Ocean Ripeka Mercier

In Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ), Norway rats ‘ Rattus norvegicus ’ have a grievous effect on many taonga ‘culturally prized’ species of flora and fauna. This is of concern to Indigenous Māori as customary and future guardians of the natural environment. This ecological crisis has prompted consideration of new management tools to aid the existing suite of tools. Scientists are exploring a next-generation transgenic tool, single-sex offspring selection (SSOS), theoretically capable of producing a landscape-scale population-collapse for Norway rats. As novel biotechnologies, like SSOS, are often framed within Western-scientific understandings, this research sought to recentre Māori opinions in Predator-free Aotearoa 2050-focused discourse and gauge the degrees of acceptability – or otherwise – of SSOS. 20 participants engaged with a video ‘primer’ explaining SSOS, of which 18 undertook Q-Method preference rankings, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews or focus groups to determine degree of acceptance for various aspects of SSOS in pest control. Data analysis identified three ‘factors’ that capture the divergent views subgroups have about SSOS: those being, Factor 1, Kia māia ‘Be bold’ as the potential benefits of SSOS warrant further exploration; Factor 2, Kia tūpato ‘Be careful’ to ensure risks are mitigated as we await ‘proof of concept’; and Factor 3, Kia mataara ‘Be alert’ to the potential for unintended consequences. Overall, while most support ongoing research into next-generational rat-control methods, including SSOS, the consensus view, Kia tika ‘Be just, correct’ indicates such support is caveated with concerns about safety and risk, and the degree to which Māori, as an 1840 Tiriti o Waitangi co-signatory, exercise tino rangatiratanga ‘absolute chieftainship’ over the decision-making and management of taonga , invasive, and transgenic species alike.

Pests such as invasive exotic wasps and rats are a serious threat to Aotearoa New Zealand’s native species, and the country has been working toward the New Zealand government’s target of eliminating rats, possums, and mustelids by 2050. Since current control methods lack the efficiency and scalability to eradicate mammalian predators and pest invertebrates like wasps, gene technologies are being considered and developed as additional methods of control. Social studies to gauge public perceptions on these novel technologies have also been conducted, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous viewpoints and the importance of societal compacts, particularly Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi). Conservation volunteers and environmental specialists are uniquely experienced and positioned to inform decisions on which technologies are developed and how, but 1) what are their views on genetic technologies for pest control and 2) how do they expect gene technology for pest control to be discussed and developed? To help answer these two questions, we conducted a new analysis of a dataset of 8,199 nationwide survey responses, 23 in-depth surveys of wasp control volunteers, and 18 interviews with rat and wasp control volunteers and environmental experts, using Q-methodology. All of the conservation volunteers, scientists, academics, and environmental professionals expect that risks associated with the technology are carefully and fully identified and mitigated against. A majority cautiously supports gene technologies for their potential to more effectively control pests. A significant minority supports gene technologies for pest control under certain conditions, most significantly if Māori as Tiriti partners are also supportive. A smaller minority has doubts and concerns about gene technologies for pest control and raises important considerations for scientists and policy-makers alike. Addressing all of these concerns, supported by Tiriti-based decision-making processes, will facilitate consensus-based discussions and decisions on genetic technology use.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, gene technology is currently governed by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Recent Tiriti-led research has resulted in nationwide collaborations with mana whenua towards the culturally inclusive development of gene technology for invasive species management. This article reviews the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act’s fitness for purpose from a Māori and Tiriti perspective. We make recommendations for future legislative review, including that regulation and policy ‘give effect to’ te Tiriti/the Treaty, that whakapapa and mauri considerations are accounted for in gene technology regulation, and that cultural impact assessments are based on whakapapa and mauri.

