$2.87m granted for landscape research study
The Landscape Foundation congratulates Massey University for a successful proposal to the Endeavour Round of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Massey University of Palmerston North have received approval for a $2,870,000 grant for a Māori landscape classification research project.
The study is to be GIS-based adopting a multi-disciplinary approach linking science and mātauranga Māori. The study will document Māori cultural knowledge working with iwi/hapū partnerships.
Ngā Aho, the Māori designers network have advised Massey University of their support for the project, and they hope their members will contribute. Te Tau a Nuku, the landscape architects group of Ngā Aho have a particular interest in wider knowledge arising from the study and have expertise which may assist the Massey researchers. The project He Tātai Whenua: A Te Ao Māori landscape classification, sets out ‘to create an international standard for the translation of cultural and historical knowledge into data structures’.
Landscape Foundation Trustees are investigating a project adopting GIS mapping of a range of existing information and studies about landscapes throughout New Zealand as a means of coordinating and making more widely available this information. Massey University’s innovative and interesting study looks set to fill the gap in current GIS-based information for cultural landscapes in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
The Press of Christchurch highlighted the grant on Monday October 2 with a description of the kaupapa Māori methodology, but on the same day a Dominion Post columnist could not conceive that Māori knowledge and western science could be bridged. The Landscape Foundation know that such bridging has benefitted health information and knowledge as well as education and other areas of landscape practice.
The Landscape Foundation looks forward to reporting information on the study’s progress, and will be in contact with the lead researchers.
Lead researchers: Jon Proctor and Simon Hills of Massey, Palmerston North.
