Bay of Plenty Regional Council regularly monitors the state of our local environment to have our finger on the pulse with what’s happening above and below ground in our rohe.
By capturing and interpreting data, we can plan, protect and sustainably manage our natural resources so our communities can thrive.
Why do we do this?
Our Mahere Taiao Science plan for 2020-2023 is centred around Te Hononga o ngā Mātauranga, the joining of knowledge.
The Plan is a tool to help guide us in providing high-quality science support, ensuring decisions are made based on reliable and up-to-date science. It also improves the visibility of science and research being undertaken and highlights current priorities.
What do we do?
We take a holistic approach, ki uta ki tai (mountains to sea), as everything in our environment is interconnected. What affects one aspect of the taiao (environment) will have an impact in other areas. Nothing was meant to live in isolation, and so, the mauri (life force) of everything that exists in the taiao is all relative.
Māori understood tohu (signs) given by the whenua (land), to enable the protection of our natural resources. If the land and the water is healthy, so too will the people be.
We have developed a framework for our monitoring work using whakapapa. Whakapapa means to place “layer upon layer” – it derives from papa, anything broad and flat, and from whaka - a prefix that enables something to occur. It demonstrates interconnectivity between everything placing humans in an environmental context with all other flora, fauna and natural resources.
View our monitoring activities in the whakapapa framework.
Maunga (mountains) are important landmarks as they are the first to be seen when entering a new rohe. From here, there would have been a clear line of sight to the sea, river or lakes which would provide kai (food) for the people.
The natural elements and sky impact our daily experiences from the air we breathe to the weather we feel. Wind is an example of matangaro, the concept of what we cannot see but know exists because we can feel it or see its impact, like the wind rustling leaves in a tree. Understanding matangaro means we can consider more indicators when looking at the state of our taiao (environment).
Te Wao nui a Tāne is inclusive of all forests and birdlife. Pest eradication, and monitoring of the whenua will ensure the protection and preservation of our forests and birdlife.
Ko au ko te awa, ko te awa ko au signifies the intrinsic connection between the waterways and people.
Ngāwhā (geothermal springs) are a unique feature to the rohe of Te Moana o Toitehuatahi (Bay of Plenty). With the right mātauranga (knowledge), these can be cared for and utilised sustainably.