In Aotearoa, commonly referred to as New Zealand, the Māori, native to the region, possess a wealth of oceanic knowledge that has historically been undervalued. Māori researcher, Ocean Mercier, is working to elevate Māori traditional knowledge, known as mātauranga, regarding oceans in both academic and community settings, with a focus on marine conservation. Despite a vast maritime environment, the ocean is a unifying force for Indigenous communities. British colonization marginalized Māori traditional knowledge, but recent efforts have been made to integrate it into scientific communities to improve conservation practices, particularly in marine ecosystems. Mercier promotes the connection between Māori language and mātauranga, demonstrating how it complements Western science and how it provides a more detailed picture of knowledge and history. She advocates for equitable recognition of diverse knowledge systems.
Photo Credit: Project Matauranga
