95bFM Despite recent concerning environmental findings, experts say there is still time to act
13 April, 2025
Interview by Oto Sequiera, adapted by Sara Mckoy
The health of our taiao is declining, but Kaihautū Research Impact Leader, Shaun Awatere, is hopeful that collective action between Indigenous communities and the government could help reverse the damage being inflicted on biodiversity in Aotearoa.
The Ministry of Environment has recently released its three-yearly Our Environment Report for 2025, detailing the effect of land use on New Zealand’s ecosystems and biodiversity.
Key findings show many native species, including all Indigenous bat species and 91% of Indigenous seabirds, are at risk of extinction, half of all lakes are contaminated and in poor health, marine heatwaves have become more frequent, intense, and long-lasting, and all issues of environmental health are foreseen to be exacerbated by the climate crisis.
Kaihautū Research Impact Leader at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Shaun Awatere, told 95bFM’s, The Wire, that the report, which is peer-reviewed, is initiating necessary action on environmental degradation.
"In today’s world, [environmental monitoring is important because] social media echo chambers often shape how we interact with the environment and each other, and facts can sometimes be twisted to fit different agendas.”
The Environment Aotearoa Report shows a downward trend in the state and quality of New Zealand’s environmental health, with critical impacts for our biodiversity and the livelihoods of tangata whenua.
Citing specific examples of ngahere degradation, ocean acidification, and mounting pressures on the marine environment, Awatere says this report reflects the threat of natural resource misuse against iwi with close connections to their environment.
“A lot of whānau rely on those taonga species as part of their lifestyles and their wellbeing, and just to survive.”
“When you do have land use changes or impacts that [affect] the quality of those key taonga species, then it becomes quite difficult for people to be able to sustain themselves, both on a physical level and also on a cultural level as well.”
However, Awatere maintains an optimistic perspective on how collaborative efforts can reverse environmental degradation.
“That sense of community, achieved through a collective approach, is where we're going to get positive gains with respect to improving the environment… [but] it's critical that the Crown actually acknowledges the need for co-governance models and shared decision-making in resource management,” he says.
Awatere’s primary message is that there is hope.
As experts work hard to find solutions to environmental issues, Indigenous leaders utilise mātauranga Māori to the benefit of natural ecosystems, and young people continue to play a central role in advocating for environmental policies — Awatere remains hopeful that New Zealand will recognise the importance of addressing land misuse and work together to protect the environment
“Ko au ko te taiao, ko te taiao ko au — I am the environment, the environment is me.”
