Retorts

Maori Science Not DOC Science

A report on the link-text"Maori Science?" article [May], which appeared recently in The Dominion, was drawn to my attention by Department of Conservation scientists gathered at that time for a workshop in Wellington.

I confess I was not kindly disposed towards the author/s, for the implied message to me was the floating of that proposition so that it could be debunked (to quote from the report). Presumably my body language gave me away, for I have now received the complete article, and am considerably mollified as a consequence.

My main reason in writing, however, is to correct any notion that the Department of Conservation is promoting Maori science as a concept. Dr Mere Roberts and Mr Bradford Haami were visiting from Auckland at the invitation of Victoria University and "detoured" to meet with DOC staff while in town, at my request.

They gave a presentation on kiore, first from a science, then a Maori perspective, to demonstrate different cultural approaches to the same species. The message I wanted to convey to staff was the importance of consultation as part of due operational process. That the presentation be somehow misconstrued into indicating DOC support for Maori science evades me; there was no such intention.

Eru Manuera, Director, Kaupapa Atawhai Division, Department of Conservation