Davina Merepeka Thompson

MEA acknowledges the work of Davina and her untimely passing on October 1, 2024.  E te tūāhine, Moe mai i roto i te āhurutanga o tō tūpuna.

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Introduction:

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Davina Merepeka Thompson (Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) was a passionate advocate for environmental stewardship, who served as a Kaimahi for Te Arawa Lakes Trust. Starting as a volunteer, Davina transitioned into a paid role, helping to inspire others to manage freshwater pest species around the lakes. With strong Ngāti Rangitihi roots, she brought a deep connection to her mahi.

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Holding a Master’s in Indigenous Studies, Davina’s research focused on the maramataka and the impact it has on our taiao and our people, particularly about how she uses the maramataka in her environmental work. Her expertise extended to policy where she contributed to the Environment Aotearoa 2022 Synthesis Report for the Ministry for the Environment, using Matariki as a guiding framework. Davina was dedicated to incorporating mātauranga Māori into New Zealand’s environmental policies.

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Brown Bullhead Catfish (Ameiurus Nebulosus)are prolific freshwater pests that prey on taonga species such as koura, molluscs and small fish.  Te Arawa Lakes Trust take their role as Kaitiaki of their water ways and natural resources through strategic partnerships and leading various freshwater research projects, targeted netting, the delivery of Catfish Killa’s , education in school programmes and the introducing sterilised catfish into their lakes to move towards total eradication of this pest in their Tribal territories.

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Davina’s Wisdom: 

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• ‍The value of mātauranga Māori: In connection to her research and studies, Davina highlighted the relevance of mātauranga Māori, specifically applying insights from the maramataka in understanding natural cycles and how they influence the behaviour of catfish. Her research demonstrated that ancestral knowledge is still highly applicable today. “There was clear evidence that mātauranga Māori is inside the maramataka, our people, our ancestors, they just knew. And that was probably one of my best research findings.”

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• ‍Integrating maramataka into policy and practice: Davina advocated for the inclusion of maramataka experts within government agencies to influence environmental policies. She believed maramataka should be central to understanding the natural world and aligning human activities with these cycles, which also benefits personal and environmental health. “We're not separate from the taiao… Our behaviours are aligned with the maramataka… When you look at the maramataka, then you'll realise, ‘Oh, it's because it's a Tamatea phase, or it's because it's a Rakaunui phase or it might be a Tangaroa phase.’”

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• ‍Importance of employing local kaitiaki: Davina shared a powerful example from her son, who discovered the underwater nests of catfish, challenging DOC’s earlier assumptions that they primarily inhabit and nest on land. This experience reinforced her belief that effective freshwater management hinges on employing local kaitiaki who intimately understand the whenua and wai. She emphasised that hiring locals with a deep, lived connection to the area leads to better outcomes than relying solely on individuals with formal qualifications. “You can get someone else that might have a tohu or something in that mahi, but I think they'll be saving a lot of time and knowledge if they employed whānau that live from the land… Because no one knows the land better than the kaitiaki.”

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• ‍Visual communication for Māori communities: She shared how her son used a phone to capture the underwater discovery of catfish nests, highlighting the power of visual tools in environmental work. She highlighted the importance of using photos, infographics, and other visual aids to make environmental reports and findings accessible, particularly for those who may struggle with written text. “If you do the infographics and the pictures… Give them a phone or an iPad so they can picture moments.”  This approach ensures that important information is shared in a way that resonates with whānau and supports deeper engagement.

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• ‍Recognising the value of practical knowledge: Davina challenged the stigma around formal qualifications, noting that Māori knowledge should be valued equally to Western system qualifications. Her experience in living with dyslexia demonstrates the power of innovation and courage over formal education. “For some people, (scientists) they'll see your mahi and they'll be like, ‘Eh.’ That's not even tika. They like to belittle us as  little Māori researchers.”

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• ‍A call for change in employment practices: Davina stressed that employing Māori in environmental roles should not restrict them to office jobs, instead, they should be given the opportunity to work on the land and waterways they are kaitiaki of. She shared her frustration with current practices where Māori are hired but confined to office work, which limits their ability to protect and care for the environment. “Don't bloody put us in an office… We need to be out on the land because you can't just write reports about things, you need to understand it intimately, be in relationship with the whenua and the wai..”

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• ‍Challenges with freshwater pest management: Davina reflected on the significant threat posed by pest species, such as catfish and invasive weeds, to freshwater systems. She highlighted the critical importance of cleaning, drying, and checking boats and trailers to prevent the spread of these pests. “All it needs is like a little blade of pest weed and then it'll just take over an entire lake and suffocate the lake.”

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• ‍Reconsidering waterway management: Davin a criticised the way urban planning in New Zealand often disregards the natural flow of water, contrasting it with places like Japan, where cities are built around waterways, respecting their natural course. “In New Zealand, it's the other way around. But in Japan, the cities are built around the natural paths of the water.”

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Davina Recommended:

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• ‍Employ local kaitiaki for freshwater management: Prioritise hiring local kaitiaki with deep knowledge of the whenua and wai to ensure effective, culturally aligned pest management.

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• ‍Integrate maramataka into freshwater management practices: Incorporate maramataka experts to align pest management actions with natural cycles for better timing and outcomes.

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• ‍Recognise the value of practical and Indigenous knowledge: Value mātauranga Māori equally alongside formal qualifications, empowering Māori researchers and practitioners in decision-making.

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• ‍Reform employment practices for Māori staff: Enable Māori staff to engage with the land and water in their roles, allowing them to act as kaitiaki and apply their mātauranga.

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• ‍Use visual and culturally accessible communication tools: Create visual, photo-based communication tools to make biosecurity data more accessible to Māori communities.

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• ‍Enhance biosecurity education on pest species: Strengthen public education on cleaning and checking boats to prevent the spread of invasive species, using culturally relevant messaging.

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• ‍Reconsider urban planning to respect natural waterways: Promote infrastructure planning that respects natural water flows, ensuring future projects align with Te Ao Māori values.

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In summary:

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Davina’s insights highlighted the critical role of incorporating mātauranga Māori into freshwater management systems. She advocated for employing local kaitiaki who have a deep connection to the land and water, integrating maramataka practices to better align environmental management with natural cycles, and ensuring practical Māori knowledge is valued equally alongside other Western/ formal qualifications. By using culturally relevant visual tools and reconsidering how urban planning interacts with natural waterways, DOC can enhance its collaboration with Māori communities, empowering them to exercise kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga in freshwater pest management.

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Photo © Sunday Star Times/Healthy Families Rotorua