How Climate Change Is Affecting New Zealand’s Maori Communities

These communities are situated in vulnerable locations, a result of historical injustices that have pushed them onto flood plains and near the sea. With their fields ruined and vital community buildings like the wharenui (meeting house) and preschool damaged, the Maori people in Tangoio are living the reality of Climate change.

The storm, which claimed 11 lives and displaced over 10,000 people, did not discriminate in its path of destruction. However, the barriers to recovery are more pronounced in Indigenous communities. They face high rates of homelessness and economic disadvantage, issues that are only exacerbated by extreme weather events.

Authorities have deemed the land in Tangoio too risky to inhabit, leaving the community at a crossroads. The government’s buyout plan, although well-intentioned, fails to consider the deep spiritual connection the Maori people have to their ancestral land, as well as the complexities of shared land ownership.

The Tangoio community is determined to restore their marae (sacred meeting ground) and provide a space for their people to return to. However, they face the challenging question of managed retreat: when is it time to move, and where do they go? Their landholdings have been reduced significantly, and with six major floods since their relocation to this floodplain, the urgency to find a solution is palpable.

While relocation might seem like a viable option, it brings forth a slew of challenges. There’s the need to maintain the community’s connection to their ancestral land, and the practical issues of finding suitable land that is both safe and able to foster the Maori way of life.

The Maori communities of New Zealand are resilient, having faced and overcome numerous challenges in the past. However, Climate change is presenting a new kind of challenge. It is a test of their resilience, but also a call to action for the rest of the world to pay attention and lend a helping hand. As these communities navigate the difficult path of recovery and relocation, they remind us of the urgent need to address climate change and work together for a sustainable future.

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