Mauriora ki ngā Oi – Hauraki traditional knowledge of grey-faced petrels

About this research

In this research project, Hauraki traditional knowledge concerning the harvest of oi (oi, grey-faced petrel, Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) on the Ruamaahua (Aldermen) Islands was recorded and analysed.  The harvest of oi linked Hauraki individuals to culture, ancestors, individual well-being and tribal identity.  It also maintained mana, kaitiaki responsibilities and traditional knowledge systems. Daily catch rates of oi chicks (and number of birders) have declined in some circumstances by as much as 87% between 1950 and 2007.

Traditional strategies for sustaining oi populations included: (i) selection of chicks in the intermediate stage of growth allowing those in a more advanced state to escape; (ii) harvesting chicks towards the end of the adult provisioning period to minimise disturbance; (iii) creating breeding space by splitting burrows; (iv) annual rotation of harvest around islands to enhance escapement in some years; (v) assigning partial island refuges to enhance escapement; (vi) respecting the mauri (life force) of the oi by not leaving chick remains on the islands and causing abandonment; and (vii) designating a rāhui (temporary harvest prohibition) on islands to rest colonies from harvest. Indigenous knowledge can provide valuable insights into population dynamics and strategies for managing a species, as well as to prioritise research to safe-guard the population, traditional knowledge, and cultural well-being of the harvesting community.

Outputs

Publications
•    Lyver, P.O’B. Group (2008). Hauraki Māori Traditional Knowledge for the Conservation and Harvest of Oi (Pterodroma macroptera gouldi) in New Zealand. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, (in press).
•    Moller, H. and Lyver, P.O’B. (2008). Using Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Improved Sustainability: Case Studies from Four Customary Wildlife Harvests by Māori in New Zealand. In: Indigenous People and Biodiversity Conservation. Conservation International, Arlington, USA, (in press).
•    Lyver, P.O’B. and Moller, H. (in press).  An Alternate Reality: Building the Māori Ontology of New Zealand’s Native Birds into Conservation. In: Ethno-ornithology: Global Studies in Indigenous Ornithology: Culture, Society and Conservation. Earthscan Publications, Port Lincoln, Australia.

Conference Presentations
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2005). The Scientization of Traditional Knowledge: Monitoring Large Populations. Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society Conference, 22-24 September 2005, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
•    Anderson, A. (2005). Presentation of Hauraki and Environmental Resource Management in New Zealand to senior students and Inuit community at the Arctic College, Iqaluit, Canada on 18 September 2005.
•    Ngāmane, L and Waitai, F. (2007). Mauriora ki Ngā Oi - Pare Hauraki Making Its Mark in the 21st Century. Hauraki Taumata Rau – 2007 Matariki Celebrations, Thames Civic Centre, 4 August 2007.
•    Jones, C. (2007). Combining Science and Hauraki Mātauranga to Manage Grey-faced Petrels on New Zealand's Offshore Islands. New Zealand Ecological Society Conference, 22 November 2007, Christchurch, New Zealand.
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2008). A Place for Mātauranga Māori in New Zealand’s Conservation. Jane Goodall World Fundraising Tour.  Wellington Zoo, Wellington, New Zealand, 18 October 2008.

Newsletter Articles
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2006). Hauraki Initiates Research on its Northern Muttonbird. Titi Times, 17: 1-3.
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2006). Oi Commands attention. Discovery, 15: 8-9.
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2007). Mātauranga Oi - Hauraki Traditional Knowledge of the Grey-faced Petrel. Te Taiao a Ruamaahua, 2: 14.
•    Lyver, P.O’B. (2007). Hauraki Mātauranga Titi. Te Taiao a Ruamaahua, 3: 3-5.