01 June, 2016 by Staff Reporter
On Friday 8 April, 2016, The Antarctic Report hosted a conference in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, called Sea Level Rise: Implementing Adaptation Strategies. The conference brought together international experts, as well as New Zealand’s leading policy makers, scientists and key industry representatives, to showcase effective adaptation strategies to manage the impact of sea level rise in New Zealand.
In the eighth presentation of the series, John Perrott, associate director and kaitiaki scientist at the Institute for Applied Ecology at Auckland University of Technology, explains the value of kotahitanga, a concept of unity through equity management, in communicating science-led sustainability strategies for adaptation to climate change and sea level rise. This includes indigenous engagement and integrating Matauranga Maori (knowledge) into national policies for managing the impact of sea level rise to natural resources such as taonga species, wahi tapu (spiritually and culturally important spaces) and fresh water sources.
John Perrott is associate director and a kaitiaki scientist at the Institute for Applied Ecology at Auckland University of Technology, which includes management of the vision matauranga strategy, an initiative that involves communicating science to indigenous groups. He is of Pakeha, Te Arawa and Ngati Whakaue descent.
John has 20 years’ experience in lecturing on ecology and conservation biology, with recent research including investigations into environmental tolerances and size distributions of invasive land snail populations, designing and facilitating insect and small mammal tracking, and monitoring system experiments for biosecurity and conservation applications. John has additional interests in the use of educational technology systems for achieving greater Maori representation in the biological sciences.
At present, John is helping to develop entry-level whanau-based study programs that integrate self-directed and peer-mentoring methods with innovative educational technologies.
Sea Level Rise: Implementing Adaptation Strategies was organised in association with AUT and The Royal Society of New Zealand.