Social support for pest management programs is essential to their success. In this study, we explored stakeholder perceptions of current wasp management and what attempting eradication means for them. Local stakeholders involved in 7 conservation or pest management projects across Aotearoa New Zealand were interviewed. Q‐method analysis identified two major perspectives across the participants. A target‐driven and ambitious perspective emerged where eradication of invasive wasps was the objective and any control method deemed effective could be used to achieve that goal. Negative impacts of management could be justified by removing the larger negative impact of wasps on the environment. The second perspective identified agreed that wasps must be managed but were characterised as more holistically minded. Control methods perceived to have negative impacts to the wider ecosystem were deemed less acceptable. Education and engagement were highlighted as essential to increase local support for future wasp management. Developing pest management strategies informed by mana whenua is especially crucial, and hapū enabled to draw on their mātauranga Māori may provide new insights into developing effective and acceptable pest management practices. Emphasis not just on technical but social and cultural aspects of wasp eradication and control will be vital for successful wasp management. Glossary of Māori words: Hapū: subtribal group; iwi: tribal group; maramataka: Māori lunar calendar; mātauranga Māori: Māori knowledge systems; mauri: life force or vital essence; taonga: precious thing or treasure; tapu: sacred, restricted or prohibited; te ao Māori: Māori worldview; tohu: a sign or indication; whakapapa: genealogy or line of descent

Aotearoa-New Zealand (A-NZ) faces growing complex environmental challenges and a persistent knowledge-action gap that leaves many social and environmental problems unresolved. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, a major science funder, has called for transdisciplinary modes of research to address increasingly complex problems in an integrated and collaborative fashion. We explore what is needed for transdisciplinary research (TDR) to achieve societal collaboration and impact in A-NZ. We introducemātauranga Māori, A-NZ’s Indigenous and foundational knowledge system, and discuss howmātauranga Māoriand Western science currently interact. We examine some social and environmental consequences whenmātauranga Māoriis marginalised and conclude by discussing how TDR must evolve in order to help tackle complex social and environmental problems in such contexts.

Ongoing Māori connections to natural environments mean that tangata whenua ‘people of the land’ and mātauranga Māori ‘Māori knowledge’ must be key to identifying, designing and advancing national conservation strategies, including health of native species and making decisions about pest control. We revisit whakataukī ‘Māori proverbs’ and early ethnographic texts to explore how so-called pest insects were traditionally viewed by Māori. What species did Māori consider to be pests prior to European arrival? How were these managed? Was eradication a goal? Were insects ever considered riha ‘pests’ in “wild”, non-cultivated environments? We review accounts of damaging insects and their management strategies, which included extraction by hand, poisons, use of karakia ‘incantations’, fire and even biocontrol. These findings are reported within a hōhā riha ‘bothersome pests’ typology, indicating degrees of “pestiness”. Māori were pragmatic, turning “pests” into resources for other purposes. Māori were observers and participants in ecosystems, and many whakataukī link human behaviour to troublesome insects. We comment upon whakapapa ‘genealogy’ as an inclusive system of biodiversity and discuss Māori conceptions of “wilderness”.

There is a global need for novel, next‐generation technologies and techniques to manage pest species. We review work on potential step‐changing technologies for large landscape (>1000 hectares) pest management of social Vespula wasps. We also review Māori perspectives on these controls to gauge social and cultural acceptability to research, test and use of novel controls. Approaches discussed are the use of gene silencing (RNAi) and gene drives (CRISPR‐Cas 9) involving genetic modification, which has potential for pest control but vary in feasibility, cost, benefits and off‐target risks. RNAi may be better suited for wasp control in high‐value cropping systems due to scaling inefficiencies. Gene drives offer potential for large‐scale control but would require legislative and wide social deliberation due to their status as genetic modification. Both RNAi and gene drives will require consultation with tangata whenua. Māori interest groups agreed that exotic wasps must be controlled and expressed aversion to non‐targeted traditional control methods. We present a diversity of opinions in parallel with scientific research underscoring the need for continued dialogue with Māori. Novel biotechnological controls must satisfy a broad range of social and cultural criteria, receive regulatory approval, along with being demonstrated as safe, selective, and cost‐effective.