Credit: Victoria University of Wellington

Tongariro National Park is not just centrally located鈥攊t's a central part of New Zealand culture.

The is home to Mount Ruapehu, known as Koro (grandfather) to local iwi Ng膩ti Rangi. His slopes and the surrounding park are home to several supporting many of New Zealand's unique plant species鈥攕ites that, like many other around the world, are under threat from change.

Dr. Julie Deslippe from the School of Biological Sciences is working with Ng膩ti Rangi and the Department of Conservation to help determine how climate change will affect the taonga tipu (sacred ) living in the park and how they can be protected."If we don't work to address the impacts of climate change, the landscapes we engage with on a cultural and spiritual level will be gone. Biodiversity underpins everything鈥攖he air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate we live in," Julie says.

Julie's project began by gathering knowledge from Ng膩ti Rangi on what plants in the area are used by the iwi and their cultural significance. These interviews, led by Ng膩ti Rangi iwi member Deborah Te Riaki, identified 45 of the most culturally significant plants in the park. Julie's team then collected data on where these plants grew in the park and how abundant they were. The , led by Ph.D. student Justyna Giejsztowt, also employed two local school students from Ng膩ti Rangi, providing a unique on-the-job training opportunity in their own rohe.

"Working with Ng膩ti Rangi on this project was essential," Julie says. "The exchange of cultural and ecological knowledge among the members of the team provided a much more holistic understanding of the place."

There are two major threats to the taonga tipu in Tongariro National Park鈥攊ncreasing temperatures, and the invasion of European heather, a problem weed. Julie's team created digital models of how these risk factors would impact a representative sample of five of the 45 plants identified by Ng膩ti Rangi.

Julie says, regardless of the degree of warming, all models predict increasing infestation of heather in the park, with negative consequences for the spread of taonga tipu in the park. However, Julie believes New Zealand has the ability to use this knowledge to make real progress in countering climate change.

"Now we have more information, we can make an informed decision on how to counter this threat and figure out which conservation tools could help preserve these landscapes," Julie says. "We have the political will and expertise, and the bicultural dialog in New Zealand is world-leading鈥攊f we can manage anywhere, it's here."

An expert from Ng膩ti Rangi is using the information gathered as part of this project to create educational resources for children to help educate all New Zealanders about taonga tipu and how we can help preserve them for future generations.

"We want to help preserve m膩tauranga M膩ori," Julie says.

Provided by Victoria University of Wellington