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Transforming Antarctic management and policy with an Indigenous Māori lens

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 5, pages 1055–1059 (2021)Cite this article

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 15 June 2021

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Global conceptions of Antarctica are dominated by colonial narratives despite an ostensibly collaborative paradigm. We argue that an Indigenous Māori framework centring relational thinking and connectedness, humans and non-human kin, and drawing on concepts of both reciprocity and responsibility, offers transformational insight into true collective management and conservation of Antarctica.

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Fig. 1: Timeline of major events in humanity’s connection to Antarctica, including Māori narratives of exploration.
Fig. 2: Simplified diagram of the food-web of the Ross Sea region, Antarctica.

Matt Pinkerton, NIWA.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by MBIE grant C01x1710; RDF LCR-14-001 to P.M.W. and MAU-18-001 to K.W.; and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand

    Priscilla M. Wehi

  2. Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand

    Priscilla M. Wehi

  3. School of Humanities, Massey University, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

    Vincent van Uitregt & Krushil Watene

  4. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Whare o Te Waipounamu, Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand

    Nigel J. Scott, Tasman Gillies & Rata Pryor Rodgers

  5. Hocken Collections, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand

    Jacinta Beckwith

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  1. Priscilla M. Wehi
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  2. Vincent van Uitregt
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  3. Nigel J. Scott
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  4. Tasman Gillies
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  7. Krushil Watene
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Correspondence to Priscilla M. Wehi.

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Peer review information Nature Ecology & Evolution thanks Justine Shaw and Marjo Vierros for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Wehi, P.M., van Uitregt, V., Scott, N.J. et al. Transforming Antarctic management and policy with an Indigenous Māori lens. Nat Ecol Evol 5, 1055–1059 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01466-4

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