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Conservation & Restoration (Theme 7)

It’s a huge challenge to conserve and restore kauri and native plants vulnerable to myrtle rust for future generations.

It requires knowledge of multiple stages of the life histories of the plants, which, in the case of kauri, pōhutukawa, and some species of rātā, needs to take account of them living potentially for many hundreds of years and regenerating naturally only after major disturbance events.

Importantly, conserving and restoring these taonga requires a Te Ao Māori world view and appropriate governance arrangements over the whenua – not just where adult plants grow but also where they can potentially regenerate. It requires a Te Ao Māori world view about if and where ex situ cultivation is appropriate to secure these taonga.”

Working from a pathogen host and ecosystem point of view, this investment incorporates conservation biology principles to make sure susceptible plant species survive myrtle rust and kauri dieback in Aotearoa.

The team aims to:

  • Help prevent the extinction of iconic species

  • Protect at-risk species and ecosystems, and taonga rākau (trees) and locations

Research Area Summary

  • RA1 Genetic markers to guide conservation and restoration of taonga under threat of kauri dieback
  • RA2 Tikanga-driven conservation of taonga species
  • RA3 Te Honongā Kawanatanga Māori – ensuring effectiveness of Māori who lead conservation activities for taonga species
  • RA4 Landscape-level restoration of taonga
  • RA5 Protocols for the effective long-term seed collection and storage of taonga to ensure that the species can survive even the worst-case scenario

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Maintainer Anna Tier
Last Updated February 28, 2024, 14:17 (NZDT)
Created October 4, 2023, 11:44 (NZDT)
Publisher Nga Rakau Taketake
Publication Year 2023
Start Date 2019
End Date 2023