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Bringing together Matauranga Maori, western science, medicine and people to heal the Kopeopeo Canal

Year:
2010
Duration:
18 months
Approved budget:
$250,000.00
Researchers:
Beverly Hughes
Health issue:
Environmental health
Proposal type:
Ngā Kanohi Kitea Project Grant
Lay summary
This project brings together Matauranga Maori, western science, medicine and people to heal the Kopeopeo Canal. PCP was used as wide spectrum pesticide and wood preservative throughout the world. The products of the PCP manufacturing process, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), the major dioxin congeners identified are the hexa-, hepta-, and octachloro congeners (Eduljee, 1999), are highly persistent and toxic in the environment. Removing these pollutants from the environment in an ecologically responsible, safe, rapid, and cost-effective way is the priority of Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku. Maori participating in this research are burdened by the impact of the activities of the timber mills in their areas. Effects include intergenerational vitality; toxins in places and resources of local importance; and degradation of the relationship between the people and their traditional territories. The project aligns the breadth of impacts on health and wellbeing with local community actions to mitigate and solve problems, supported by a very strong network of nationally and internationally recognised experts in the field. The programme has all the components described for western science and traditional knowledge to learn from each other (Mazzocchi, 2006).