We know communication pathways should not only include logic and facts but also people’s lived experience. The way we discuss sea-level rise needs to be inclusive of different knowledge systems and diverse perspectives that reflect individual beliefs, values and heritage.
We will establish methods to assess, communicate, and mitigate anxiety and risk associated with sea level driven hazards to our coastal environments, communities, and infrastructure.
Ka mua, ka muri – stories of coastal change past, present, and future
We will weave mātauranga, pūrākau, maramataka, geological records, and future projections to convey the concept of change and adaptation. These activities will enhance community understanding of Te Ao Māori and systems science and the connections between them. We will research if concern and anxiety regarding environmental change reduces as people recognise that change is constant and has a long history. We will also test whether placing current and projected rates and magnitude of change in the context of longer-term shifts will highlight the need to act and adapt now.
Monitoring climate anxiety and engagement with climate change adaptation over time
We will use a novel mixed-methods approach, consisting of wānanga, storytelling, focus groups, in-depth interviews and a longitudinal survey. This allows us to explore people’s engagement with climate change adaptation in-depth, and over time. We will primarily engage with high school and university students – the generations that will face the consequences of climate change. Te Ao Maori worldviews will be central to our research, in recognising humanity as part of the natural world and understanding the intrinsic and reciprocal link between human and planetary health.
Evaluate the impact of sea-level rise visualisation tools on climate change adaptation
Through our longitudinal surveys, we will be able to establish the extent to which visualisation tools that communicate the impact of sea-level rise are effective in alleviating climate anxiety and increasing engagement with climate change adaptation. We will also examine differences between coastal communities in their response to climate change.
Evaluate risk associated with integrated time evolving coastal hazards for selected case studies
Our Team
Mawera Karetai, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and Wokje Abrahamse, Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, will lead this element of the programme. They are supported by Billy van Uitregt (Ngā Rauru), Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, and Kyle Bland, Earth Sciences New Zealand (formally GNS Science), who will facilitate Māori-led and science-enabled case studies. Joanne Murray (Te Rarawa, Te Hiku) will use her connections to assess, communicate, and mitigate risk. Rebecca Priestley, Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, will lead a project on the history of climate and sea-level science.