Murihiku Regeneration
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    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
    • Just Transition
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Research and Monitoring

Murihiku Regeneration is working with partner Heritage Expeditions and with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to carry out research and monitoring in the Ross Sea Sector from Murihiku to Antarctica.

Our research supports the objectives of the Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the wider context of how this region is linked to Murihiku/Te Waipounamu.

This programme represents the first indigenous-led Antarctic Research Programme in the world.

A partnership for conservation and knowledge

The Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga team includes Ngāi Tahu, DOC staff, technical experts, and researchers.

The Director of the Murihiku ki Te Tonga Programme is Riki Nicholas. The Project Manager is Murihiku Regeneration’s Senior Science Programme Advisor Dr Regina Eisert, who is a member of both national committees, the Antarctic Working Group convened by the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Royal Society Te Apārangi National Committee on Antarctic Sciences. Programme Director Riki Nicholas and Science Advisor Dr Regina Eisert on expedition in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Photo: C. AitchisonProgramme Director Riki Nicholas and Science Advisor Dr Regina Eisert on expedition in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Photo: C. Aitchison

Research context

Marine predators such as seabirds, seals, and whales integrate changes in marine productivity due to both natural cycles and the long-term shifts in baselines resulting from climate change.

Historic records such as the tītī harvest kept by Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku provide a priceless archive of climate information and closely track El Niño-Southern Ocean (ENSO) events.

Find out more: Changes in sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus chick production and harvest precede ENSO events.

First research expedition - February 2023

Leaving from Bluff in February 2023, our team will travel due south to the Subantarctic Islands and on to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica on the Heritage Adventurer.

We will deploy the advanced remote sensing technology to study whales, seals, and seabirds as key tohu (ecological indicators).

Building on mātauranga Māori, we will develop comprehensive and accurate indices for the state of a marine ecosystem increasingly impacted by fishing, climate change, and human activities. Our approach will address existing critical information gaps and provide the information needed for the effective conservation and management of the region.

Kākahi (killer whales) are the largest member of the dolphin family and the Ocean’s true top predator.Kākahi (killer whales) are the largest member of the dolphin family and the Ocean’s true top predator.

In this section

  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • Anamata Māia: Brave, Bold & Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Research and Monitoring
    • Green Energy
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Working Group - Meet the Team
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
      • Lake Onslow Hydro Scheme
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
    • Tiwai Future
      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Just Transition
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Green Hydrogen Project (SGH)

Latest news

Nominations now open for Murihiku whanau to be a part of creating a new brand of identity for Green Energy Project

Murihiku Regeneration is coordinating the establishment of a new Cultural Identity Group to creating a new brand identity for the Southern Green Hydrogen Project. Nominations are now open for applications to be a part of this group. Southern Green Hydrogen is the name given to a hydrogen facility… Read more

© 2023 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • Anamata Māia: Brave, Bold & Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Research and Monitoring
    • Green Energy
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Working Group - Meet the Team
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
      • Lake Onslow Hydro Scheme
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
    • Tiwai Future
      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Just Transition
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Green Hydrogen Project (SGH)
  • Latest News
  • Contact