Sprouts of knowledge: Weaving New Knowledge with the Resonance of Ancient Rhythms.

Jovan, Mokaraka-Harris (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Wai), Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Wai

In the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, prior to our arrival, the native flora, fauna and resources had evolved biologically into unique ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. Over the course of our settled history we have incited substantial changes to the once isolated ecological landscape, leading to the extinction and endangering of many of the unique ecological systems.

Through the transformation of the Aotearoa landscape, its ecological and social systems are increasingly becoming distanced from their ancient landscape ecology. We, as settlers, have sought to imitate the ancient songs of distant socio-ecological systems and thus forgotten to listen to the place-specific natural processes, ecological relationships and ever-changing environments already embedded in the landscape.

This research at its core will seek to understand the often overlooked ecological systems and relationships woven within our pre-settler ancient natural landscape. The ecological understandings brought into the light through an application of mixed methods and the multidisciplinary partnership of knowledge has

the potential to illuminate new and innovative ideas as to how future societies and communities are structured and operate environmentally, culturally and economically.