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Tangata · NPM Researcher

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt

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Kaihautū Ngātahi – Co-Director Māori

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. She is an indigenous environmental sociologist, passionate about the environment, indigenous rights and the empowerment of communities to manage their own resources. 

Melanie reprised her BioHeritage role as Kaihautū Ngātahi – Co-Director Māori in April 2023, working in partnership with Co-Director, Daniel Patrick, on strategic priorities and building strategic links with Māori and indigenous researchers, groups and entities.

In addition to her BioHeritage mahi, Melanie is the Chief Executive of Te Tira Whakamātaki, also providing governance, direction and support to a number of boards and groups including the Resilience to Nature’s Challenges National Science Challenge, the Project Crimson Trust, the Collaboration Council at B3 Better Border Biosecurity, Tāpui Aotearoa, and more recently was the former Deputy Secretary – Tūmatakōkiri (Maori Rights and Interest) for the Ministry for the Environment.

Rangahau · Related projects

Scoping project

Te Tira Whakamātaki – Māori Biosecurity, protecting our taonga for future generations
Whare wānanga · Host Lincoln University
Wā rangahau · Timeline Commenced 2016

Our main question is ‘do hapū and Iwi views and practices provide an alternative paradigm to New Zealand’s biosecurity system to better protect our taonga species? Māori have developed practices and methods such as the use of ritenga (customs, laws, and protocols) and whakapapa (species assemblages within a holistic ecosystem paradigm) to mitigate risks and…

View project

Ētahi atu · Other people

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