Living Labs - INDIGENOUS INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP

Te Kori a Te Kō - Redefining our sustainable, prosperous future 

Location: Ōnuku Marae, Akaroa
Time: 8am – 6pm
Details: Depart Te Pae at 8am for a 2 hour drive to Akaroa. You will return to Te Pae by 6pm. Lunch is provided at the Marae.

Te Kori a te Kō is the name of an indigenous-led climate change adaptation programme that is inspired by the past, reaching into origin stories, and gives voice to the connection to whenua and moana. It encapsulates five projects, all of which are centred on Akaroa Harbour as the compass, teacher and guide for this kaupapa. The five projects are interwoven to break down silos and apply holistic, multi-objective planning and thinking to climate change adaptation.

Come join us at Ōnuku Marae for a full-day living lab that will take you on a journey of Te Kori a te Kō, the programme which flips climate change adaptation planning on its head. It integrates both bottom-up and top-down frameworks, but most importantly, it starts with action. From its conception, Te Kori a te Kō came from the position that hapū members would never read a plan; many were either frightened or disinterested in climate change. As such, a different approach to engagement had to be taken. The other position taken was that mātauranga taiao (traditional Māori ecological knowledge) and Western science had to be woven together and that growing knowledge in both is a critical component in building climate resilience.

Through wānanga, the programme has brought together whānau, rangatahi, community leaders, climate science experts, local government representatives, and freshwater ecologists to share ideas, fears, and expertise and to start the conversation of how we can work collaboratively to shape a more resilient future.

You will also visit Takapūneke Reserve, a sacred site to Ngāi Tahu and a site of significance to the nation. Here you see how the stories of place have been told through the landscape and how Ōnuku Rūnanga, with the support of Christchurch City Council and the wider community, have been re-cloaking this whenua to restore mauri and mana to people and place.  Takapūneke is a living example of how powerful the interface between climate change adaptation, protection, and restoration of a sacred site, and the reclaiming of Indigenous identity through storytelling and art can be.

Ōnuku is located on the shores of Akaroa Harbour, home to hapū Ngāti Irakehu and Ngāi Tārewa and represented by Ōnuku Rūnanga. The takiwā of which, is centred on Ōnuku and the hills and coasts of the Akaroa Harbour.

Please bring a water bottle. 

Te Whakamahi o te Mātai Arorangi mō te Urutau Āhuarangi – Whakangungu, Rangahau, me te Ako-a-Tāngata 

Enhancing Earth Observation for Climate Adaptation – Training, Case Studies, and On-Site Learning

Location: Rehua Marae and Kaitorete / Birdlings Flat 
Time: 9.00am – 5pm
Details: Depart Te Pae at 9.00am for Rehua Marae. After lunch (a packed lunch will be provided) you will head to Kaitorete, before returning to Te Pae by 5pm. This full-day Living Lab will explore Indigenous leadership in climate adaptation through a training session at Rehua Marae.

This full-day Living Lab will explore Indigenous leadership in climate adaptation through a training session at the University of Canterbury with the European Space Agency (ESA) on climate data tools, followed by a research-focused session showcasing academic work that has engaged with Māori communities. The day will conclude with a field trip to Tāwhaki – National Aerospace at Kaitorete/ Birdlings Flat, where innovation and Indigenous-led adaptation intersect. Through the lens of intersectional and community-led adaptation, we will examine how factors such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status influence adaptation strategies, and how empowering communities strengthens climate resilience. Discussions will highlight resilience through cultural continuity, exploring how adaptation efforts not only mitigate climate impacts but also protect cultural heritage, maintain community cohesion, and prevent displacement in ways that honour Indigenous values. The workshop will also address capacity building and partnerships, identifying strategies that ensure long-term leadership, resource accessibility, and sustainable adaptation efforts. Participants will engage directly with Indigenous innovators, researchers, and policymakers who are shaping climate resilience initiatives. Aligning with the Indigenous Innovation and Leadership theme, this Living Lab provides a practical and immersive experience in how Indigenous knowledge—developed over generations—continues to inform cutting-edge adaptation strategies. 

Please note that moderate walking will be involved; a water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended.