About this research
Intern
Aria Ngarimu, Victoria University of Wellington
Supervisor
Dr Kenneth Taiapa, Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou, University of Otago
Overview
Global climate change has been a defining intergenerational issue, increasingly undermining public health initiatives and outcomes both within and across borders (Bennett et al., 2020). Weather instability, rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, extreme droughts, and floods have placed, and will continue to place, significant pressure on humanity’s ability to survive on Earth (Willett et al., 2019). As a result, internationally, climate change and 'eco-anxiety' (Coffey et al., 2021) — referring to distress caused by ecological crises — has increasingly been recognised as a key driver of mental and emotional distress (Hickman et al., 2021).
Due to their close connections with the natural world, Indigenous Peoples have been among the most vulnerable to experiencing adverse mental health impacts from climate change (Vecchio et al., 2022; Coffey et al., 2021). Despite this recognition, there has been a notable lack of literature on the correlation between climate change and mental health, especially the mental health impacts on Indigenous Peoples globally. Recent damage caused by Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in Te Tai Rāwhiti has been matched by the profound emotional toll on whānau and communities who depend on growing and gathering kai for sustenance.
This internship aimed to address the critical shortage of literature in this field by providing insight into the ways climate change has impacted the mental health of Indigenous Peoples.
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He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi: Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing
He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi: Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing. These groundbreaking works celebrate Māori futures rooted in kaupapa Māori values while fostering pathways for responsible relationships, meaningful lives, and flourishing Indigenous wellbeing economies. By emphasising the central role of whānau, these publications provide actionable insights and inspiration for transformative change in economic and cultural systems.
This internship compiled a database of traditional Māori food preservation practices to better understand archaeological midden sites and mahinga kai history. Working with Otago’s SPAR team, the project links historical knowledge with contemporary preservation techniques across Aotearoa.
View projectInvestigating traditional mahinga kai practices of preservation throughout Aotearoa
This internship compiled a database of traditional Māori food preservation practices to better understand archaeological midden sites and mahinga kai history.
Working with Otago’s SPAR team, the project links historical knowledge with contemporary preservation techniques across Aotearoa.