Rangahau Kaupapa Taiao/ Environmental Research
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu believes that environmental research is crucial in continuing to advance understanding and knowledge of the natural environment as well as being a key component in the sustainable management of natural resources.
As a result, the tribal authority is involved in a number of key research projects throughout the rohe as well as continuing to build and strengthen relationships with key Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), Universitities and other researchers to enable communication and collaboration to occur where possible.
In the 2004/05 year, Ngai Tahu seconded one staff member from Kaupapa Taiao to Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to undertake research on Maori perspectives of waste management as well as to provide liaison advice to them on their major natural ecosystem and biodiversity research programmes.
Papatipu Rūnanga in Otago have also implemented a liaison position to guide the research relationship between them and the Univerity of Otago.