Toitū te Hakapupu: Restoration of the Pleasant River – a documentary journey

Project Summary

This project is part of a ‘circular economy’ research project based on a Jobs for Nature’ [J4N] river restoration programme, Toitū te Hakapupu, being undertaken by Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki (Puketeraki) in East Otago. 

A CE aims to optimize circular material flows to reduce resource consumption and environmental impacts and is said to have 3 principles:

1. design out waste and pollution; 
2. keep products and materials in use; 
3. regenerate nature. 

Using Tuck & McKenzie’s (2015) ‘critical place enquiry’ that puts Indigenous theories, methodologies, and methods at the centre of research, CE project funding is supporting Puketeraki to develop a visual documentary of the process. This includes capturing both direct engagement activities with the river as well as associated cultural engagement through waiata, pūraku, whakatauki, and taoka puoro. 

Research and filming aim to reflect how rural Māori communities conceptualise and practise CE thereby extending and redefining the concept, particularly in relation to the third CE principle: regenerate nature. The longer objective is that, through both physical and creative cultural engagement, there will be an inter-generational desire to sustain the health and well-being of the river and the wider communities and hapū who make up the Puketeraki takiwā.

Project Lead

Katharina Ruckstuhl, Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne ki Wairau, University of Otago