action

Mobilising for Action, co led by Dr Marie McEntee and Dr Mark Harvey, is a transdisciplinary research project focusing on the human dimensions of the native tree pathogens kauri dieback and myrtle rust in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our research explores the connections between people and the ngahere (forest), people and te taiao (the environment) and people and taonga species such as kauri and pohutukawa. We work with mātauranga (Māori Māori knowledge) and Western frameworks, communities, iwi/hapū (tribes and sub-tribes), curators, artists, scientists, schools, public museums, community centres and organisations to empower and build awareness around forest health. With a Māori and non-Māori co-led team, we have generated 12 projects (half Māori and non-Māori) over 4 and a half years across Aotearoa. We have involved dozens of researchers and thousands of people across Aotearoa. Our projects have resulted in building capacity for Māori communities, engaged with policy developers, created arts works and exhibitions, documentaries, public workshops, wānanga with iwi, educated scientists, worked with publicity, published our findings in academic publications and developed new Māori tikanga (protocols) around empowering people to help address these plant pathogens and improve the health of our native trees and forests. MFA has received funding from Ngā Rākau Taketake under the Biological Theme of the NZ Government’s National Science Challenge.